Flyby Technology, in collaboration with Turkish partners FlyBVLOS Technology and Maxwell Innovations, has completed a successful trial firing of a Thales Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) using its new JACKAL drone system.

The trial was sponsored by the Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) of the Royal Air Force and involved teams from Flyby and the technology company Thales, which also manufactures the LMM.

JACKAL is a drone system that is capable of performing various types of combat missions over land, sea, and air. The system was designed to fill a gap in modern combat operations and has been developed by experts at Flyby Technology.

The JACKAL drone is a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) platform and can be used for Battlefield Air Interdiction, Close Air Support, engaging helicopters in flight, and killing tanks.

The trial demonstrated the drone’s capabilities in just a six-week window, during which Flyby and Thales were able to build two operational JACKAL aircraft and fire two LMMs.

According to Flyby Technology, many countries are unable to afford modern attack helicopters or fast jets, and JACKAL offers a cost-effective solution with little risk. The drone’s vertical take-off and landing capabilities eliminate the need for vulnerable runways and allow it to operate from hidden locations such as woods and urban areas.

The successful trial firing marks a step forward in the potential of unmanned air combat. The company was asked to brief the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) on their new drone system following the invasion of Ukraine.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

41 COMMENTS

          • I’m sure Ukraine would make very good use of them!

            “As a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) platform, JACKAL is designed to satisfy a number of roles, including Battlefield Air Interdiction, Close Air Support, engaging helicopters in flight and killing tanks, to deny the use of runways and roads.”

            LINK

          • Marlet has both surface and air capabilities, hence the name Light Weight Multirole Missile. It would be more than sufficient to take out a helicopter just as it’s been proven to do with drone in Ukraine.

          • Correct, but Starstreak has a speed of More than Mach 4 while Martlet’s speed is Mack 1.5.

            So, depending on the role, you would have a choice if it fitted into the current design parameters.

          • So LMM should be fine for most contacts flying low over a battlefield- unless they are facing Airwolf (loved that programme) then the LMM should be fine shouldnt it?

          • As for Airwolf, It seems Turkey is doing well in the drone/helo market these days!

            “Turkey’s new T929 ATAK 2 broke cover on 24 April, with Turkish Aerospace (TA) releasing new imagery and information on the heavy attack helicopter to coincide with its first engine run trials.”

            LINK

          • I think you may be right, with the mixed capabilities.
            Same with the army buying Carl Gustav’s as a partial replacement for NLAW; I have a feeling that action in Ukraine has shown that the higher-end capabilities are not always required, and quantity of rounds (and ease of rapid re-stock) is a lot more important than perhaps thought. I certainly think that NLAW and Javelin have a place, but the urban and close fighting seen in Ukraine would suit the CG better in many ways.

          • If I recall correctly, LMM has already replaced or is at least complimenting Starstreak for the shoulder-launched version of the SAM system. So, if Ukraine is anything to go by, that
            helicopter killing capability is already proven for LMM.

        • I don’t think there’s a whole lot of difference in terms of form factor between LMM and APKWS, and they’re both laser-guided, so may already fit the bill?

      • Good point. But if you have one drone doing surveillance and launch a flight of these to engage the identified targets.

        Like having an OP call on a troop of Swinfire vehicles.

        But without the Swingfire and SLRs.

    • I looks to be that it’s a fixed wing craft with VTOL and they just don’t have the wings fitted for this test. That “wingtip” point you can see is more than likely the mounting point for the outer wing.

  3. I like how the RAF are going with this, that it’s cheap to produce and just as cheap to lose, but with the ability to deal some damage

    • Hi Farouk, OK I’m not ex-forces so have limited knowledge of areas of responsibility in a battle space but, with the Army using Apache (not the RAF), and, I presume, the need for this to be pretty much ‘on’ the frontline (given the range of Martlet), why isn’t this more of an Army requirement? Strikes me as a grey area of responsibility, am I right? Still, not knocking the MOD’s move to be a first adopter of such a system, looks a bit Robbo-cop! Would a drone-killer not be more of an urgent requirement though …. and using in-expensive ammunition (small calibre cannon rounds and not expensive missiles)?

      • It really does not matter whose requirement it is, so long as the capability is there and we operate as integrated forces. Sure, it’s a grey area, but we have it and that’s what matters. Sure they know what the most urgent requirement is better than any of us civvies, and equally sure they only publicise what they want to publicise for operational reasons.

    • Are they swarmable? And what happened with 216s much heralded swarming tech they were looking into when they were stood up? Or was that all PR and no reality as well? J mentioned here the other week was discovered through FOIA 216 only had only a couple of staff!

  4. I don’t think at £190’000 each, they will be bought in any useful amount, much like the REAPER \ PROTECTOR
    Therefore they are only for certain missions

    They do look good and they have potential

    But as the Ukrainians are showing, the modified DJI Mavic
    and their own R18 plus various kamikaze drones are the ones doing serious damage
    They are cheaper and expendable
    Easy to store, and the logistics chain to front-line use is working

    Drone teams, one reconnaissance drone watching and scouting the other drone strike targets by dropping grenades or by kamikaze

    • £190K each- surely if HMG and other NATO allies like the drone economies of scale will come into play an order for 500 drones should bring the cost done nicely you’d think.

    • At £190k that is straight up attritable and value for money to be honest, especially if it’s got good ISR sensors too. That’s cheaper than a Javelin system, and a lot of those DJIs are actually pretty pricey…

  5. OK it was on a static line for this exercise but what would /could be the overall flight time when fitted out just wondering

      • Thanks John ,over the horizon capabilities with camera link there’s bound too be a fight over which service gets to operate them

  6. Flyby Technology CEO Jon Parker is a former RAF and Royal Navy fighter pilot and he and his team have brought many years of operational experience to bear in the design of this capability. This is what he said:-

    “War is about winning, and JACKAL is designed by war fighters for that ultimate aim. The days of having a Fighter Pilot in the cockpit are numbered and I realise I will not perhaps be loved for bringing about the end of my own kind. But the future of warfare is changing and JACKAL is part of that future as a true multi-role attack aircraft. We want to make JACKAL a flagship product, creating secure UK jobs and contributing to a new future for the British aerospace and defense industries”

    This is a nice YouTube of the JACKAL system in flight. Sorry about the good looking lass at the beginning

    https://youtu.be/n1S8yMeBJKw

  8. Interestingly it looks as if it can be fitted with wing extensions out board of the vertical lift rotors. It is also equipped with ducked fans inboard of the lift rotors so my gues is that it has the potential to take off vertically with the rotors and then transion to conventional or some kind of hybrid horizonal flight mode.

    Just a guess…

    Cheers CR

  9. Wasnt aware of this drone- it looks decent and seems to have some considerable capabilities over a contested battlefield- if these drones can be networked and AI controlled with perhaps one operative controlling a squadron of 12 drones then we are onto a winner here. Get them ordered in vast numbers.

    • “The JACKAL team is now developing plans for the productisation of the capability while the aircraft is undergoing other enhancements and tactical development.”

      “Jackal, which can take off and land vertically with 8 engines, can reach high speeds with 4 EDF engines on it. The Jackal can carry a load of 15 kilograms and reach a range of 100** kilometres.

      New versions are planned with the aim to increase the payload and range capacity.”

      LINK

    • You really think they will? It is getting depressingly familiar having the same old “informing decisions” comments from MoD as the can gets kicked down the road yet again and meanwhile other nations get on and field assets.
      Just buy something in number at an affordable price to get experience?

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here