VIVAERO

The BAE Systems/Malloy drone that launches torpedoes

BAE Systems and drone maker Malloy Aeronautics demonstrated the capabilities of the latter's T-600 heavy-lift UAV to carry and launch an anti-submarine torpedo during a major NATO exercise in Portugal.

The T-600 is an electric demonstrator UAV capable of vertical takeoff and landing that can carry a 200 kg payload and travel at up to 140 km/h. It also has a range of up to 80 km depending on payload.

It is about the size of a small car and is designed to be easily disassembled for transport. During the multinational exercise, the demonstrator successfully launched an inert training variant Sting Ray anti-submarine torpedo for the first time during an at-sea flight mission.

The exercise known as REPMUS (Robotics Experimentation and Prototyping with Unmanned Maritime Systems) involved 15 NATO partners, along with Ireland and Sweden. It provides a safe and controlled area to test concepts, requirements, new and advanced technologies in relation to unmanned maritime systems.

The T-600 demonstrator is designed to develop, validate and showcase technologies that can be applied to the T-650, a completely new design of an all-electric heavy-lift UAS that will offer rapid reconfiguration capabilities applicable to military, commercial and humanitarian uses.

The T-650 will provide significant capabilities in the areas of automated logistics and refueling, casualty evacuation and anti-submarine warfare, while reducing the military's environmental impact.

BAE Systems