South African Company Rippel, a producer of 40mm grenade launchers presents a new concept of 40mm drone launcher platform at UMEX 2020, the International Unmanned Defense Exhibition that takes place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The 40mm drone grenade launcher system is mounted under an NOA H6 drone developed by Dutch Company ACECORE in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates’ International Golden Group (IGG).

Rippel 40mm grenade launcher mounted on NOA H6 drone at UMEX 2020, the International Unmanned Defense Systems exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. February 23, 2020. (Picture source Army Recognition)

Rippel has developed in collaboration with IGG (International Golden Group), the DLP3 or DLP6 40mm launcher platforms with three and six fixed barrels respectively. The grenade launcher is mounted vertically underneath the drone and fitted with an electronic trigger mechanism

The DLP3 or DLP6 can be mounted to different types of drones enabling the device to be fired with ease, accurately and safely, with maximum effect on the target. Each of the removable barrels has one round of 40x46mm low velocity or less-lethal ammunition and can be fired individually, in sequence or together.

Other countries like the United States has also developed drone armed with 40mm grenade launcher. U.S. Army weapons are already tested an experimental drone armed with a multi-shot, 40mm grenade launcher to destroy enemy targets hiding behind cover. The drone weighs 6.3 kg, has a range of 3.2 km and can fire three 40mm high-explosive grenades at defiladed targets well beyond the 400-meter maximum effective range of the M320 grenade launcher.

Currently, the U.S. Army is looking for simpler counter-defilade solutions designed to use munitions in the Army inventory.

Another drone grenade launcher is the Drone-40. The weapon is fired from a conventional grenade launcher before four, helicopter-style rotors deploy in order to keep it aloft. It can fly for 12 minutes or hover for 20 minutes. Its cruising speed is 20 m/s and it has a range of 10 km.