T-650 (drone)

2022: Britain to supply Ukraine with military drones firing missiles at 60km

On September 26, 2022, it became known that the UK would supply Ukraine with new unmanned quadcopters carrying missiles with a range of 60 km and capable of launching them right in flight.

The new drone is a combination of a T-650 drone developed by British arms manufacturer BAE Systems and Malloy Aeronautics, capable of carrying 300kg at 30km range, with British Brimstone II precision missiles, which carry 6.3kg of payload and have a range of up to 60km.

Britain will supply military drones to Ukraine

At BAE, they are going to equip their drones with three Brimstone II missiles, which weigh 50kg each and can be launched from the air rather than a ground launcher.

A key feature of the missiles is their dual-guidance capability: They can independently locate targets by detecting millimeter wave radar signals, as well as aim at targets using a laser. While the Brimstone II's payload is much smaller than that of the similar American Hellfire rocket, the lower weight allows the Brimstone to reach much higher speeds.

The UK government has previously sent Brimstone missiles to Ukraine and plans to send more. With military equipment destined for Brimstone launchers still under development, Ukrainian soldiers are converting civilian vehicles into temporary combat platforms, many equipped with Brimstone launchers.

Whether drones carrying Brimstone missiles will be deployed soon remains unknown. There is also no official schedule for the release of T-650 or its missile weapons. During a 2021 preview of the T-650, a BAE spokesman said the company hopes the drone will be available to customers by 2023.^[1]

Notes

Шаблон:Remarks