Jackal & Martlet

[ORAC]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/raf-missile-octocopter-jackal-drone-2023-8q5jsjlwc

Missile fired from low-flying Jackal drone in ‘groundbreaking’ test for RAF

A state-of-the-art missile has been fired from a hovering “octocopter” drone for the first time in RAF trials.

British weapons specialists say they have designed a game-changing propeller-powered aircraft capable of launching laser-guided munitions at tanks, helicopters and other targets on the ground or in the air.

Small, remote-controlled copters that drop grenades onto enemy positions have become a feature of modern warfare, but until now they were thought to be too unstable to be integrated with more sophisticated weapon systems.

Flyby Technology, a drone development company based in York, has done just that after pooling resources with the defence firm Thales, in Belfast.

The companies announced a newly modified drone, the Jackal, after it successfully fired two lightweight multirole missiles (LMMs), also known as Martlets (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-missile-takes-down-russian-drone-zhbq7kv5p), as part of six-week test carried out for the RAF in the UK.

The 1,100mph missiles, which are made by Thales and armed with concentrated explosive charges, are usually shot from shoulder launchers or larger manned platforms.

A combination of stabilisation technology built into the Jackal, which Flyby is keeping secret, and the very low-recoil design of the Martlet made the launch possible.

Firing the weapons from a hovering drone brings unmanned air combat and close air support “a step closer to reality”, the companies said.

The missile-armed drone can be used on the battlefield to against infantry units and armoured tanks. Attacks can be conducted close to friendly forces. The drone can also engage in air-to-air combat — targeting other UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and helicopters in flight.

James Keown, an LMM expert at Thales, described the 16kg (35lb) missile, which has a 6km range, as a versatile projectile than can be launched from a variety of platforms, “be that a man’s shoulder or this type of drone”.

“The missile is designed to create very low recoil force on the launch platform, so you don’t have those instabilities,” he said. “The Jackal is a very stable platform, it hovers superbly, and the purpose of our exercise was to show that.”

He described the trial as a “very visually successful exercise”, adding: “When you see a lightweight, but powerful, weapon fired from such a low platform, a low hover that a helicopter wouldn’t attempt, that demonstrates the capability.”

Jon Parker, chief executive of Flyby, is a former RAF and Royal Navy fighter pilot who drew on his experience in the cockpit to design the Jackal.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1384x1438/image_a3140ac47f5e79db60c7740ab70f930911adb659.png

[DaveReidUK]

The term "game-changer" is usually hyperbole, but I suspect this is an exception ...

[Less Hair]

These rotors cut right through the four fans?

[NutLoose]

I would say the rotors are in front of the fans, what it needs is a damned big smiley face on it.. ;)

Belarus has one that fires RPG's from it.

[kration]

These rotors cut right through the four fans?
The lower fans in particular.

[NutLoose]

I just keep reading Jon Parker, chief executive of Flyby, is a former RAF and Royal Navy fighter pilot who drew on his experience in the cockpit to design the Jackal.

and then looking at


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1384x1438/image_66dfe39ed2421e8a10596f26fc9c508380fe53d2.png

And thinking.. WTF did he fly :E

[ORAC]

We’ll clear of the fans - modified Turkish imported drone.

https://www.defensehere.com/en/fly-bvlos-technology-begins-jackal-uav-deliveries-to-uk

https://youtu.be/5EEMDSi9HoU

[Less Hair]

Two fans finally and some bent wing for rotor clearance. Funny flight test village.

[DuncanDoenitz]

Is it just me, or is this just too good to be true? McCaffee warned me off the defensehere site.

Flight Test village must be local to me btw; looks rather like "Retirement village near (<<insert town>>;), prices will surprise me".

[PARALLEL TRACK]

Buccs and SHAR that I know of. Almost forgot the Fin

[ETOPS]

This was filmed in Turkey ..


Flyby Dronepark

Cumhuriyet, Gebze Technical University, 2254. Sk. No:2, Gebze

[Lima Juliet]

Nothing a good old Barrett .50 Cal sniper rifle won’t swat…

[SLXOwft]

Buccs and SHAR that I know of. Almost forgot the Fin

Jon Parker FRAeS - Also ex QFI & QWI
https://flybydronetraining.co.uk/instructors/jon-parker

And in person talking about his Shar exchange posting
https://www.aircrewinterview.tv/seaharrier-jonparker-pt2

[The B Word]

Just read his CV - not sure I would have included this! :eek:

and set up a company to re-design the flying training for all 3 armed services on behalf of Lockheed Martin

How is that going? :confused:​​​​​​​

[Wyntor]

Any ballpark figure on what one these things costs?

[Asturias56]

A lot cheaper buying the main bits from Turkey than asking BAe I'd guess...............

[PPRuNeUser0211]

One wonders what they're using to designate for the missile? Looks like you'd need a cooperating drone ivo the launcher to designate as there doesn't seem to be capacity on that thing for a decent EO system. Not beyond the wit obviously, but this is looking like a "smoke and mirrors" around the first step of safe carriage and release to my eyes.

