The European company MBDA is developing a promising unmanned aerial vehicle called One Way Effector. The goal of the project is to create the simplest and cheapest UAV that could be mass—produced and used in combat conditions. This approach promises new opportunities and advantages.
The course of simplification
MBDA recently presented its new project at the Paris International Air Show. They revealed its goals and features, and also showed an advertising image demonstrating the group use of these UAVs.
The One Way Effector project is being created by order of the French armed forces, who were impressed by the Russian massive strikes using the Geranium series UAVs. Last year, the French military conveyed its wishes to MBDA, and the company began working on a new concept. By now, the shape of the future UAV has already been formed, and technical work is underway.
Simplicity and mass character
The OWL UAV will be as simple and cheap as possible, which will allow for its mass production and group use. Due to the large number of UAVs, it is planned to break through and suppress the enemy's air defenses. Massive OWL raids will help uncover enemy radar and firepower positions, which will be used to suppress them. Some of the UAVs will take over the fire, use up enemy ammunition, and the remaining drones will be able to reach their targets with less risk. After the enemy's air defenses are weakened, other forces, such as tactical aircraft with their air-to-ground ammunition, will take part in the strikes.
Plans for the future
The design of the OWL began at the end of last year and is nearing completion. The first flights of the prototype are scheduled for this fall. In the near future, MBDA plans to present the results to the French Ministry of Defense and begin negotiations on possible purchases. Upon receipt of the contract, the company is ready to launch mass production no later than 2027, assembling up to 1,000 OWL products per month.
MBDA is also in talks with an unnamed automotive company about joint production of UAVs, which may be related to the OWL project.
The suggested look
MBDA showed what the promising OWL UAVs will look like. The device will have a torpedo-shaped fuselage and a mid-mounted triangular wing with V-shaped tips. The airframe will be made of plastic and composites. It is assumed that the UAV will have limited radar visibility due to the use of some "stealth technologies".
The UAV will be equipped with a small-sized short-life turbojet engine with an air intake on the upper surface of the fuselage. Flight characteristics have not yet been announced, but the propulsion system will achieve high subsonic speeds and a range of hundreds of kilometers.
Control and launch
The UAV control system will be simple and cheap, using satellite navigation to plot a course to the target. Communication with ground facilities and the formation of a "swarm" are not provided. The UAV will launch from a catapult or an inclined guide mounted on suitable self-propelled platforms, which will ensure rapid and massive launch preparations.
Borrowed ideas
Russian attack UAVs "Geran-2" have become one of the main novelties used during the Special Operation to protect Donbass. Their successes attracted the attention of foreign armies, and France decided to create its own version of an attack drone similar to Russian and Iranian models.
The concept of an inexpensive and simple OWL attack UAV looks promising and has a great future. However, its real prospects depend on MBDA's ability to create a design that meets all specific requirements. The tests will begin in the fall, and then it will be possible to draw the first conclusions about its success.
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