Danish firm Hecto Drone unveiled the HD-606 heavy unmanned aerial system at Enforce Tac 2026 in Germany, introducing a twin-mounted .50-caliber DCR-50 weapon system to the multi-rotor segment. The platform represents a shift in tactical drone design, bringing helicopter-class direct-fire capability into a heavy-lift unmanned format suited for close combat and force-protection missions.
According to Army Recognition analysis, the HD-606 is the first operational heavy multi-rotor drone fielding stabilized twin .50-caliber firepower with integrated recoil mitigation. While other drones have carried light machine guns or rockets, none have been purpose-built around a twin .50-cal configuration, placing the system between loitering munitions and manned attack helicopters in capability.
The DCR-50, developed with Denmark’s Small Arms Industries (SAI), consists of two semi-automatic .50-caliber machine guns in a twin mount. Weighing 23.6 kg including its electric interface, it feeds from two 10-round magazines and fires at 25 rounds per minute, emphasizing controlled, deliberate engagement rather than area suppression. A recoiling reload mechanism reduces forces transmitted to the airframe, addressing a longstanding barrier to mounting large-caliber weapons on rotary UAS platforms.
Designed for endurance and payload flexibility, the HD-606 can carry 50 kg for 30 minutes or 25 kg for more than three hours. With a top speed of 20 m/s (72 km/h), it supports armed overwatch, anti-vehicle interdiction, and high-value asset protection. Its 48 V architecture uses six motors and dual generators delivering 14,000 W for redundancy, supplemented by a 10 Ah battery for limited standalone flight.
Van-transportable and built from carbon fiber for operations between −20 °C and +40 °C, the HD-606 reflects a broader trend toward decentralizing heavy precision firepower onto reusable unmanned platforms.
Source: Army Recognition