By Zape @Adobe Stock
Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Gwladys Fouche of Reuters report that in 2023, Mads Petersen of Arctic Unmanned tested a drone at minus 43°C, but the battery lasted only three minutes. As the Arctic heats up geopolitically, countries like Russia, NATO, and the U.S. are racing to develop drones capable of enduring harsh conditions. With Russia already deploying Arctic-capable UAVs, NATO members like Norway and Canada are investing in winter-ready drones, while startups are innovating anti-icing technologies for military use in the region. They write:
In 2023, Mads Petersen, owner of Greenland-based startup Arctic Unmanned, sat in a car to keep warm while he tested a small drone at minus 43 degrees Celsius (minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit).
The cold soon drained the drone’s power.
“The battery only lasted for three minutes,” he said.
Governments in the world’s far north are seeking to overcome such challenges as the region comes increasingly into the geopolitical spotlight. […]
Russia’s Zala Aero, part of the Kalashnikov Group, already offers drones designed for extreme Arctic conditions and Russia has also said its long-range S-70 Okhotnik combat drone can operate at minus 12 Celsius and will be deployed there.
“We’re moving towards a point where Russia will not only have unarmed surveillance drone systems along the Northern Sea Route, but potentially armed systems that are constantly patrolling those areas as well,” said Rogers.
He said NATO had been slow to devise a coherent response. NATO said it has strengthened its presence in the Arctic and set up a new Command to keep Atlantic lines free and secure; NATO states are investing in new air and maritime capabilities. […]
Ubiq said it has recently signed contracts to provide anti-icing protection for drones with Boeing and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), worth over $5 million, and has deals for anti-icing drone products with the Norwegian armed forces and U.S. defense industry companies Textron Systems (TXT.N), and Northrop Grumman (NOC.N).
Finland-based company Nordic Drones also uses an automated system that helps the craft detect – and dodge – areas with fog or snow. That company was bought last year by Patria, a Finnish-Norwegian joint venture in which the Finnish state holds a majority.
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