The war in Ukraine, the Russian invasion of that country, has led to the emergence of new war artifacts. highlights Stellar arrival in the drone battlefield, These miniature unmanned but remote-controlled aircraft had all kinds of civilian uses, but the war proved their value as weapons.
In this new way, the Ministry of Defense of Spain is also including drones in the armed forces. last thing for the Navy, which has closed the purchase of three units of the M5D-Airfox, It is a Spanish development and manufacturing drone, the work of the Galician company Marine Instruments.
Each device costs one million euros, a price that includes training of pilots and pre-installation on boats. M5D-Airfox will be in service with the Mine Countermeasures Force (MCM) for maritime and coastal surveillance, For this, they have the ability to take off and land from a moving ship.
How is the M5D-Airfox
As defined by the manufacturer, it is an unmanned aerial vehicle solar powered, It is intended for surveillance and support launched to naval units and for maritime surveillance operations from land near the coast. It can undertake surveillance, tracking and detection missions. get a video camera full hdIn addition to solar panels and batteries for autonomy of flight and evasion in its missions.
features
- Maximum takeoff weight: 4kg
- Wingspan: 2.5 m
- Wing Length: 1 meter
- Cruising speed: 30 knots (55 km/h)
- Maximum speed: 45 knots (83 km/h)
- Range: 18 Nautical Miles (Approx. 30 km)
- Autonomy: 10 hours with its battery and 1.5 hours
- Maximum wind speed for flight: 20 knots (37 km/h)
The M5D-Airfox will be delivered in two parts, the first on December 2, with Marine Instruments delivering all systems to the Navy, Each consists of an “airplane”, a radio link and a control station on board.
In the second phase, scheduled for 2023, the company will complete all operations. installation along with onboard systems Build of military personnel.
…to support free school tuna fishing and which we are convinced will make a difference in sustainability in the fishing sector. It has been successfully tested in the security and defense sector @armada_esp, @us Navy And @nato , pic.twitter.com/Xfr6DB5zs0
— Marine Instruments (@MarineInstrumen) October 12, 2022
The drone has already been tested by the Navy, by the Civil Guard and by the Deputy Directorate of Customs Surveillance. In fact, the Ministry of Fisheries hired him to control the fleet of the national fishing grounds (except the Canary Islands) for the next two years. Now it has passed various military tests, which can be used by Navy, NATO or U.S. us Navy (us Army).
Specifically, it was last May when the M5D Airfox Esp Minex-22 successfully passed the test during the exercise, held in the waters of the Balearic Islands. In February, the M5D-Airfox also participated in International Exercise Cutlass Express 2022 Thanks to the invitation of the US Navy, calls for the successful completion of various tests proposed in the deployment in the Red Sea infodrone,
Galician technique
in their monitoring facilities (Pontevedra), Marine Instruments manufactures the entire drone, from the construction of the fuselage and wings to the electronics it contains (sensors, autopilot and power stage).
Arbulu Group’s company told that M5D Airfox drone has zero carbon footprint All in functions and a very small logistics footprint. In addition, the design and industrialization of its products are carried out entirely in its facilities, “Without outsourcing any production process, which minimizes the environmental impact”, Marine Instruments assures the same.
Galician company has obtained that year National Innovation Award by the Ministry of Science and Innovation.
