More drones from the launcher

Engineers from the Army Research Lab (ARL) of the US Army at Aberdeen Proving Ground have filed a patent application for the Grenade Launched Unmanned Aerial System (GLUAS), a drone with a camera that is fired from a 40mm grenade launcher. The GLUAS can be fired from an M320 or M203 grenade launcher without modification.

Two variants are in development - one uses paraglider-like technology, while the second is a rotor platform that can hover over a target area. Both variants have a purported range of two kilometers and can hover in the air for up to 90 minutes. The maximum altitude is about 600m.

The GLUAS will likely be upgraded with GPS receivers, so that the exact position of enemy forces can be transmitted to the operator in real time allowing the company or battalion to exert indirect fire on the target. John Gerdes, an engineer at ARL, says: "Things like GPS receivers and flight controllers are very easy to install, making it easy to hold a position or follow a ground unit. Basically, if there's something you want to look at but don't know where it is, then the drone comes into play.

Although the GLUAS will deliver similar performance to existing platforms like the Black Hornet, the GLUAS can be launched in a shorter amount of time. In fact, a fire team or squad leader simply needs to instruct a grenadier to load and fire the GLUAS before it is in the air. It is also just another option within the 40mm grenades that the grenadier carries along with HEDP (High Explosive Dual Purpose), smoke, and non-lethal grenades.

There are other 40mm UAS systems available, including the Australian DefendTex Drone-40 - WE reported on it HERE -, although the DefendTex product is designed as a kinetic platform for Counter-UAS or as a Loitering Weapon in the style of the successful AeroVironment Switchblade.