Lightweight high tech mini drones procured by DE&S and used by the British Army are helping the military to think more about the rise of electronic warfare and how to combat it.

The Parrot Anafi USA is a Remotely Piloted Air System used by the British Army for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. Lightweight and compact, the Parrot Anafi is capable of being launched by patrols in under one minute and offers increased situational awareness.

The British Army uses this microdrone to improve situational awareness and oversight for ground forces. It is a compact, foldable drone that can be used for a variety of missions, including:

• Reconnaissance – soldiers can use the ANAFI USA to track their own positions, locate enemies, and share that information with their squad.
• Complex missions – it can maintain a connection with video, telemetry, and command and control for up to 32 minutes.
• Sensitive operations – it has a secured wireless link and SD card encryption for highly confidential missions.

Also able to operate in adverse weather conditions, the Parrot’s forward looking infra-red camera provides greater fidelity of imagery and detail. It also features a 32x zoom, 4K HDR video and thermal imaging capabilities designed around two cameras, one 21-megapixel and a 16 megapixel.

Sergeant Adam Barnes, of the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment, has used the Parrot extensively. He said:

“For where the British army’s use of drones is currently, the Parrot Anafi USA is brilliant in its use as a small and lightweight reconnaissance drone and for helping in directing fires from mortars and guns. From rifle companies to support company it is increasing our unit’s effectiveness ten-fold.”

Soldiers must complete a three-week course to qualify as a pilot for the Parrot drone. The British Army also has a racing club to encourage interest in FPV drones.

With the upcoming compatibility with battlefield software ATAK, users will be able to see which drones are friendly and which are not, avoiding confusion during battle.

Sgt Barnes adds:

“The use of drones is forcing us to think more about electronic warfare’s importance and how other aspects of the military can be affected by this and teaching us how to combat and avoid becoming victim to it.”