Ukraine war
Looks like a beer vending machine, but drops deadly cargo: Dutch develop bomb magazine for drones
With its almost 50 kilograms, the drone has to be moved in a car.
© Dronesvision.com
Civilian drones are used in Ukraine. So far, they have only been able to drop bombs in a very improvised manner. A Dutch company has now developed a revolver magazine for Kyiv.
Commercial drones abound. Above all, the models that are used in agriculture are suitable for militarization, as they are often designed for transporting substantial loads of fertilizers or plant poisons. There is also the option of equipping these devices with thermal imaging cameras and other sensors.
What has been missing for military use so far is an integrated system for dropping bombs. A Dutch company has only developed a drum magazine, like that used in a revolver. Up to 8 60 mm caliber mortar shells can be loaded in the rotating cage. Photos show a quadrocopter on which the magazine was mounted. The whole thing looks like a vending machine that spits out a beer can at the touch of a button.
Eight deadly grenades
The device was developed for the Ukrainian armed forces and is said to be already being tested. According to the company, the drone and magazine weigh almost 50 kilograms when fully loaded, which seems to push the drone used to the edge of its possibilities. The duration of use is given as only 20 minutes and the range as eight kilometers. This is not enough for use as loitering ammunition, the target and position must be known at the start. The armament should be sufficient to completely destroy a small convoy. The dropping of several grenades in rapid succession should also affect a tank. If the bomb load is reduced, the range and duration of use should increase.
The advantage of such systems is that they are very cheap. This applies to the drone, but also to the armament. In addition, there are numerous sensors on the market for use in agriculture. They are designed to monitor soil conditions, crop growth. But a sensor that detects a fawn in the cornfield also reveals a hidden soldier in the thicket. Weapons such as light mortar shells are standard equipment rather than rare and expensive guided missiles. The problem is that the grenades are designed to be fired from a mortar and not for automatic release, they must be primed at launch.
Flood of militarized civilian drones
In Ukraine you will see a large number of improvised combat drones. Chats from Russian channels have shown how soldiers are cranking out civilian crowdfunding to get drones and night vision sensors. The manufacturers of civilian devices are against military use, but will not be able to prevent gray imports or repurposing. Whether the drum magazine is the best solution remains questionable. There’s something of overengineering about it. Ultimately, the grenades could be installed hanging in a cage so that only the suspension had to be released via control command. This would completely save the complex rotating drum and could throw several or all grenades at the same time.
Like all these improvised weapons, this development does not bode well for established military powers. Insurgents of all kinds also get such a cheap air force. Drug cartels in South America have already recognized the potential of their own combat drones and used them.