- Hand-launched, “throw-and-forget” design for rapid deployment
- 155 mph top speed and 40-mile range
- Multi-role capabilities including ISR, resupply, and counter-UAS
An American startup, XDown, has revealed its latest innovation in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS): the P.S. Killer (PSK), a kamikaze drone shaped like an American football. This unique design allows for hand-launching, enabling rapid deployment in just two seconds, similar to a quarterback throwing a football. XDown describes the PSK as a “throw-and-forget multi-role tactical UAS.”
The PSK weighs 1.7 lbs and can carry an equivalent payload. Its impressive top speed of 155 mph and 40-mile range (depending on payload) make it a potentially valuable asset for US Special Operations Forces (SOF), providing enhanced speed, stealth, and swarm capabilities. XDown’s mission is to “anticipate modern warfare and future combat strategies by providing the US army with complex aerial support through cutting-edge technologies integrating stealth, a rapid deployment high-speed tactical modules.”
Beyond its kamikaze capabilities, the PSK is designed for multi-role functionality. It can be equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) by swapping the explosive payload for cameras. It can also be used for resupply missions, delivering essential items like food, ammunition, or medical kits. Furthermore, XDown states the PSK can neutralize armored vehicles and tanks with precision strikes. The drone is also being considered for air defense roles, including counter-UAS operations, and can provide aerial surveillance for convoys and detect enemy snipers or fortifications. XDown suggests the PSK could also be utilized in maritime environments for ISR, search and rescue, and other missions.
XDown founder Alexander Balan highlighted the PSK’s ease of use, stating, “Imagine, I can upload the mission in a second, throw it from here, forget about it, and it will strike a high-value target (HVT) 40 miles away – fast, accurate, and quiet.”
While the price and formal launch date are yet to be announced, XDown anticipates the PSK will be competitively priced. The increasing use of drones in modern warfare underscores the importance of such technologies. The PSK and similar innovations aim to provide US forces with a decisive edge in future conflicts.
- This article originally appeared in The New Digital’s AI and Tech News website.
