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Russias ground forces are preparing to field a new unmanned aircraft, plugging a capability gap in their arsenal that was highlighted during the 2008 conflict in Georgia.
The Russian government has opted for three unmanned systems to be fielded for a trial period, after a downselect from a larger set of candidates. The shortlisted systems are the Orlan-10, built by St. Petersburg-based Special Technology Center (STC); the Zala-421-04M Lastochka, designed by a team of the Zala Aero company and the Vega Concern; and Eleron-10, developed by Enics from Kazan.
The Orlan-10, with a takeoff weight of 14 kg., has a classic aerodynamic design with high wing and is powered by a piston engine with puller propeller. It has a payload of 5 kg., a speed of 90-150 km./hr. and endurance of 16 hr.
Roman Ivanov, head of the STC unmanned aircraft department, tells Aviation Week that Orlan-10s development was finished earlier this year and the aircraft is now in small-scale production.
The two other UAVs feature flying wing designs powered with electric engines.
The Eleron-10 has a takeoff weight of 12 kg., a payload of 2 kg., endurance of 2 hr. and a speed of 65-110 km./hr. Enics has already handed over one Eleron-10 to the defense ministry this year for testing. But according to Ildar Yakupov, the companys chief designer on unmanned aircraft, that UAV was for a service other than the ground forces.
The Lastochka is the smallest of all three aircraft, with a weight of 4.5 kg., a payload of 1 kg. and endurance of 2 hr. All three unmanned aircraft are launched with a catapult and land by parachute.
One of the open questions is whether the military will set new requirements following the trial period. So far the military checked the aircraft operated by the skilled specialists from manufacturers, but now it will come into the hands of servicemen, so the need for some improvement may emerge, Ivanov says. Also undetermined is the number of UAVs to be purchased for the in-service trials. But designers expect it could be a dozen aircraft of each type.
Although military officials acknowledge that Russian designers have made strides in building competitive UAVs, foreign alternatives are also being considered. This could benefit Israel Aerospace Industries, which already delivered a batch of unmanned aircraft to the defense ministry during the summer. It reportedly includes the Bird Eye 400 mini-UAV, with operational performance similar to the selected Russian models. In order to strengthen its offer, the Israeli manufacturer in October signed an agreement with that Russian government-controlled Oboronprom Corporation to establish a joint venture that will assemble Israeli UAVs in Russia.
The need for modern unmanned reconnaissance capabilities emerged two years ago during the military conflict with Georgia, when Georgian troops employed Israeli-made UAVs for tactical reconnaissance while the Russians had to risk their manned aircraft for the same tasks.
The Russian army has been looking for a UAV with a range of up to 500 km. that could be transported and operated by dismounted infantry units. According to Russias military organization, larger unmanned systems fall under the responsibility of the air force.
The selection process began in September and included two stages of flight trials. The initial list of participants included 12 Russian companies with 22 unmanned aircraft. During the first stage that took place at the 252th joint test range in Gorokhovetz, near Nizhny Novgorod, the contenders had to show their ability to find, detect and track land-based targets during day and night missions and in different weather conditions.
For the second stage of the assessment in October in Alabino, near Moscow, the remaining eight candidate systems had to demonstrate their compatibility with the new tactical command and control system. This C2 system, developed by Sozvezdie Concern, has also been field tested by the ground forces.
The military initially planned one more round of trials in mountain conditions in the southern military district, but the final results were unexpectedly announced after the tests in Alabino.
Russia Selects Domestic UAV Designs | AVIATION WEEK
The Russian government has opted for three unmanned systems to be fielded for a trial period, after a downselect from a larger set of candidates. The shortlisted systems are the Orlan-10, built by St. Petersburg-based Special Technology Center (STC); the Zala-421-04M Lastochka, designed by a team of the Zala Aero company and the Vega Concern; and Eleron-10, developed by Enics from Kazan.
The Orlan-10, with a takeoff weight of 14 kg., has a classic aerodynamic design with high wing and is powered by a piston engine with puller propeller. It has a payload of 5 kg., a speed of 90-150 km./hr. and endurance of 16 hr.
Roman Ivanov, head of the STC unmanned aircraft department, tells Aviation Week that Orlan-10s development was finished earlier this year and the aircraft is now in small-scale production.
The two other UAVs feature flying wing designs powered with electric engines.
The Eleron-10 has a takeoff weight of 12 kg., a payload of 2 kg., endurance of 2 hr. and a speed of 65-110 km./hr. Enics has already handed over one Eleron-10 to the defense ministry this year for testing. But according to Ildar Yakupov, the companys chief designer on unmanned aircraft, that UAV was for a service other than the ground forces.
The Lastochka is the smallest of all three aircraft, with a weight of 4.5 kg., a payload of 1 kg. and endurance of 2 hr. All three unmanned aircraft are launched with a catapult and land by parachute.
One of the open questions is whether the military will set new requirements following the trial period. So far the military checked the aircraft operated by the skilled specialists from manufacturers, but now it will come into the hands of servicemen, so the need for some improvement may emerge, Ivanov says. Also undetermined is the number of UAVs to be purchased for the in-service trials. But designers expect it could be a dozen aircraft of each type.
Although military officials acknowledge that Russian designers have made strides in building competitive UAVs, foreign alternatives are also being considered. This could benefit Israel Aerospace Industries, which already delivered a batch of unmanned aircraft to the defense ministry during the summer. It reportedly includes the Bird Eye 400 mini-UAV, with operational performance similar to the selected Russian models. In order to strengthen its offer, the Israeli manufacturer in October signed an agreement with that Russian government-controlled Oboronprom Corporation to establish a joint venture that will assemble Israeli UAVs in Russia.
The need for modern unmanned reconnaissance capabilities emerged two years ago during the military conflict with Georgia, when Georgian troops employed Israeli-made UAVs for tactical reconnaissance while the Russians had to risk their manned aircraft for the same tasks.
The Russian army has been looking for a UAV with a range of up to 500 km. that could be transported and operated by dismounted infantry units. According to Russias military organization, larger unmanned systems fall under the responsibility of the air force.
The selection process began in September and included two stages of flight trials. The initial list of participants included 12 Russian companies with 22 unmanned aircraft. During the first stage that took place at the 252th joint test range in Gorokhovetz, near Nizhny Novgorod, the contenders had to show their ability to find, detect and track land-based targets during day and night missions and in different weather conditions.
For the second stage of the assessment in October in Alabino, near Moscow, the remaining eight candidate systems had to demonstrate their compatibility with the new tactical command and control system. This C2 system, developed by Sozvezdie Concern, has also been field tested by the ground forces.
The military initially planned one more round of trials in mountain conditions in the southern military district, but the final results were unexpectedly announced after the tests in Alabino.
Russia Selects Domestic UAV Designs | AVIATION WEEK
