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The Irish Sun
17-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Dramatic moment British killer drone fires laser guided missile in incredible world-first that could change warfighting
DRAMATIC footage caught the moment a British killer drone fired a laser-guided missile in an incredible world-first mission set to change dogfights. T150, a heavy-lifter quadcopter, was seen firing precision rockets - obliterating targets on the ground and in the air. Advertisement 7 Moment T150 fired precision rockets at targets Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 The missile blasted a mini cargo van in a desert during a trial Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 The drone successfully shot down a winged drone during a trial in the US Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 These images show Royal Navy personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron testing their new Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone from the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales Credit: Cover Images Footage shared by Malloy Aeronautics - a Brit aviation company which manufactured the drone - shows the drone successfully shooting a winged drone during a trial in the US. It marks the first time a precision munition was fired from a rotary drone to blast another airborne target, according to British defence giant BAE Systems, which owns Malloy. The clip also showed a quadcopter launching missiles and blasting a van during trials this summer over a desert in Utah. Engineers said the trials marked a 'game-changing moment for the modern battlefield'. Advertisement read more on drone warfare It is being seen as a breakthrough in modern warfare tactics that could help thwart cheap kamikaze drone attacks without having to deploy expensive defence systems - like the US patriot missiles. The drone can be equipped with with APKWS laser-guidance kit that fires 70-millimetre rockets up to 6.5 kilometres. Initially, the drone system was designed to act as a heavy lifter for the military. Each one can carry loads of up to 68kg each - allowing them to take over cargo jobs that are currently carried out using manned helicopters. Advertisement Most read in The Sun The weapon system can be removed from the drone within an hour, enabling the drone to be repurposed to supply cargo or to perform reconnaissance It is already used by the US Marines and Britain's Royal Navy to move equipment between ships at sea, replacing some helicopter lifts. China & Russia will use drones 'the size of insects' to spy on UK & commit untraceable murders, ex-Google futurist warns Anthony Gregory, of BAE Systems Air, said: 'Everybody can see what's going on in the world with drone technology . "So the counter-[drone] piece is on everybody's lips, and therefore trying to do that sustainably and affordably. Advertisement 'At the moment, people are having to fire patriot missiles and all that kind of stuff. "That's an expensive way of countering a very low-cost threat. So that's the genesis of why we've gone down this avenue.' Cheap drones have been touted as the 7 A Royal Navy personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron testing their new Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone from Credit: Cover Images Advertisement 7 A T150 drone drops supplies to troops on the ground Credit: The Times And the best example of Kyiv's pioneering work on aerial warfare has to be Operation Spiderweb - a mass drone attack which inflicted $7billion worth of damage and left Russia's precious fleet of bombers in tatters. The T150 drones currently cost tens of thousands of pounds each to produce. But BAE Systems said it was developing a new weaponised drone, aiming to offer military customers a lower-cost option for countering unmanned aircraft. Advertisement Given anticipated demand from Western militaries, BAE said it was aiming to start manufacturing the electric motors that power the drone in Britain, instead of buying them from China. "We're trying to what we would call onshore, or friend shore, all elements in the value chain of the supply chain," Gregory said. Inside Operation Spiderweb By James Halpin, Foreign News Reporter UKRAINE'S shock sleeper drone blitz on Russia's bomber fleet has delivered a hammer blow to Vladimir Putin's nuclear arsenal. The SAS-style strike against four airfields deep inside Russia is reminiscent of the most daring raids of the WW2 that turned the tide against the Nazis. Volodymyr Zelensky oversaw Operation Spiderweb - much like Winston Churchill did as Britain struck deep behind enemy lines. Putin's doomsday bomber fleet is now crippled with 41, or a third, of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks on tarmac. Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia - caused by only 117 cheaply made drones. Ukraine's spies spent 18 months putting the plan into action and struck on the eve of fresh peace talks in Istanbul. The drones and the containers were smuggled into Russia separately and were pieced together right under Vlad's nose. Clueless lorry drivers then parked the containers next to Russian airbases - where they sat and waited in plain sight. Then, on the morning of June 1, the fleet of flying bombs rose over the far reaches of Russia - and the most daring military operation of the war began. Nondescript shipping containers parked in laybys and verges had attracted little attention - before their lids blew open and the drone swarms poured out. The craft buzzed as they took off into the air and only had to travel a short distance to their valuable targets. Each of the 117 drones had their own dedicated pilot and Russia had little defences to protect their bases and stop them. Drones with cameras sent video back to HQ in Ukraine of the moment craft struck their targets and explosions ripped into the sky. Thick black smoke climbed high, with civilians near the bases sending video of Ukraine's successes around the world. The furthest strike was Belaya Air Base - so far inside Russia that the closest neighbouring country is Mongolia. Olenya Air Base near Finland and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo near Moscow were also struck in the country's west. 7
Scottish Sun
17-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Dramatic moment British killer drone fires laser guided missile in incredible world-first that could change warfighting
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRAMATIC footage caught the moment a British killer drone fired a laser-guided missile in an incredible world-first mission set to change dogfights. T150, a heavy-lifter quadcopter, was seen firing precision rockets - obliterating targets on the ground and in the air. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Moment T150 fired precision rockets at targets Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 The missile blasted a mini cargo van in a desert during a trial Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 The drone successfully shot down a winged drone during a trial in the US Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 These images show Royal Navy personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron testing their new Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone from the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales Credit: Cover Images Footage shared by Malloy Aeronautics - a Brit aviation company which manufactured the drone - shows the drone successfully shooting a winged drone during a trial in the US. It marks the first time a precision munition was fired from a rotary drone to blast another airborne target, according to British defence giant BAE Systems, which owns Malloy. The clip also showed a quadcopter launching missiles and blasting a van during trials this summer over a desert in Utah. Engineers said the trials marked a 'game-changing moment for the modern battlefield'. It is being seen as a breakthrough in modern warfare tactics that could help thwart cheap kamikaze drone attacks without having to deploy expensive defence systems - like the US patriot missiles. The drone can be equipped with with APKWS laser-guidance kit that fires 70-millimetre rockets up to 6.5 kilometres. Initially, the drone system was designed to act as a heavy lifter for the military. Each one can carry loads of up to 68kg each - allowing them to take over cargo jobs that are currently carried out using manned helicopters. The weapon system can be removed from the drone within an hour, enabling the drone to be repurposed to supply cargo or to perform reconnaissance It is already used by the US Marines and Britain's Royal Navy to move equipment between ships at sea, replacing some helicopter lifts. China & Russia will use drones 'the size of insects' to spy on UK & commit untraceable murders, ex-Google futurist warns Anthony Gregory, of BAE Systems Air, said: 'Everybody can see what's going on in the world with drone technology. "So the counter-[drone] piece is on everybody's lips, and therefore trying to do that sustainably and affordably. 'At the moment, people are having to fire patriot missiles and all that kind of stuff. "That's an expensive way of countering a very low-cost threat. So that's the genesis of why we've gone down this avenue.' Cheap drones have been touted as the future of modern warfare after Ukraine took the world by surprise with its advanced drone technology. 