The Australian Defence Force has expanded its drone capabilities in Tasmania with the introduction of the cutting-edge Edge 130-B unmanned aerial system (UAS).
Four soldiers from 2nd/10th Battery, 9th Regiment, Royal Australia Artillery trained in operating the aerial device will soon begin teaching other troops across the state how to operate the new drones.
Lieutenant Samuel Diprose Adams, based in Launceston, was among the first to complete the course at the Buckland Military Training Area.
“It is always exciting to see the latest innovations in drone technology and see how fast the technology is improving,” he said.
“Whether it’s new and better cameras, better flight profiles, longer batteries or a combination, each new drone enables us to do more.
“They create exciting new opportunities for how we can use them for training, in the field, on deployment or working with others like local emergency services drone teams.”
The drones can be used for various purposes during exercises and potential disaster relief efforts, including route reconnaissance, terrain analysis and convoy overwatch.
“With further investment in drone technology expected, these skills will continue to enhance the capability within our Defence Force in Tasmania,” Diprose Adams said.
“Training new drone pilots also means we have more people that can use these drones should help be needed.”
The Edge 130-B is a small, military-grade tricopter designed specifically for government and military applications.
It can be assembled and hand-launched in one minute and features long-range autonomy, a flight time of over two-hours and a variety of sensors, including cameras and infrared imagers.
