S.Korea Offers Cardboard Kamikaze Drones Potentially Cheaper Than FPV Copters
The production of drones from improvised materials is no longer a novelty, but the cost-cutting and simplification of this process is still far from hitting the ceiling. A notable example is the recently presented Korean startup Peach, which showcased its product, the Papydrone-800, at the KADEX 2024 exhibition in Daejeon.
The Papydrone-800 is built in a flying wing configuration and boasts a maximum speed of 100 km/h, an operational range of 50 km, and an endurance of 20 minutes. Its communication system allows manual control at distances of up to 20 km.
The drone is designed with an internal fuselage space that can carry a small payload, such as a warhead, though it can also serve reconnaissance purposes. Given its specifications, however, its role as a kamikaze drone seems more practical. With a maximum take-off weight of just 1 kg, the warhead capacity is likely limited to around 0.5 kg — the approximate weight of a typical hand grenade.
In terms of operational performance, the Papydrone-800 can function in winds up to 10 m/s, a standard for civilian UAV models. The cardboard components have an IPX3 moisture protection rating, allowing it to fly in moderate rain, as demonstrated by the developers.
The creators’ footage also shows several other notable details, like the use of hot glue to bond fuselage elements, while some load-bearing components are made of carbon. The equipment compartment is constructed from foam, and the flight control system utilizes metal push-pull cables. The drone’s electronics are minimal, with only a few circuit boards visible in the demonstration video.
Peach also offers a larger version, the Papydrone-1800, though its specifications have not been disclosed. The concept remains the same — using the cheapest possible materials and components.
This approach is not entirely new. A similar example is Sypaq Corvo PPDS drone from Australian Sypaq. In 2023, the company reached an agreement with Ukraine to supply 100 of these cardboard drones per month, which are used for kamikaze attacks on russian invasion forces. However, there has been little documented evidence of their use on the frontlines. The Australian drone, designed to carry payloads of 3 to 5 kg over distances of up to 120 km, and thus has a more sophisticated design and stricter requirements.
It’s worth noting that fixed-wing cardboard kamikaze drones like the Papydrone-800 could be more cost-effective to mass-produce and deploy in combat compared to quadcopter FPV drones. One key advantage is that fixed-wing drones require only one electric motor, whereas quadcopters need at least four.