One Way Aerospace, a technology company focused on delivering advanced defense capabilities, has emerged from stealth with its groundbreaking Scalpel AQV 100 loitering munition. The company’s founders include British Airforce veteran James Earl, Francisco Serra-Martins, a former Australian combat engineer and investor listed on Forbes 30 under 30, and Roman Antonov, former CTO of Doroni and engineer from Antonov Design Bureau.
The Scalpel AQV 100 is a miniature loitering munition designed by One Way Aerospace and used by several branches of the Ukrainian military. The loitering munition system is built around a highly advanced targeting system featuring cutting-edge sensors and optics, enabling operators to identify and track targets with unprecedented accuracy. The system is also highly maneuverable, making it capable of engaging targets even in difficult or hard-to-reach locations like urban environments.
Small enough to fit in a backpack, the Scalpel launches without any hardware, flies to the target area and kinetically engages its target while detonating its explosive warhead. The name Scalpel comes from the precision of the hardware, with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than a meter. Armed with a 1 or 2.5 kg (2.2 or 5.5 lbs), it can hit targets 10 km (6.2 mi) away and reach speeds up to 108 km/h. (67 mp/h). Its small size and silent flight make it an ideal tool for special forces, allowing them to carry out covert operations with minimal risk of detection.
Introduced in 2022, hundreds of these first-person-view kamikaze drones have been manufactured in Ukraine with the support of technology partner Iziviz, a Ukranian startup. Soldiers have embraced it as a valuable tool to reduce collateral damage. Unlike most other weapons, the Scalpel can wave off or abort a mission if the situation changes after
launch, allowing it to engage a secondary target or destroy itself without inflicting casualties or property damage.
“We are proud to have designed and manufactured the Scalpel here in Ukraine, for Ukraine. The Scalpel is a testament to Ukrainian engineering talent and our country’s commitment to defend its sovereignty. Our mission is to support the war effort, and we are committed to doing so by offering our products at cost, priced over twenty times cheaper than American equivalent systems, such as the Switchblade 600 from AeroVironment, which can cost up to $65,000” said Chief Technology Officer Roman Antonov.
According to Co-CEO Francisco Serra-Martins, the launch of this system marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to provide clients with the most advanced aerospace solutions available. “At One Way Aerospace, we’re committed to supporting the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and providing our clients with the technology they need to succeed in the face of evolving threats,” said Serra-Martins.
“Soon, we will also be launching our long-range system, the AQ 400 Scythe, with several times the range of Himars and a fraction of the price, enabling our Ukrainian partners to precisely strike all of occupied Ukraine and strategic sites within Russia, with affordable systems made in Ukraine,” said Serra-Martins. To learn more about One Way Aerospace and its cutting-edge loitering munition system, please visit our website atonewayaerospace.com
