Promising UAVs of Russia (list). The use of UAVs in the interests of naval forces abroad Foreign unmanned aerial vehicles performance characteristics

In recent years, a large number of publications have appeared on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for solving topographic problems. Such interest is largely due to their ease of operation, efficiency, relatively low cost, efficiency, etc. The listed qualities and the availability of effective software tools for automatic processing of aerial photography materials (including the selection of necessary points) open up the possibility of a wide use of software and hardware tools for unmanned aircraft in the practice of engineering and geodetic surveys.

In this issue, with an overview of the technical means of unmanned aircraft, we open a series of publications on the capabilities of UAVs and the experience of their use in field and cameral work.

D.P. INOZEMTSEV, Project Manager, PLAZ LLC, Moscow St. Petersburg

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Part 1. Overview of technical means

HISTORY REFERENCE

Unmanned aerial vehicles appeared in connection with the need to effectively solve military tasks - tactical reconnaissance, delivery of military weapons (bombs, torpedoes, etc.) to their destination, combat control, etc. And it is no coincidence that their first use is considered to be the delivery of bombs by the Austrian troops to the besieged Venice with balloons in 1849. A powerful impetus to the development of UAVs was the emergence of radiotelegraphy and aviation, which made it possible to significantly improve their autonomy and controllability.

So, in 1898, Nikola Tesla developed and demonstrated a miniature radio-controlled ship, and already in 1910, the American military engineer Charles Kettering proposed, built and tested several models of unmanned aerial vehicles. In 1933, the first UAV was developed in the UK.

reusable, and the radio-controlled target created on its basis was used in the Royal Navy of Great Britain until 1943.

The studies of German scientists were several decades ahead of their time, giving the world a jet engine and a V-1 cruise missile in the 1940s as the first unmanned aerial vehicle used in real combat operations.

In the USSR, in the 1930s–1940s, aircraft designer Nikitin developed a torpedo bomber-glider of the “flying wing” type, and by the beginning of the 40s, a project for an unmanned flying torpedo with a flight range of 100 kilometers and more was prepared, however, these developments did not turn into real designs.

After the end of the Great Patriotic War, interest in UAVs increased significantly, and since the 1960s, they have been widely used to solve non-military tasks.

In general, the history of the UAV can be divided into four time periods:

1.1849 - the beginning of the twentieth century - attempts and experimental experiments to create a UAV, the formation of the theoretical foundations of aerodynamics, flight theory and aircraft calculation in the works of scientists.

2. The beginning of the twentieth century - 1945 - the development of UAVs for military purposes (aircraft-projectiles with a short range and flight duration).

3.1945–1960 - the period of expanding the classification of UAVs for their intended purpose and creating them mainly for reconnaissance operations.

4.1960 years - today - the expansion of the classification and improvement of the UAV, the beginning of mass use for solving non-military problems.

UAV CLASSIFICATION

It is well known that aerial photography, as a type of remote sensing of the Earth (ERS), is the most productive method for collecting spatial information, the basis for creating topographic plans and maps, creating three-dimensional relief and terrain models. Aerial photography is carried out both from manned aircraft - airplanes, airships, motor hang gliders and balloons, and from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Unmanned aerial vehicles, like manned ones, are of aircraft and helicopter type (helicopters and multicopters are aircraft with four or more rotors with rotors). At present, there is no generally accepted classification of aircraft-type UAVs in Russia. Missiles.

Ru, together with the UAV.RU portal, offers a modern classification of aircraft-type UAVs, developed on the basis of the approaches of the UAV International organization, but taking into account the specifics and situation of the domestic market (classes) (Table 1):

Short range micro and mini UAVs. The class of miniature ultralight and light vehicles and complexes based on them with a takeoff weight of up to 5 kilograms began to appear in Russia relatively recently, but already quite

widely presented. Such UAVs are designed for individual operational use at short ranges at a distance of up to 25–40 kilometers. They are easy to operate and transport, are foldable and are positioned as "wearable", the launch is carried out using a catapult or by hand. These include: Geoscan 101, Geoscan 201, 101ZALA 421-11, ZALA 421-08, ZALA 421-12, T23 Eleron, T25, Eleron-3, Gamayun-3, Irkut-2M, " Istra-10",

"BRAT", "Lokon", "Inspector 101", "Inspector 201", "Inspector 301", etc.

