VDI's Seven-Foot Unmanned Helicopter Watches The Horn Of Africa

Modern-day African pirates are finding themselves with more to worry about than large navy vessels. Vanguard Defense Industries (VDI) is promoting its ShadowHawk unmanned aerial system as an aviation asset good not only for surveillance, but also for carrying weapons ranging from tasers to 12-gauge shotgun shells and 37mm or 40mm grenades. Additional, unspecified options are available for military customers.

The craft is seven feet long and weighs only 49 pounds, but cruises at 50 MPH, can reach speeds of up to 70, and is available with piston or turbine power and endurance of up to 2.5 hours. It reportedly can launch in winds up to 25 knots, and uses both visual and FLIR cameras to broadcast, record and even automatically track objects or people on the ground.

VDI says it has won a multi-million-dollar contract from a company involved in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. This contract will provide "several" ShadowHawk UAS units to the client to conduct anti-piracy operations off east Africa, as well as technical advisers in the region. 

VDI CEO Michael Buscher explains, "The ability of the ShadowHawk to reliably conduct land as well as sea based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations will be critical to stemming the potential of piracy activities against our client. This surveillance tool will mitigate threats by providing security personnel with unprecedented early warning capabilities."

So far, there have no reports of confrontations reported between the diminutive UAS and a pirate's shoulder-fired rocket.

FMI: www.vanguarddefense.com