The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is looking to outfit small hand-launched drones with non-lethal loadable distraction devices.

According to reports, the FBI has issued a notice of its intent to award a contract to U.K.-based Typhon Group Limited to purchase Sky Hero Loki accessories and attachments, which are devices designed to confuse and disorient hostage-takers, terrorists and other threats withing buildings.

Source: Typhon Group LimitedSource: Typhon Group Limited

“Typhon products have been designed to fit the Sky Hero Loki Mk2 and were the only products to be available from Sky Hero for the Loki. This has caused the FBI to equip the UAS with Typhon payloads,” according to reports.

An indoor tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Sky Hero Loki Mk2 has been designed for close-quarter scouting missions. Further, it functions in crowded, poorly lit areas to position a camera and microphone for crucial information. According to its developers, this improves team safety by facilitating quick situational awareness along with accurate decision-making.

Because conventional distraction devices on such drones pose a significant risk of injury and property damage, as well as flash-throughs, fuse failures and the fuse itself becoming a lethal projectile, Typhon has developed reloadable, less deadly distraction devices and products with precise remote control start capabilities.

The product line DS-100SH, which has been developed for the Loki Mk2 tactical drone, features less lethal stand-alone devices as well as lightweight 169 dB distraction payload systems for mUAS/UAS and UGV platforms.

The developers suggest that they can be programmed to create assorted distraction events including “Five Round Burst,” which mimics automatic rifle fire, and a “Single Shot,” which is programmable and user-controlled.

Additionally, the “Shock and Awe” feature will trigger all five events at once, which reportedly reduces the risks associated with traditional distraction devices.

Additionally, Typhon is also developing new cartridges for the system that generate various other effects that promise to provide a safer alternative for creating tactical distractions with minimal risk to operators and surrounding environments.

Such distraction devices, the developers suggest, could potentially prove useful in covert operations, counterterrorism, crowd control, law enforcement, close protection, aviation and maritime applications.

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