Q-SLAM-40 is the acronym for “Arquimea–Surgical Loitering Airborne Ammunition 40mm”, with the letter “Q” being the emblem chosen by the firm to distinguish its main products. It began to be developed in 2018, based on the previous Shepherd-MIL mini UAV developed by Arquimea for reconnaissance and artillery fire control missions. This falcon-shaped mini UAV is part of the Expal Eimos Cardom 81mm mortar carrier system.The Q-SLAM-40 system is designed to provide small units with an immediate response against nearby threats without having to call for close air support, which is sometimes not possible in a short period of time. The complete system is formed by the aerial platform (UAV), the tube launcher and the ground control station which includes an antenna and a rugged tablet. It weighs 28kg and is transported in two backpacks designed for this purpose and carried by a 2 people team. One of them contains the control station and the pneumatic launcher and the other carries 3 ammunition (UAS).The aerial platform (UAV) has an airframe with two wings of equal size located at the top front and bottom rear. The wings remain folded to benefit transport, unfolding automatically when launched into the air. At the rear of the fuselage it has a small electric motor that drives a two-blade propeller with which it reaches a maximum speed of 90 km/h, although it increases to 125 km/h in the final dive towards the target. This loitering ammunition is light and short-range, being able to attack targets up to 10 km away after a maximum flight time of 12 minutes. The maximum flight altitude is about 2,000 meters, but during the attack the drone flies between 20 and 200 meters.This loitering munition has an inertial guidance system and a Sony IMX290LQR-C camera that sends HD video images in real time to the ground control station, which allows its use in areas without GPS if the operator uses manual flight mode. An infrared (IR) vision module can also be installed and the system uses a high-speed digital encrypted, two-way data link that operates in the 2.4 GHz band. The UAV can be launched within 5 minutes after the order is given and it is ejected into the air by means of a pneumatic system formed by a plunger and some electronic valves. The launch tube is used for several launches, but after the first one a compressed air bottle must be used.It is specially designed to avoid collateral damage, so its warhead is a small 40mm explosive charge, (the black cylinder device on the image), suitable for attacking exposed personnel, machine gun nests, sniper positions, light vehicles and non-armoured equipment. In addition, the mission can be safely aborted at any time by the operator, who can modify the target area during the flight thanks to the visual detection offered in real time by the on-board camera. The lethal radius is about 10 meters and it has a security system that prevents the activation of the warhead if the UAV is not more than 200 meters away from the control station.The Q-SLAM-40 has 5 automatic flight modes and two attack modes. The automatic flight modes are: 1- “Roulette mode”, where the UAV orbits the control station until it receives instructions. 2- “Circuit mode”, following a predetermined flight repeatedly until further orders. 3- “To destination mode”, making a flight to an indicated place, waiting for new orders. 4- “Marauder mode”, where it arrives at a place and remains loitering following a predetermined orbit. 5- “Attack mode”, in which it follows a trajectory to hit a previously identified target.The operator can choose between two final approach (attack) modes depending on where the target is. One is the “standard attack” mode, in which the target is in open terrain and the approach is made by very level flight with slight glides. And the other is the “tactical attack” mode, where the target is in a covered place and difficult to access, so the approach is made through turns and abrupt dives.This kamikaze drone can be launched from any land or naval platform thanks to its small size and low weight. Currently the Q-SLAM-40 is not in service in any country, although the Spanish Army is undergoing a testing phase, so it is expected that it will enter service shortly. The Arquimea company is currently developing a new variant called Q-SLAM-100, which is heavier and has a longer range. This new system is capable of attacking larger targets such as armored vehicles and battle tanks.
