EDEX 2023: CyRIC AGS from Cyprus displays Dragonflyer-60 and Dragonflyer-81 gliders.

At EDEX 2023, CyRIC AGS, a Cyprus-based company specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of Unmanned Aerial and Ground vehicles (UAVs and UGVs), introduced the Dragonflyer series, a set of GPS-guided gliders designed for precision strikes. This series comprises two variants, the Dragonflyer-60 and Dragonflyer-81, both intended for transporting 60mm and 81mm mortar shells, respectively.

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 The Dragonflyer-60 has a maximum drop-off weight of 4kg, with a payload capacity of 60mm mortar shells ranging from 1.2kg to 1.6kg. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

These compact and foldable gliders are designed to be deployed from a mothership aircraft and feature a 5-to-1 glide ratio for efficient flight during operations.

A notable feature of the Dragonflyer gliders is their autonomous functionality. They receive target coordinates from a ground control station, allowing them to independently calculate the most efficient flight path to the target based on prevailing weather conditions. This autonomous capability aims to enhance precision in strikes and minimize collateral damage, positioning the gliders for utilization in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications.

The Dragonflyer-60 has a maximum drop-off weight of 4kg, with a payload capacity of 60mm mortar shells ranging from 1.2kg to 1.6kg. The glider operates at a cruise/glide speed of 162 km/h and a dive speed of 215 km/h. The range varies based on the altitude drop, with capabilities ranging from 1.9 km for a 500m altitude drop, 4.5 km for a 1,000m altitude drop, and up to 14.5 km at a 3,000m altitude drop. The compact Dragonflyer-60 has a wingspan of 1.1m, a width of 0.28m, a height of 0.16m, and a length ranging from 0.51m when unfolded to 0.62m when folded.

Similarly, the Dragonflyer-81 has a maximum drop-off weight of 5.5kg, accommodating 81mm mortar shells weighing between 3.5kg and 4.0kg. This glider operates at a cruise/glide speed of 195 km/h and a dive speed of 260 km/h. The range of the Dragonflyer-81 varies with altitude drops, ranging from 2 km for a 500m altitude drop, 4 km for a 1,000m altitude drop, and up to 12 km at a 3,000m altitude drop. The folded dimensions include a wingspan of 1.4m, a width of 0.36m, a height of 0.26m, and a length of 0.97m.