Drone to airlift troops to safety

WOUNDED British troops could be airlifted to safety away from the front line by hi-tech drones.

- BY JAMES KNUCKEY

HYDRA 400 in action at plant and, inset, can be fully kitted out

A new ultra-heavy-lift craft is being billed as a low-cost alternative to helicopter medevacs.

Made in the UK, the HYDRA-400’s flexibility means it can be deployed to carry injured soldiers or even be fitted with missiles, acting as “an Apache gunship in the boot of a soldier's car”.

Its makers say it is equally suited to the civilian world, such as firefighting or disaster response.

The uncrewed aerial vehicle can be transported in the back of a flatbed truck and lift up to 400kg.

Hampshire-based maker Hybrid Drones believes its lift capability is greater than any UAV in the world.