DSA 2024: DEFTECH completes development of Aludra EE UAV

DEFTECH's Aludra EE UAV – pictured above displayed at the DSA 2024 exhibition – has a length of 3.28 m, a width of 4.86 m, and a maximum take-off weight of 120 kg. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)

Malaysia's DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies (DEFTECH) showcased its tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – also known as Aludra EE – at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.

A company representative from DEFTECH told Janes at the exhibition that the development of the UAV is completed.

“The company has been testing the UAV since it was first displayed in the DSA 2022 exhibition, and DEFTECH conducted its last test with the UAV in February 2024,” the representative said.

“We [DEFTECH] have written a letter to the Royal Malaysian Air Force to conduct the user trials of the UAV and we are now awaiting a response from the service,” the representative added.

According to the company specifications, the UAV has a length of 3.28 m, a width of 4.86 m, and a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 120 kg.

The maximum range and endurance of the UAV are 100 km and 10 h respectively. The UAV can operate at an altitude of 4,000 ft and has a cruise speed of 40 kt.

The UAV follows a conventional take-off and landing method and has a maximum payload capacity of 10 kg.

The vehicle is powered by a 25 hp, two-cylinder piston engine. The UAV can be used in aerial surveillance, monitoring, search and rescue, inspection, precision farming, and mapping, among others.

In addition, DEFTECH unveiled the XB-M1 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft at the exhibition.