Terminal Autonomy AQ-400 Scythe
| Industry | Defense, Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2022 |
| Founder | Two military veterans from the UK and Australia, Ukrainian engineer |
| Headquarters | Ukraine |
| Products | AQ-400 Scythe loitering munition drone |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2023) |
The AQ-400 Scythe is a one-way strike drone classified as a loitering munition, engineered and produced by the Ukrainian firm Terminal Autonomy amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
History
Established in mid-2022 under the original name One Way Aerospace, Terminal Autonomy was founded by two military veterans from the UK and Australia alongside a Ukrainian engineer with the aim of creating affordable, locally manufactured kamikaze drones. Among their innovations was the AQ-400, which was unveiled for the first time in early 2023.[1] The initial delivery of these drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine occurred in December 2023. Production targets began at 100 units monthly, with plans to boost output to 500 per month by the second quarter of 2024, ultimately aiming for a monthly manufacture rate of 1,000 units.[2][3][4]
Design
The AQ-400 is distinguished by its rapid assembly process, suitability for mass production, and affordability. Its airframe is constructed from milled plywood sheets sourced from civilian furniture manufacturers—a scalable alternative to methods like 3-D printing or materials such as fiberglass. This approach eliminates the need for specialized skills during manufacturing, enabling large-scale production within Ukraine. While some parts are imported, the emphasis remains on maximizing domestic fabrication. The drone features two pairs of wings—front and rear—with a wingspan measuring 2.3 m; up to thirty fully assembled units can be efficiently packed into a single shipping container. Launch methods include short runway takeoffs using integrated tricycle landing gear or catapult-assisted launches employing rocket boosters. The total weight is approximately 100 kg, carrying a payload of 43 kg that includes a warhead weighing 32 kg, which may be thermobaric or contain dual 122 mm artillery rounds. Powered by a standard gas engine coupled with a pusher propeller, the AQ-400 cruises at around 144 km/h (89 mph) and can reach speeds up to 200 km/h. It boasts an endurance of six and a half hours and an operational range of 750 km; depending on engine configuration, this range can extend to 900 km (560 mi), or alternatively, payload capacity can increase to 70 kg (150 lb) at the expense of range.[2][3][4][5][6]
For low-altitude navigation, the drone employs a laser altimeter maintaining flight at approximately 30 m to reduce susceptibility to electronic warfare jamming targeting GPS navigation, only activating GPS guidance near its destination. At higher altitudes up to 3,000 m, it relies on visual positioning systems that use roads and other landmarks for navigation. An optional video transmission feature enables operators to manually steer the drone toward moving targets; however, this increases costs and limits operational range. The base airframe is priced around USD$15,000, rising to USD$30,000 when equipped with advanced guidance systems and additional functionalities—comparable to Russia’s Shahed-136 loitering munitions priced near USD$20,000. Swarm tactics involve a leader-follower formation where one drone equipped with navigation hardware directs nine simpler drones designed to saturate target zones and divert enemy defenses away from high-value units. This strategy aims to overwhelm air defense systems by forcing them to expend costly interceptors on less expensive targets, gradually depleting their resources.[3][4]
Operators
See also
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References
- ↑ One Way Aerospace to demo Ukraine-made kamikaze drones to NATO. Defense News. 24 April 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ukraine starts mass production of 750 km range “kamikaze” drones. Euromaidan Press. 17 December 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Scythe Attack Drone Is Ukraine's Answer To Russia's Shaheds. Forbes. 17 December 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ukraine's Scythe Drone Is All About Striking Far Away As Cheaply As Possible. The War Zone. 19 December 2023.
- ↑ "To Moscow: Ukraine boasts new simplified 750 km range drone". bulgarianmilitary.com. December 16, 2023.
- ↑ "The Ukrainian military received AQ 400 Scythe long-range unmanned aerial vehicles". mil.in.ua.