In a unique step, Dubai Police will now use drones with a mounted remote-controlled water cannon in bomb disposal operations.
Warrant officer Class 1 Hamad Rashid Al Felasi and First Sergeant Mohammed Sulaiman Al Beloushi of the Dubai Police suggested the idea of using drones in bomb disposal operations.
Al Beloushi claimed that the drone to be used is the first of its kind in the world and can fly for 10 minutes and carry a water cannon to defuse a bomb.
Talking to a Dubai-based newspaper, Al Felasi said, “We were searching for new and fast ways to defuse bombs rather than waiting for bomb disposal trucks. We then came up with the idea of a drone carrying a water cannon to defuse bombs. It took us three months to design the drone. We went through many phases till we succeeded in operating the drone.”
Al Beloushi said the drone failed the first flight test because its weight was 6 kg.
“We searched for replacements and how to reduce the weight of the drone and then successfully tested the gadget six times. It can reach bombs quickly and deal with them. It also has a camera so bomb experts can monitor the operation,” Al Beloushi said.
Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, said the drone and water cannon will be part of the bomb squad of Dubai Police.
The drone can also be used to break glass and windows in cars or buildings, as well as search for explosives.