7 A Royal Navy personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron testing their new Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone from Credit: Cover Images 7 A T150 drone drops supplies to troops on the ground Credit: The Times And the best example of Kyiv's pioneering work on aerial warfare has to be Operation Spiderweb - a mass drone attack which inflicted $7billion worth of damage and left Russia's precious fleet of bombers in tatters. The T150 drones currently cost tens of thousands of pounds each to produce. But BAE Systems said it was developing a new weaponised drone, aiming to offer military customers a lower-cost option for countering unmanned aircraft. Given anticipated demand from Western militaries, BAE said it was aiming to start manufacturing the electric motors that power the drone in Britain, instead of buying them from China. "We're trying to what we would call onshore, or friend shore, all elements in the value chain of the supply chain," Gregory said. Inside Operation Spiderweb By James Halpin, Foreign News Reporter UKRAINE'S shock sleeper drone blitz on Russia's bomber fleet has delivered a hammer blow to Vladimir Putin's nuclear arsenal. The SAS-style strike against four airfields deep inside Russia is reminiscent of the most daring raids of the WW2 that turned the tide against the Nazis. Volodymyr Zelensky oversaw Operation Spiderweb - much like Winston Churchill did as Britain struck deep behind enemy lines. Putin's doomsday bomber fleet is now crippled with 41, or a third, of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks on tarmac. Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia - caused by only 117 cheaply made drones. Ukraine's spies spent 18 months putting the plan into action and struck on the eve of fresh peace talks in Istanbul. The drones and the containers were smuggled into Russia separately and were pieced together right under Vlad's nose. Clueless lorry drivers then parked the containers next to Russian airbases - where they sat and waited in plain sight. Then, on the morning of June 1, the fleet of flying bombs rose over the far reaches of Russia - and the most daring military operation of the war began. Nondescript shipping containers parked in laybys and verges had attracted little attention - before their lids blew open and the drone swarms poured out. The craft buzzed as they took off into the air and only had to travel a short distance to their valuable targets. Each of the 117 drones had their own dedicated pilot and Russia had little defences to protect their bases and stop them. Drones with cameras sent video back to HQ in Ukraine of the moment craft struck their targets and explosions ripped into the sky. Thick black smoke climbed high, with civilians near the bases sending video of Ukraine's successes around the world. The furthest strike was Belaya Air Base - so far inside Russia that the closest neighbouring country is Mongolia. Olenya Air Base near Finland and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo near Moscow were also struck in the country's west.
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
British drone fires precision missile in world first
A British-made drone has shot down targets using precision missiles for the first time, in a breakthrough that could help troops repel attacks by unmanned aircraft. The heavy-lift quadcopter was equipped with laser-guided rockets that were successfully fired at flying winged drones during trials this summer over a desert in Utah. It is believed to be the first time a drone of this kind has fired precision missiles to destroy another airborne drone. Berkshire-based Malloy Aeronautics, which made the drone that was used in the test, said it was already in talks with several armed forced that are interested in acquiring the new technology. It comes as Western countries are rushing to overhaul their equipment in the wake of the war in Ukraine, which has highlighted how drones are transforming modern conflicts. Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea have also forced US Navy ships to fire missiles – costing millions – to shoot down drones that can be bought for just tens of thousands of dollars apiece. It has prompted a scramble for cheaper methods. Low-cost threat In future, the use of low-cost drones equipped with cheaper missiles may provide one possible solution. Malloy, which is owned by British defence giant BAE Systems, said its T-150 quadcopters currently cost tens of thousands of pounds each to produce. They can then be combined with laser-guided, 70mm rockets developed for the US military which cost in the region of $20,000 (£15,000) each. The drones were originally designed as logistics workhorses that can carry loads of up to 68kg each, allowing them to take over cargo jobs currently performed by manned helicopters. They are already being used by the Royal Navy's carrier strike group to move mail, food supplies and engineering components between the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and its accompanying ships during their deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. Anthony Gregory, of BAE Systems Air, said: 'Everybody can see what's going on in the world with drone technology. So the counter-[drone] piece is on everybody's lips, and therefore trying to do that in a sustainable and affordable way. 