American conglomerate Teledyne showcased the Rogue 1 combat drone at a special services congress in Florida. The FPV drone features a modular architecture, optical camera, and standard thermal imager. It can stay airborne for up to 30 minutes and return to base if the operator doesn’t find a suitable target. Designed for precision strikes from the air, it can also disable stationary targets, light armor, and infantry. The US Marine Corps has already decided to procure them for $249 million.
Externally, the Rogue 1 UAV can easily be mistaken for a regular civilian drone, but internally, it’s equipped for combat. An electro-optical camera and FLIR Boson 640+ thermal imager provide long-range observation capabilities day and night. Combined with a warhead, it promises precision targeting. The modular design allows for customization to suit various missions, as reported by IE.
The Rogue 1 has enough energy for 30 minutes of flight and can reach speeds of 113 km/h. It can operate up to 10 km away from the operator and, according to the developer, can function without GPS. Additionally, the UAV can be retrieved and reused.
“Rogue 1 provides the flexibility, survivability, and lethality required on the modern battlefield,” said Lei Zifeng, vice president of Teledyne FLIP Defense. “With its unique ability to return and reuse in case of changes in targeting conditions, this innovative platform offers armed forces greater economy and versatility.”
Among Teledyne’s customers interested in the Rogue 1 drone is the US Marine Corps, which has already signed a $249 million contract with the company. The first 127 systems will be delivered to Marines this summer.
The innovative method of creating UAVs was developed by the US Air Force Strategic and Technological Center, which deals with non-traditional ways of meeting military tactical needs. It took 22.5 hours to manufacture six drones using the new technology.
