CHAOS 12GA weapon payload delivered for UK Defence and Security Accelerator Contracts
CERBERUS Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with CHAOS 12GA
Skyborne Technologies, specialising in smart aerial robotic platforms R&D, have developed the CHAOS 12GA, a 10-shot 12 gauge shotgun weapon payload system for Skyborne's flagship product - the Cerberus Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The prototype was developed for a 3 month contracts awarded by the UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) for a Unmanned Air Systems in Urban Environments competition.
The UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition seeks new and emerging technologies that could enable a weaponised urban-optimised UAV, with an integrated lethal payload for urban combat environment operations. The UK forces have identified an advancement of military capability can be achieved through tactical weaponised UAS, specifically reducing threat to life for soldiers operating in urban areas. The competition seeks prototype weaponised UAV which provide:
ability to observe and target threats while maintaining "human-in-the-loop" engagement
reduction in operator burden in complex urban environments
delivery of a lethal force and perform post-engagement assessment
rapidly reload and resupply in an urban combat environment
use NATO standard ammunition if possible
operate within a variety of internal spaces - residential dwellings to large open building complexes
Skyborne successfully completed the 3 month contracts between May 2021 and July 2021 and delivered:
A Prototype CHAOS 10-shot 12GA weapon system for integration with a Cerberus UAV (ground fire testing only)
A prototype Cerberus UAV with the CHAOS 12GA weapon system integrated (flight demo only)
A Bench demonstration of Cerberus UAV Next Gen Flight Computer enabled for AI
Post processed Athena AI demonstration on footage collected from an urban flight demonstration
The outcomes from the UK DASA prototype contracts have been handed over to the British Ministry of Defence stakeholders to discuss the next spiral of the capability development project.
The CHAOS 12GA weapon system design leverages from Skyborne's existing HAVOC 40mm Launcher developed for the Cerberus UAV under an Australian Centre of Defence Industry Centre Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grant. The CHAOS weapon system is equipped with a solenoid firing pin, can be loaded with 10 standard 12 GA shotgun rounds, servo select round chamber for round selection and can fire up to 70 rounds per minute (with further development capable of achieving 120 rounds per minute). The CHAOS 12GA is not only for Defence application with lethal rounds but can be used with non-lethal 12GA rounds for law enforcement and security applications.
The CHAOS 12GA will be offered as a standalone UxV weapon system for other unmanned aerial/ground vehicles.
Dr. Michael Creagh, Chief Executive Officer, says "Skyborne was the only company in the UK competition to be awarded both Lot 1 and Lot 2 contracts. We are incredibly pleased to not only have delivered the contracts as outlined, but with some additional demonstrations of AI technology from Athena AI. I am personally very impressed with our A-team of engineers to have delivered prototype capability so quickly."
Adrian Dudok, Chief Business Officer, says "The CHAOS 12GA developed for the UK contracts was leveraged from technology developed under an Australian Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grant. The UK is the first nation and military end user to sponsor Skyborne's flagship tri-tilt-rotor UAV, the Cerberus. Many militaries are beginning to understand the importance to invest in Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to ensure they are prepared for urban environment combat whilst protecting the solider."
Dr. Martyn Fletcher, UK DASA Technical Partner for the work, says “Skyborne have done a sterling job in modifying their high-performance Cerberus UAV with its 40mm grenade launcher and adapting it to operate with the CHAOS 12-gauge shotgun to better meet the requirements of UK armed forces that are conducting complex missions in urban settings where operating with quiet precision and delivering lethal effect are paramount. Skyborne have been a pleasure to work with due to their professionalism, innovation and responsive attitude; they have delivered a top-notch solution – in very short time – that UK MOD can use to take into subsequent development.”
