Army bosses plan to buy drones that can be fired from VANS after Ukraine's devastating attack on Russia
THE Army plans to buy drones which can be launched out of vans after Ukraine blitzed a third of Russia's bombers from lorries.
Top Brass issued a request for a covert launcher that fits in a 'Sprinter truck or regular Transit van'.
The weapon, codenamed Project Volley, must be robust, simple to use, weigh no more than 275kg, and fire at least five drones in four minutes at speeds of 200kmph.
The MoD put out a message to industry, known as a 'notice for contracts', and will potentially give the launchers to Ukraine.
It said: 'The user will use the launcher in a high-threat environment with persistent enemy surveillance.
'Therefore it must create a minimal signature — acoustic, heat, visual when used, eg hiding in plain sight.'
It comes after Ukraine claimed to have destroyed at least 41 Russian aircraft on Sunday with 117 drones hidden on cargo trucks.
They were in pre-fabricated sheds that were loaded on to flatbed trucks and driven across Russia.
As they neared airfields, the roofs of the sheds flipped open and the drones took off.
They destroyed Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers and prized A-50 Beriev command and control aircraft.
Russia continues to launch drone strikes of its own, including one on a residential area in Kharkiv yesterday.
The MoD's notice stressed urgency by saying that it is not interested in solutions 'that will not be ready for UK field demonstration or testing in October'.
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The MoD said Project Volley was part of a £5billion investment in 'advanced new weapons' based on lessons learned from Ukraine.
It added: 'This investment will improve accuracy and lethality for our Armed Forces, while boosting UK export potential.'
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