[Video Mixdown]

One wonders what they're using to designate for the missile? Looks like you'd need a cooperating drone ivo the launcher to designate as there doesn't seem to be capacity on that thing for a decent EO system. Not beyond the wit obviously, but this is looking like a "smoke and mirrors" around the first step of safe carriage and release to my eyes.
Did you not notice the EO turret under the nose?

[Wyntor]

A lot cheaper buying the main bits from Turkey than asking BAe I'd guess...............

Many a true word spoken in jest, I suppose. I found a reference to the original contract for 5 aircraft that quoted $1.2M, so I suppose that gives a ball park starting point. Probably several times that once it has been modified for whoosh bangs and "UK'd".

Times are definitely changing.

[PPRuNeUser0211]

Did you not notice the EO turret under the nose?
present on the glossy brochure but decidedly absent in real life....

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x901/screenshot_20230420_195128_245f7704c51c337ef5a3d7fd69ccf3de3 181e6c1.png

[Asturias56]

Many a true word spoken in jest, I suppose. I found a reference to the original contract for 5 aircraft that quoted $1.2M, so I suppose that gives a ball park starting point. Probably several times that once it has been modified for whoosh bangs and "UK'd".

Times are definitely changing.

Yup - can you imagine how long it would take to formulate an official requirement, get all those R&D contracts in place and then the testing etc etc.... the normal fee is about £ 1Bn -

[JPFlyby]

Yes I flew Hunter, Buccaneer, Tornado, Hawk, Harrier and Sea Harrier.

MFTS: Flyby wrote the Conceptual System Design which was part of the winning bid. It was just not adopted which caused some of the current issues.

The aircraft was developed jointly between Flyby Technology, FlyBVLOS Technology and Maxwell Innovations in Istanbul, now Ankara. The British element, Flyby Technology, is now preparing the aircraft for military service with UK primes. The £1.2m figure was for the 5 prototype airframes and is not an accurate indicator of eventual price. The EO sensors were not fitted for the firing because the aim of that firing was to prove release conditions were managed by the stability and augmentation system would cope. Which it can be seen it did admirably.

[Video Mixdown]

Yup - can you imagine how long it would take to formulate an official requirement, get all those R&D contracts in place and then the testing etc etc.... the normal fee is about £ 1Bn -
​​​​​​If only they realised that they don't have to do any of that boring stuff. If they do nothing magical mice will leave fully operational systems, spare parts and trained operators in a hangar one night.

[JPFlyby]

Just read his CV - not sure I would have included this! :eek:



How is that going? :confused:

Flyby wrote the Conceptual System Design for all flying training as part of LM’s winning bid. Once they won it the actual system was redesigned without Flyby’s input.

Flyby was part of the JACKAL project from the outset. The platform level requirements and its configuration were instrumental. The £1.2m for 5 aircraft was just for a basic BVLOS training variant. The mission system for LMM armed JACKALs will be British and a fair amount of manufacturing will come to the UK if the country invests.

[PPRuNeUser0211]

Flyby wrote the Conceptual System Design for all flying training as part of LM’s winning bid. Once they won it the actual system was redesigned without Flyby’s input.

Flyby was part of the JACKAL project from the outset. The platform level requirements and its configuration were instrumental. The £1.2m for 5 aircraft was just for a basic BVLOS training variant. The mission system for LMM armed JACKALs will be British and a fair amount of manufacturing will come to the UK if the country invests.

It's not often that someone has the stones to step into the bearpit that is prune, so kudos for that, and also for pushing forward an area where the west needs to up its game. For all my scepticism about smoke and mirrors, it's something that needs to be done and I'd rather it was a relatively small company that can, rather than one of the big monsters that are just full of sh*t.

[JPFlyby]

It's not often that someone has the stones to step into the bearpit that is prune, so kudos for that, and also for pushing forward an area where the west needs to up its game. For all my scepticism about smoke and mirrors, it's something that needs to be done and I'd rather it was a relatively small company that can, rather than one of the big monsters that are just full of sh*t.


Defence procurement is changing and the MOD is watching large prime behaviours. I can’t get this capability from where it is now to where it should be with help from excited primes. At some point we have to accept an invitation to dance. Just have to make sure they don’t stand on our toes.

The aircraft will be truly devastating if I am encouraged and given the resources. If not our soldiers, sailors and airmen will not have it. We must get cracking to stay ahead.

[Asturias56]

"If only they realised that they don't have to do any of that boring stuff. If they do nothing magical mice will leave fully operational systems, spare parts and trained operators in a hangar one night."

yes, well - of course when things warm up all that goes out the window - remember how much stuff appeared like magic when the Argies arrived in the FI?

And how the Turks, Ukrainians and Azeris seem to be able to conjure up working systems in a couple of months when they had to.

(of course you have to fire just about every SO over 45 years old as well but that's normal after a long stretch of peace).