Altair Technologies presents new drone-mother Thor

The Ukrainian company Altair Technologies presented the drone-mother Thor Operator at the international defence exhibition MSPO in Poland. The new drone has already seen combat use, Militarnyi reports.

The stand showcased a version with an electric motor, capable of carrying up to 6 kg of payload, covering a distance of up to 170 km, and operating for 60 minutes with a take-off weight of up to 17.5 kg. There is also a modification with an internal combustion engine, which has a range of up to 400 km, can transport up to 8 kg, and can remain in the air for up to 240 minutes with a take-off weight of up to 28 kg. Both versions are equipped with two suspension points for drones or munitions.

In combat conditions, the Thor has already been used to deploy FPV drones and VOGs. To intercept Shaheds, a special module is provided, mounted under the wing; it is not capable of pursuing reactive targets but is effective against conventional drones. The device supports three control modes—automatic, semi-automatic, and manual—and, in the event of loss of communication, switches to autonomous flight mode with an auto-return function.

Despite its Ukrainian origin, most of the drone’s components are imported. The current version is focused on supporting FPV drones and can function as a signal repeater. For reconnaissance missions, another model with a retractable high-resolution camera and a stabilisation system is better suited.

According to the manufacturer, the Thors are launched from a catapult, require 15–20 minutes for deployment, and need two or three operators.

It is also worth noting that the Brave1 cluster previously reported testing a drone with AI capabilities that can carry two other drones over distances of up to 300 km. In addition, ground robotic complexes have begun to be used as carriers for drones.