New Delhi: In a deal with the UAE armed forces, a regional leader in autonomous systems and services ADASI has officially launched the Garmousha vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone.

A light military unmanned aircraft, the drone is designed to carry 100 kg over a six-hour period and 150 km with a high-definition camera.

It saves manned helicopters for critical missions and can also be used to detect gas pipeline leaks, to survey infrastructure and for search and rescue operations.

The chief executive officer and managing director of EDGE, Faisal Al Bannai, said: “Drone technology is revolutionising our world, creating safer and cheaper alternative to manned aircraft.”

“As an unmanned system, the launch of the sophisticated Garmousha drone helps advance ADASI’s vision for the future of defence, while strengthening the company’s position as the regional leader in autonomous systems and services,” he said.

The drone can simultaneously carry a wide variety of payloads, including a stabilised electro-optical sensor for day and night ISR collection.

With a low-consumption diesel engine, its unmanned navigation and concurrent sensor capabilities make it a versatile system capable of solving some of the most difficult challenges in rugged environments.