DSA 2022: Deftech from Malaysia unveils its new local-made drone Aludra EE.

On March 29, 2022, the Defense Company Deftech Unmanned Systems, a subdivision of the Malaysian company Deftech, unveils its new local-made UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) during the DSA 2022 defense exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. This new drone is fully designed and developed in Malaysia under the brand name Aludra EE.

Malaysian company Deftech unveils its new local-made UAV during DSA 2022 defense exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Picture source Army Recognition)

DRB-HICOM Defense Technologies Sdn Bhd, officially known as DefTech, is a Malaysian defense company involved in the development, manufacture and supply of armored and logistic vehicles for the military and homeland security market.

Citing LT Col Bakhtiar Nor Bin, Defetech Unmanned Systems has launched the development of this new drone in collaboration with the local defense industry and Malaysian engineers with the goal to create their own UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) capabilities fully designed and developed in Malaysia using OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) for the engine and the optics.

The drone unveiled at DSA 2022 is a prototype that has already conducted landing and take-off tests. Full flight tests will be performed in April

The Aludra EE drone has been designed to conduct reconnaissance and observation missions as well as Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). The drone features a high-mounted monoplane wing arrangement and twin-tail-finned empennage. The optic is mounted at the front under the fuselage. The engine is located at the rear of the fuselage in a "pusher" configuration, driving a two-bladed propeller. The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 120kg. It can fly at a maximum speed of 112 km at a maximum altitude of 1,200 m.

The Aludra EE drone is fitted with a tricycle landing gear with two wheels mounted on the lower part of the rear of the fuselage and one nose wheel under the fuselage at the front. The drone has a payload capacity of 10 kg. It has a wingspan of 4.86m and a length of 3.28 m. It has an endurance of 10 hours with a maximum range of 100 km.