Koreans offer Papidrone-800 cardboard kamikaze drone, which is potentially cheaper than even FPV drones

Korean startup Peach showed its Papidrone-800 cardboard drone at KADEX 2024.

Here's What We Know

The drone itself is a flying wing, and it is designed for a maximum speed of up to 100 km/h, a flight range of up to 50 km or 20 minutes of flight. The Papidrone-800 also has a communication system with a range of up to 20 km.

The description states that the drone can carry a combat payload and can also be used for reconnaissance. However, given its technical characteristics, the role of a kamikaze drone may be more effective. The total take-off weight is only 1 kg, which limits the weight of the warhead to about 0.5 kg, which is usually the weight of a hand grenade.

In terms of operational capabilities, the drone can operate in wind speeds of up to 10 m/s. This corresponds to the standard "civilian" limit. Papidrone is also protected against moisture, with the cardboard used having an IPX3 protection level. The developers also demonstrated the possibility of flying in rainy conditions.

In the video, you can see that hot melt glue was used to attach the fuselage elements. Also, some of the body's power elements are still made of carbon, the equipment compartment is made of foam, and the drone has metal rods.

At the same time, the use of electronic components, as seen in the video, is reduced to a minimum number of boards.

In general, cardboard aircraft-type kamikaze drones potentially look cheaper than their quadcopter counterparts. If only because of the need for only one, not four, electric motors.

Source: Peach