South African defence and off-road specialist, Desert Wolf has unveiled the Skunk Riot Control Copter, which is designed to control unruly crowds without endangering the lives of security staff. The Skunk is equipped with 4 high-capacity paint ball barrels firing at up to 20 bullets per second each, with 80 Pepper bullets per second stopping any crowd in its tracks.
The current hopper capacity of 4000 bullets and High Pressure Carbon Fiber Air system it allows for real stopping power. Bright strobe lights, blinding Lasers and with on-board speakers enables communication and warnings to the crowd. The powerful Octa copters can also be operated in formation by a single operator. The lifting capability of the Skunk is 45 Kg due to the eight powerful OS Max electric motors with 16 Inch props.
Bright strobe lights and on-board speakers enable operators to communicate with and warn the crowed. If things get out of control the Skunk can use its four paintball guns to disperse or mark people in the crowd. Four ammunition hoppers can load different types of ammunition such as dye marker balls, pepper spray balls or solid plastic balls.
In addition to two high definition day cameras, the Skunk carries a FLIR thermal camera for night vision capability. A camera and microphone on the operator’s station records the operators (a pilot and payload operator) so their behaviour can be monitored. Hennie Kieser, Director of Desert Wolf, said people tend to be less aggressive when they are monitored.
Desert Wolf will soon deliver the first 25 units to customers in the mining industry and the UAV will enter service around June/July. Kieser said it was sad that the mines are in a predicament with strike related violence and this is why the mines are the biggest market for the system. A full system including cameras, ground control station etc. will cost around R500 000.
Kieser said Desert Wold will definitely export the Skunk into Africa, primarily for mining operations, and that South African success will lead to other orders. He felt the best market is not in South Africa because of the current legislation restricting drone use.
“I don’t think there’s anything like that in the world,” Kieser told defenceWeb regarding the made in South Africa UAV.
Sources: Web Site; defenceWeb
My company StratTech specialises in security technology and we are reselling drone technology across Africa. I will appreciate if you can get in touch with me as I would like to have a discussion about a big project I am currently involved with.
Christo,
Don’t forget that this is a news website, not the manufacturer.
To contact the manufacturer, click on the link in the article to Desert Wolf and I’m sure there’ll be a contact address…