Light short-range UAVs. This class includes somewhat larger vehicles - with a take-off weight of 5 to 50 kilograms. The range of their action is within 10–120 kilometers.

Among them: Geoscan 300, Grant, ZALA 421-04, Orlan-10, PteroSM, PteroE5, T10, Ele ron-10, Gamayun-10, Irkut-10,

T92 "Lotos", T90 (T90-11), T21, T24, "Tipchak" UAV-05, UAV-07, UAV-08.

Light medium-range UAVs. A number of domestic samples can be attributed to this class of UAVs. Their mass varies between 50-100 kilograms. These include: T92M "Chibis", ZALA 421-09,

"Dozor-2", "Dozor-4", "Bee-1T".

Medium UAVs. The take-off weight of medium-sized UAVs ranges from 100 to 300 kilograms. They are designed for use at ranges of 150-1000 kilometers. In this class: M850 Astra, Binom, La-225 Komar, T04, E22M Berta, Berkut, Irkut-200.

Medium UAVs. This class has a range similar to the UAVs of the previous class, but they have a slightly higher take-off weight - from 300 to 500 kilograms.

This class should include: Hummingbird, Dunham, Dan-Baruk, Stork (Julia), Dozor-3.

Heavy medium-range UAVs. This class includes UAVs with a flight weight of 500 or more kilograms, designed for use at medium ranges of 70–300 kilometers. In the heavy class, the following are: Tu-243 "Reis-D", Tu-300, "Irkut-850", "Nart" (A-03).

Heavy UAVs of long flight duration. The category of unmanned vehicles, which is quite in demand abroad, includes American Predator, Reaper, GlobalHawk UAVs, Israeli Heron, Heron TP. In Russia, there are practically no samples: Zond-3M, Zond-2, Zond-1, Sukhoi unmanned aerial systems (BasS), within which a robotic aviation complex (RAC) is being created.

Unmanned Combat Aircraft (UBS). Currently, the world is actively working on the creation of promising UAVs that have the ability to carry weapons on board and are designed to strike at ground and surface stationary and mobile targets in the face of strong opposition from enemy air defense forces. They are characterized by a range of about 1500 kilometers and a mass of 1500 kilograms.

To date, two projects are presented in Russia in the BBS class: Breakthrough-U, Skat.

In practice, for aerial photography, as a rule, UAVs weighing up to 10–15 kilograms (micro-, mini-UAVs and light UAVs) are used. This is due to the fact that with an increase in the takeoff weight of the UAV, the complexity of its development and, accordingly, the cost increases, but the reliability and safety of operation decrease. The fact is that when landing a UAV, energy E = mv2 / 2 is released, and the greater the mass of the device m, the greater its landing speed v, that is, the energy released during landing grows very quickly with increasing mass. And this energy can damage both the UAV itself and the property on the ground.

An unmanned helicopter and a multicopter do not have this disadvantage. Theoretically, such a device can be landed with an arbitrarily low speed of approach to the Earth. However, unmanned helicopters are too expensive, and copters are not yet capable of flying over long distances, and are used only for shooting local objects (individual buildings and structures).

Rice. 1. UAV Mavinci SIRIUS Fig. 2. UAV Geoscan 101

UAV ADVANTAGES

The superiority of UAVs over manned aircraft is, first of all, the cost of work, as well as a significant reduction in the number of routine operations. The very absence of a person on board the aircraft greatly simplifies the preparations for aerial photography.

First, you don't need an airfield, even the most primitive one. Unmanned aerial vehicles are launched either by hand or with the help of a special take-off device - a catapult.

Secondly, especially when using an electric propulsion circuit, there is no need for qualified technical assistance to maintain the aircraft, and measures to ensure safety at the work site are not so complicated.

Thirdly, there is no or much longer inter-regulatory period of operation of the UAV compared to a manned aircraft.