'At the minute, people are having to fire patriot missiles and all that kind of stuff. That's an expensive way of countering a very low-cost threat. So that's the genesis of why we've gone down this avenue.' Malloy and BAE began a programme to modify the T-150 to make it compatible with precision rockets in February. The firing test was then conducted in May at a US Army facility in Utah – destroying targets on the ground and in the air with the laser-guided missiles. A video released by the company shows the drone unloading its rockets in the air, with the missiles slamming into a white van on the ground and a winged drone flying through the air. In the UK, the Ministry of Defence has also partnered with private companies to develop laser weapons that can destroy enemy drones with a blast of intense energy and cost just £10 per shot. Ministers have ordered that the lasers are fitted to at least four Royal Navy ships from 2027. However, Mr Gregory said using drones could be cheaper and would provide armed forces with flexibility when trying to protect critical national infrastructure from attacks by large numbers of enemies. He added: 'Lasers are big and complex. Per shot, they're incredibly cheap. But they are big, expensive, complex bits of kit. The price of a drone is going to be cheaper and you can probably have them in greater [numbers]. And it's the same vehicle that's delivering cargo one day, the next day I might bolt this on and it's doing a counter-[drone] thing for me.' Britain leads the way Neil Appleton, chief executive at Malloy, said the British company was the leading player in heavy lift drones. It has supplied the devices to Ukrainian forces fighting Russia and is constantly improving the technology, he said. Over the past four years, Malloy has gone from building small numbers of drones in one hangar to occupying four hangars. It is now planning to build as many as 1,000 a year after being acquired by BAE last year. 'We've got a habit of doing rapid work to upgrade our drones,' Mr Appleton said. 'And again, we're not talking about cycles of years. We're talking weeks to months at worst.' He said the drones provided a much more affordable way for armed forces to transport supplies, with the vast majority of missions currently involving cargoes weighing less than 50kg. Mr Appleton said: 'If you're using helicopters to move things between ships, it's dangerous and it puts the crew at risk. 'It's also super costly. A helicopter will cost anywhere between £20,000 and £30,000 per flying hour. Our platforms will do that for anything between £100 and £500 an hour.' The company is also hoping to sell the heavy-lift drones in other industries such as oil and gas, where businesses also rely on helicopters to move supplies to and from rig platforms at sea. However, Malloy is preparing to develop its own motors in-house amid concerns that the mechanical components are currently being sourced from China. This was not a problem for the company's civil customers, Mr Appleton said, but militaries preferred that this part of the supply chain was 'on-shored' away from China to remove any risk of disruption.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BAE Systems develops weaponised drone to counter unmanned threat
By Sarah Young WARTON, England (Reuters) -BAE Systems said on Wednesday it was developing a new weaponised drone, aiming to offer military customers a lower-cost option for countering unmanned aircraft that have come to dominate the battlefield in Ukraine. Britain's BAE launched its solution to the threat from kamikaze attack drones, which explode when they hit targets, by fitting its Malloy T-150 drone with APKWS laser-guidance kit that fires 70-millimeter rockets, and used the combination to shoot down another drone in trials. "We've had multiple inquiries from agencies in the U.S., from agencies in Europe, from the UK," said Anthony Gregory, business development director of BAE Systems' FalconWorks unit. Given the growing military interest as countries see what is happening in Ukraine, and also Iran's deployment of drones against Israel, BAE said it wanted to supply an alternative to Raytheon Technologies Patriot mobile surface-to-air system. "Those type of munitions are probably in four or five figure sums, whereas a Patriot missile, or things that you see being used on the news to do the same thing, are in six figure sums," Gregory said. The weapon system can be removed from the drone within an hour, enabling the drone to be repurposed to supply cargo or to perform reconnaissance. It is already used by the U.S. Marines and Britain's Royal Navy to move equipment between ships at sea, replacing some helicopter lifts. BAE acquired England-based Malloy Aeronautics, a specialist heavy-lift drone company, last year. The trial of the drone with the APKWS kits produced by BAE's U.S. business, and usually found on F-16s and Apache helicopters, took place last month in Utah, Gregory said. Given anticipated demand from Western militaries, BAE said it was aiming to start manufacturing the electric motors that power the drone in Britain, instead of buying them from China. "We're trying to what we would call onshore, or friend shore, all elements in the value chain of the supply chain," Gregory said. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
