QinetiQ has unveiled its Jackdaw uncrewed aerial system (UAS).
Jackdaw is characterised as a low-cost, high-performance ‘disposable’ UAS, crafted specifically for swarming operations and collaborative autonomous missions.
This includes tasks like reconnaissance, electronic warfare, airborne decoy, and threat representation.
With capabilities spanning ISR, electronic warfare, decoy roles, and threat representation, Jackdaw supports 30kg payloads, 3+ hrs endurance, speeds of 400kts, and 30,000ft altitudes. Designed and manufactured in the UK. https://t.co/g4ClVr1vdp
— George Allison (@geoallison) September 12, 2023
According to the company, Jackdaw could change the dynamics of combat missions. Rather than relying on limited numbers of costly crewed aerial platforms, armed forces could deploy large numbers of UAS, potentially reducing operational risks and costs, while also enhancing mission effectiveness and reducing threat to human lives.
Mick Andrae, Global Campaign Director, Robotics & Autonomous Systems at QinetiQ, remarked: “The Jackdaw concept leverages QinetiQ’s expertise in very low-cost high-performance aerial targets […] and is enhanced with autonomous mission management and human-machine teaming capabilities.”
Importantly, Jackdaw’s autonomous mission system plans to integrate with NATO and allied open architectures, ensuring compatibility with present and future systems.
Although Jackdaw is reusable, its affordability offers commanders the flexibility to forgo assets as the situation demands. Collaborating with entities like BAE Systems and Inzpire, Jackdaw will be a part of a family of UAS which will function cohesively, facilitating swifter deployment and centralised management.
Jackdaw’s potential applications span a wide range, including:
- ISR (Reconnaissance and intelligence gathering)
- Electronic Warfare
- Active and passive decoy roles
- Complex threat representation
Designed to be modular, Jackdaw will support 30kg of payload, offer over three hours of endurance, and can reach speeds of 400kts and altitudes of 30,000ft. Both its design and manufacturing processes are rooted in the UK, underscoring the nation’s sovereign resilience and paving the way for its adoption by allied countries.
As of now, the Jackdaw design programme is in progress, particularly focusing on autonomous mission management and human-machine teaming capabilities. Availability is expected from the mid-2020s.
Looks great but no mention of how it’s reusable, does it have wheels?
Also jackdaw is a terrible name. Worst UK name since sea Ceptor and we are normally so good at naming things.
Bring back project mosquito name and buy 1000 of these.
It’s Banshee-like, ramp launched, and I’d guess it will be collected in the same way. I think this might be an outgrowth of Project Vampire, but with a much smaller payload and hopefully a tiny cost.
I don’t think it is the same as mosquito/LANKA programme so they are probably saving mosquito name for something else
It will be affordable until MOD procurement get their grubby mits on it.
You want 1000 you can have 20. Massively over budget, 10 years late and wont work.
Total cost for 10 will be more than the 1000.
You all know its true.
QinetiQ have a damn good record in delivering what they work on, and damn quickly just ask the Ukranians about their innovative work, I really don’t understand why they would be slated if looked upon objectively, this self flagellation when in this case it’s uncalled for, achieves nothing constructive surely. Criticise them as and when they fail not in some undeserved expectation of it..
“Low Cost” from the mainstream defence industry means it will still cost a hefty sum and not be affordable in large numbers. Looking at what’s been happening in Ukraine this is too high performance and capable to be called “low cost”.
30kg payload? Only 3 hours? 400 kts? Doesn’t sound like a special combat drone to me. Definitely not a ‘loyal wingman’ type drone. At this level, it’s going to find plenty of competition (including loitering munitions). This is like the standard HE 155mm artillery shell. Effective? Yes. It’s not Volcano or Excalibur though.
I think, going forward, this type of drone will be everywhere. If you aren’t at this level, you will soon be behind. Beware the ‘cardboard’ drone though. The greatest threat to high tech is low tech.
Agree hardly jaw dropping seems only a modest step up from the SAGEM Crecerelle.
It says 30kg internal payload, I note some of the other drones being mentioned are shown with external payloads (Kratos Airwolf with an unknown Bae payload for example) so what are these others internal payload (if any) and what external payload can the Jackdaw carry (if any). We need to compare apples with apples.
30kg is not a lot of payload!
Underlining not underscoring
The War Zone has also taken a look at the Jackdaw programme; worth a look.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/britains-new-jackdaw-combat-drone-aims-to-be-disposable
All defence deals with the US should be put on hold and other partners sought until our ‘ally’ unblocks a trade deal. These purchases are an exhorbitantly expensive one-way pipeline with bread crumb benefits aimed more US security and interests than our own. EU, Japan and others are out there.
Why not shoot yourself in the foot? Same result but quicker and cheaper.
Indeed I sometimes despair at what I read. Worse still we have spent so many years of shooting ourselves in the foot we barely have a foot to shoot at let alone a finger to put up at the yanks,
Great idea, good design and concept but lousy name and it has two major obstacles standi
in ts way! One, the MOD Procurement Department’s who’ll turn it into an expensive white hefalump and Politicians who will do their usual thing and either not buy enough or too many and find we have no assets to control them! How much longer will we tolerate bad Defence Management?