Milrem Robotics shows off THeMIS, a kamikaze combat robot armed with drones
THeMIS is essentially a modular platform that can be adapted to perform a number of different tasks on the battlefield
The Estonian company Milrem Robotics, owned by the defense conglomerate EDGE Group from the United Arab Emirates, has demonstrated another version of its THeMIS robotic platform armed with barrage munitions at UMEX 024, European Defence Review Magazine reports.
We are talking about the Hunter SP (from Soldier Portable) drone from Halcon, which is one of the EDGE divisions. At the exhibition, the platform from Milrem Robotics was demonstrated with a launcher designed for 14 such barrage munitions at once, seven on each side, EDR Magazine reports.
In fact, Hunter SP is a typical barrage munition that can actually (in one version) be called a copy of the American Switchblade from Aerovironment, while in general we are talking about a whole family of different drones that differ in tactical and technical characteristics.
For example, the smallest version is a 2 kg drone with a payload (warhead) of 400 grams. The communication range with the drone is 5 km, it has a fairly low cruising speed of approximately 46 km/h, and the flight duration is 30 minutes.
The Hunter 2 version, which is likely to be equipped with the THeMIS robotic platform, has a larger payload weight (1.8 kg) and, accordingly, larger dimensions. The communication range remains at 5 km, and the cruising speed is slightly higher, approximately 74 km/h, but in fact it is also quite low.
The largest version has a payload weight of 10 kg, a six-fold longer communication range (30 km), and a cruising speed of over 110 km/h. The flight lasts 40 minutes.
Earlier it was reported that EDGE Group received a contract from the UAE Ministry of Defense to supply 60 units of robotic platforms from Milrem Robotics, including 20 units armed with 30-mm cannons.
