Modular Drone Payload Platform Launches for UK Defence & Public Safety

Commercial drone solutions provider Coptrz has secured an exclusive UK distribution partnership with Norwegian deep-tech company Tundra Drone to supply a standardised modular payload platform to British defense, public safety, and infrastructure inspection operators.

The Tundra system centers around Base, a tool-free payload interface that attaches to a host drone in seconds to support an ecosystem of swappable mission modules. Initially optimised for the NATO-compatible Parrot ANAFI UKR airframe, which is already in widespread service with UK defense and public safety operators, the platform enables rapid reconfiguration without the need for screws, soldered connections, or workshop downtime.

Operators can install the Base unit once and hot-swap modules based on evolving mission requirements, including tactical resupply via Drop, covert night operations under Night Vision Goggles via IR Light, area searches via Floodlight and Speaker, or laser designation and range finding for target hand-off.

Each Base interface accepts up to two standard mission modules and two sandwich-mounted Strobes, allowing a single drone to carry a maximum of four payloads simultaneously. Engineered for extreme environments, every module is rated to IP54 and ruggedised to operate across temperatures ranging from -40°C to +85°C. This quick-swap capability addresses critical operational needs when a single airframe must cover multiple distinct roles during a single shift.

Simon Harris, Managing Director at Coptrz, commented, “Tundra is solving a problem we hear from operators across defence, blue light, and inspection every single week. Drones are being kept in service for longer than ever, but the missions they’re asked to fly change constantly.

“The Tundra system turns one drone into many, with a non-Chinese supply chain and a module ecosystem that scales as fast as the threat picture does. Becoming the exclusive UK partner for Tundra is exactly the kind of capability our customers have been asking us to bring to market, and we’re proud to be the route to deploy it across Britain.”

The distribution agreement arrives as UK and NATO procurement strategies increasingly transition away from Chinese-built drone hardware while seeking to extend the operational lifespan of existing fleets. Headquartered in northern Norway, Tundra Drone was founded by Tim Valio and Jonas Rinde to standardise the payload interface layer of the professional drone stack—described by the team as “the Picatinny rail for drones.”

The manufacturer utilizes a non-Chinese supply chain aligned with Western sovereign procurement requirements, and its leadership and board draw expertise from Norway’s defense innovation hub Di5, NATO procurement law, and European technology hardware businesses such as Tandberg, Cisco, Huddly, and easee.

Through this partnership, Coptrz will distribute the full Tundra line-up, which currently features modules for Drop, Laser, Spotlight, Floodlight, IR Light, Strobe, Speaker, Range Finder, Battery, Microphone, and Parachute. The arrangement also positions Coptrz to onboard upcoming Tundra modules, such as microphone arrays for shot and explosion detection, range finders, and parachute recovery systems, directly to UK customers alongside training, technical support, and integration services via the Coptrz Academy.

Jonas Rinde, Co-founder and CEO at Tundra Drone, added, “Coptrz is one of the most respected names in the UK drone market, with deep roots in defence and public safety and direct access to the operators who rely on this technology every day. Partnering with them gives the Tundra system exactly the channel it deserves, and puts our modular payload platform where missions actually happen.”