This circumstance is of great importance in the operation of an aerial photography complex in remote areas of our country. As a rule, the field season for aerial photography is short, every fine day must be used for shooting.

UAV DEVICE

two main UAV layout schemes: classical (according to the “fuselage + wings + tail” scheme), which includes, for example, the Orlan-10 UAV, Mavinci SIRIUS (Fig. 1) and others, and the “flying wing”, which include Geoscan101 (Fig. 2), Gatewing X100, Trimble UX5, etc.

The main parts of an unmanned aerial photography complex are: body, engine, onboard control system (autopilot), ground control system (GCS) and aerial photography equipment.

The body of the UAV is made of lightweight plastic (such as carbon fiber or Kevlar) to protect expensive photographic equipment and controls and navigation, and its wings are made of plastic or extruded polystyrene foam (EPP). This material is light, strong enough and does not break on impact. A deformed EPP part can often be repaired with improvised means.

A light UAV with a parachute landing can withstand several hundred flights without repair, which, as a rule, includes the replacement of wings, fuselage elements, etc. Manufacturers try to reduce the cost of parts of the hull subject to wear so that the cost to the user to maintain the UAV in working condition is minimal.

It should be noted that the most expensive elements of the aerial photography complex, the ground control system, avionics, software, are not subject to wear at all.

The power plant of the UAV can be gasoline or electric. Moreover, a gasoline engine will provide a much longer flight, since gasoline, per kilogram, has 10-15 times more energy stored than can be stored in the best battery. However, such a power plant is complex, less reliable and requires a significant amount of time to prepare the UAV for launch. In addition, a gasoline-powered unmanned aerial vehicle is extremely difficult to transport to the job site by plane. Finally, it requires a highly skilled operator. Therefore, it makes sense to use a gasoline-powered UAV only in cases where a very long flight duration is required - for continuous monitoring, for examining particularly remote objects.

The electric propulsion system, on the other hand, is very undemanding to the skill level of the operating personnel. Modern rechargeable batteries can provide a continuous flight duration of more than four hours. Servicing an electric motor is very easy. Mostly this is only protection against moisture and dirt, as well as checking the voltage of the on-board network, which is carried out from the ground control system. The batteries are charged from the on-board network of the accompanying vehicle or from an autonomous power generator. The brushless electric motor of the UAV practically does not wear out.

The autopilot - with an inertial system (Fig. 3) is the most important control element of the UAV.

The autopilot weighs only 20-30 grams. But this is a very complex product. In the autopilot, in addition to a powerful processor, many sensors are installed - a three-axis gyroscope and accelerometer (and sometimes a magnetometer), a GLO-NASS / GPS receiver, a pressure sensor, an airspeed sensor. With these devices, an unmanned aerial vehicle will be able to fly strictly on a given course.

Rice. 3. AutopilotMicropilot

The UAV has a radio modem necessary for downloading a flight task, transferring telemetry data about the flight and the current location at the work site to the ground control system.

Ground control system

(NSU) is a tablet computer or laptop equipped with a modem for communication with the UAV. An important part of the NSU is software for planning a flight task and displaying the progress of its implementation.

As a rule, a flight task is compiled automatically, according to a given contour of an areal object or nodal points of a linear object. In addition, it is possible to design flight routes based on the required flight altitude and the required resolution of photographs on the ground. To automatically maintain a given flight altitude, it is possible to take into account a digital terrain model in common formats in a flight task.

During the flight, the position of the UAV and the contours of the photographs being taken are displayed on the cartographic substrate of the NSU monitor. During the flight, the operator has the ability to quickly redirect the UAV to another landing area and even quickly land the UAV from the "red" button on the ground control system. On command from the NSU, other auxiliary operations can be planned, for example, parachute release.

In addition to providing navigation and flight, the autopilot must control the camera in order to receive images at a given frame interval (as soon as the UAV flies the required distance from the previous photographing center). If the pre-calculated inter-frame interval is not stable, you have to adjust the shutter time so that even with a tailwind, the longitudinal overlap is sufficient.

The autopilot must register the coordinates of the photographing centers of the GLONASS/GPS geodetic satellite receiver so that the automatic image processing program can quickly build a model and bind it to the terrain. The required accuracy of determining the coordinates of the centers of photographing depends on the terms of reference for the implementation of aerial photography.

