UK Border Drone Catches Fire on M20 Motorway in Kent
In a press statement Kent Fire and Rescue Service[1] has confirmed todays drone incident in Kent, UK was pretty much a nothing burger. Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a fire on the M20 between junctions 12 and 13, near Folkestone. Two fire engines attended, and crews discovered that a small remote-controlled aircraft, being transported in a vehicle, had caught alight.
Firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported. Tekever drones are used in the English Channel to monitor small boats crossing the channel.
The airframe in question was an AR 5 Evolution, G TEKE The AR5 is a large, twin-engine drone that can stay in the air for over 20 hours. It's equipped with various sensors, including maritime radars and both day and night cameras.
Its mission is to spot, identify, and track potentially illegal vessels, then send that information to authorities in real time. For example, if a boat is crossing the Channel suspiciously, the AR5 would be tasked with following it to confirm if it's an illegal vessel and to help coordinate an interception. Supporting the AR5 is the AR3, a more tactical and flexible drone.
It has a 16-hour flight time and can be launched with a mobile catapult or take off vertically.
The AR3 is used to complement the AR5's missions, providing a closer look when needed.
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References
- ^ Kent Fire and Rescue Service (www.kent.fire-uk.org)