Automaker General Motors exhibited its Blade Edition, a Humvee saber equipped with drones, including an anti-drone system. The UAV transport has worked with drone manufacturer AeroVironment and remote weapon station maker Hornet Defense; anti-drone systems and all integrated into the Hummer Blade platform, per Cision.
Latest Blade Edition of HUMVEE Saber
Compared to the standard Hummers, the new variant has updated all-around ballistic and blast protection; it can also resist mines and makeshift explosives. The vehicle's transmission, and suspension with another improvement superior to standard versions, reported The EurAsian Times.
Blade Hummer variant has mounted launchers that deploy the Switchblade 300/600 suicide drones, controlled by the Hornet Air Guard Remote Controlled Weapon System (RCWS) turret placed on the 4x4's roof, states The Drive.
The vehicle could be packed with up to 10 Switchblade 600 loitering munitions in specific launch tubes and four Switchblade 300s in specially built cells, two on each side of the launcher assembly.
Its characteristics of the 300 version weigh 2.5 kilograms, including the warhead, and has a radius of 10 kilometers. It can stay up for 15 minutes and attack in that time.
While the Switchblade 600 variant has a range of 40 kilometers, it weighs 54.4 kilograms and is equipped with a dual electro-optical and infrared sensor suite on the Blade edition Humvee Saber. With a stamina of 40 minutes, it could be used against bigger, hard targets by an anti-armor munition so doesn't need external monitoring or fire resources.
Both Switchblade types are equipped with an imaging sensor, and their operators on the ground can view the live video feeds captured by these cameras via a tablet-like controller.
These unmanned aerial vehicles could be engaged for reconnaissance and monitoring purposes and can instantly attack targets that could come up, in addition to attempting to hit the already recognized targets.
Special Features of the UAV
These UAVs have an impressive function called "waved off" capability that allows for the avoidance of collateral damage. For instance, if circumstances change after release, it could engage a supplementary target or self-destruct without experiencing casualty rates or property damage.
Its manufacturer says that a two-second window can delay the impact on the primary target. But the Switchblade 600 has more than wave-off, with a recommit function that will hit the original target or multiple targets more than once.
AeroVironment plans to include increased autonomy in the Switchblade series in the long term. That will consist of the possibility of clusters of these drones being used for swarming strikes that will encompass more quickly and overpower enemy defense systems.
Other Components of Blade Edition
The Air Guard RCWS includes an imaging sensor, a tiny radar, and a 40-millimeter automatic grenade launcher with air-bursting ammo intended primarily against unmanned aircraft (UAVs).
As said by Hornet, its turret has a distinct drone detection ring that can instantly notify the operator if a UAV is spotted, which can then be verified visually and attacked.
John Chadbourne, AM General EVP, asserted that with HUMVEE Saber Blade Edition, they continue to push the limits of lethality and defense on the battlefield, and they are pleased with the combined effort fostered by AeroVironment and Hornet to introduce the above concept to reality.
Like similar developments by other defense firms, the Blade edition of the Humvee Saber, with drones and anti-drone system defense, leverages the platform's technology.
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