Aerial photography equipment is installed on the UAV depending on its class and purpose of use.

Micro- and mini-UAVs are equipped with compact digital cameras equipped with interchangeable lenses with a fixed focal length (without zoom or zoom device) weighing 300-500 grams. SONY NEX-7 cameras are currently used as such cameras.

with a 24.3 MP sensor, CANON600D 18.5 MP sensor, and the like. Shutter control and signal transmission from the shutter to the satellite receiver is performed using standard or slightly modified electrical connectors of the camera.

Light short-range UAVs are equipped with SLR cameras with a large photosensitive element, for example, Canon EOS5D (sensor size 36 × 24 mm), Nikon D800 (36.8 MP matrix (sensor size 35.9 × 24 mm)), Pentax645D (CCD sensor 44 × 33 mm, 40 MP matrix) and the like, weighing 1.0–1.5 kilograms.

Rice. 4. Scheme of placement of aerial photographs (blue rectangles with labels of numbers)

UAV CAPABILITIES

According to the requirements of the document "Basic provisions for aerial photography performed to create and update topographic maps and plans" GKINP-09-32-80, the carrier of aerial photography equipment must follow the design position of aerial photography routes as accurately as possible, maintain a given flight level (photographing height), ensure the requirements for compliance with limit deviations for camera orientation angles - tilt, roll, pitch. In addition, navigation equipment must provide accurate shutter response time and determine the coordinates of photographing centers.

The equipment integrated into the autopilot was mentioned above: these are a microbarometer, an airspeed sensor, an inertial system, and satellite navigation equipment. According to the tests carried out (in particular, the Geoscan101 UAV), the following deviations of the real shooting parameters from the given ones were established:

UAV deviations from the route axis - in the range of 5–10 meters;

Deviations of photographing heights - in the range of 5–10 meters;

Height fluctuation of photographing adjacent images - no more

Arising in flight "Christmas trees" (turns of images in the horizontal plane) are processed by an automated system of photogrammetric processing without noticeable negative consequences.

The photographic equipment installed on the UAV makes it possible to obtain digital images of the terrain with a resolution of better than 3 centimeters per pixel. The use of short-, medium-, and long-focus photographic lenses is determined by the nature of the finished materials obtained: be it a relief model or an orthophotomap. All calculations are made in the same way as in the "big" aerial photography.

The use of a dual-frequency GLO-NASS/GPS satellite geodetic system for determining the coordinates of image centers allows, in the process of post-processing, to obtain the coordinates of photography centers with an accuracy better than 5 centimeters, and the use of the PPP (PrecisePointPositioning) method allows determining the coordinates of image centers without using base stations or at a considerable distance from them.

The final processing of aerial photography materials can serve as an objective criterion for assessing the quality of the work performed. For illustration, we can consider the data on the assessment of the accuracy of photogrammetric processing of aerial photography materials from the UAV, performed in the PhotoScan software (manufactured by Agisoſt, St. Petersburg) by control points (Table 2).

Point numbers	Errors along the coordinate axes, m				Abs, pix	projections
(ΔD)2= ΔХ2+ ΔY2+ ΔZ2

UAV APPLICATION

In the world, and recently in Russia, unmanned aerial vehicles are used in geodetic surveys during construction, to draw up cadastral plans for industrial facilities, transport infrastructure, villages, summer cottages, in mine surveying to determine the volume of mine workings and dumps, taking into account the movement bulk cargo in quarries, ports, mining and processing plants, to create maps, plans and 3D models of cities and enterprises.

3. Tseplyaeva T.P., Morozova O.V. Stages of development of unmanned aerial vehicles. M., "Open information and computer integrated technologies", No. 42, 2009.

The ability to preserve the most valuable resource - the fighters on the battlefield from the beginning of the first wars was the most important and promising. Modern technologies allow the use of combat vehicles remotely, which eliminates the loss of an operator even when a unit is destroyed. One of the most relevant these days is the creation of unmanned aerial vehicles.

