27 January 2025
Danish MDSI and Armadrone have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop combat drones. Armadrone is a Ukrainian company that was founded and run by veterans. Given the technological advances that the Ukrainians have demonstrated in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV or drone) technology, it only makes sense that MDSI would partner with them to integrate the MAILMAN payload carrier.
Armadrone’s PUNISHER and REX UAVs have proven capable in a tough electronic warfare environment and have successfully delivered their payloads at distances of up to 60km. PUNISHER was developed in 2016, but since 2019 it has been supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) and was officially contracted by the UAF in 2023. REX was a collaborative effort between Ukraine and Poland to meet Ukraine’s shifting needs with the ability to carry between two and eight munitions, with a payload capacity of up to 10kgs, and precision strike capability. REX can also identify and track targets and provide imagery to assess the impact of the strike.

The MAILMAN will provide a unique capability to the battlefield and to other operational environments. MAILMAN has a lightweight 1kg warhead carrier and is built with a 3D-printed platform, which makes it both cost-effective and adaptable. MDSI states that it will provide a kinetic payload in terms of anti-personnel, anti-armour and incendiary. However, the versatility of the MAILMAN also allows it to carry non-kinetic payloads such as first aid kits, GPS trackers, communication devices (radios and phones), flares, and food and water. This versatility also makes it ideal for domestic Search and Rescue Operations.
MDSI’s objective is to provide low-cost, but adaptable solutions to the battlefield while not compromising quality. That is why the Armadrone and MDSI collaboration is exciting. Armadrone brings a proven combat-ready UAV while the MDSI MAILMAN brings a modifiable payload augmentation that serves beyond the battlefield, but can serve domestic SAR operations.
Feature Photo: “Armadrone REX” – provided by Armadrone and MDSI, 2025
Inset Photo: “MDSI MAILMAN” – MDSI, 2025
Inset Video: “Armadrone REX”- Armadrone, YouTube, 2025