US Marines test “grenade drones”

I've talked more than once about how swarms of drones are used more and more on the front lines in war theaters. Systems for the anti-aircraft defense from drones they are growing. Only the drones "on a suicide mission" remained: those are coming too. That's what Defendtex, an Australian defense company, plans to do with its Drone40. Basically a flying grenade.

Recently, US Marines conducted a training exercise with Drone40 for the first time at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The test was intended to compare the flying grenade's reliability and performance to manufacturer claims and determine whether they can be easily deployed in the field.

In summary, the drone can function like a grenade, but with one difference. The flight of a grenade drone can be controlled by radio from a portable ground station. It can hit the target and explode or just return to base.

More importantly (but this is only to reduce distress) its payload can be easily exchanged in the field. The grenade drone can carry out a payload mission: for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Or to stream HD video.

Death comes lightly

Weighing just over 190 grams (six ounces), the Drone40 has a maximum takeoff weight of just 300 grams (10 ounces). While this doesn't sound like much, it's the versatility of the load that makes the difference. The drone can carry a kinetic payload, function as a smoke or flash grenade, and even carry a laser scanner.

When required, the grenade drone can even be hand launched.

Defendtex uses mass-produced printed circuit boards to make a recoverable grenade. He can kill or take something with him. In my opinion, even the drug cartels they have already thought about it.