What is a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)

UAV refers to any aircraft that does not have a pilot in the air. The autonomy of the devices is different: there are the simplest options with remote control, or fully automated machines. The first option is also called a remotely piloted aircraft (RPV), they are distinguished by the continuous supply of commands from the operator. More advanced systems require only episodic commands, between which the device operates autonomously.

The main advantage of such machines over manned fighters and reconnaissance aircraft is that they are up to 20 times cheaper than their counterparts with comparable capabilities.

The disadvantage of devices is the vulnerability of communication channels, which are easy to break and disable the machine.

The history of the creation and development of the UAV

The history of drones began in the UK in 1933, when a radio-controlled aircraft was assembled on the basis of the Fairy Queen biplane. Before the outbreak of World War II and in the early years, more than 400 of these machines were assembled, which were used as targets in the Royal Navy.

The famous German V-1, equipped with a pulse jet engine, became the first combat vehicle of this class. It is noteworthy that it was possible to launch warhead aircraft both from the ground and from air carriers.

The rocket was controlled by the following means:

• an autopilot that was given altitude and heading parameters before launch;
• the range was counted by a mechanical counter, which was driven by the rotation of the blades in the bow (the latter were launched from the oncoming air flow);
• upon reaching the set distance (scatter - 6 km), fuses were cocked, and the projectile automatically switched to dive mode.

During the war years, the United States produced targets for training anti-aircraft gunners - the Radioplane OQ-2. Toward the end of the confrontation, the first reusable attack drones, the Interstate TDR, appeared. The aircraft turned out to be ineffective due to low speed and range, which were due to the cheapness of production. In addition, the technical means of that time did not allow to conduct aimed fire, to fight at a long distance without following the control aircraft. Nevertheless, there were advances in the use of machines.

In the post-war years, UAVs were regarded exclusively as targets, but the situation changed after the appearance of anti-aircraft missile systems in the troops. From that moment on, the drones became reconnaissance, false targets for enemy "anti-aircraft guns". Practice has shown that their use reduces the loss of manned aircraft.

In the Soviet Union, until the 70s, heavy reconnaissance aircraft were actively produced as unmanned vehicles:

1. Tu-123 "Hawk";
2. Tu-141 "Swift";
3. Tu-143 "Flight".

Significant aviation losses in Vietnam for the United States Army turned into a resurgence of interest in UAVs.

Here appear the means to perform various tasks;

• photo reconnaissance;
• radio intelligence;
• electronic warfare targets.

In this form, the 147E was used, which collected intelligence data so efficiently that it paid off the cost of the entire program to develop them many times over.

The practice of using UAVs has shown a much greater potential as full-fledged combat vehicles. Therefore, after the beginning of the 80s, the development of tactical and operational-strategic drones began in the United States.

Israeli specialists took part in the development of UAVs in the 80-90s. Initially, US devices were purchased, but our own scientific and technical base for development was quickly formed. The firm "Tadiran" proved to be the best. The Israeli army also demonstrated the effectiveness of the use of UAVs, carrying out operations against Syrian troops in 1982.

In the 80s and 90s, the obvious successes of unmanned aircraft provoked the start of development by many companies around the world.

In the early 2000s, the first percussion apparatus appeared - the American MQ-1 Predator. AGM-114C Hellfire missiles were installed on board. At the beginning of the century, drones were mainly used in the Middle East.

Until now, almost all countries are actively developing and implementing UAVs. For example, in 2013, the Russian Armed Forces received reconnaissance systems with a short range - "Orlan-10".

Sukhoi Design Bureau and MiG are also developing a new heavy machine - a strike aircraft with a take-off weight of up to 20 tons.

The purpose of the drone

Unmanned aerial vehicles are mainly used to solve the following tasks:

• targets, including for diverting enemy air defense systems;
• intelligence service;
• strikes against various moving and stationary targets;
• electronic warfare and others.

The effectiveness of the device in performing tasks is determined by the quality of the following means: intelligence, communications, automated control systems, weapons.

Now such aircraft successfully reduce the loss of personnel, deliver information that cannot be obtained at a line-of-sight distance.

UAV varieties

Combat drones are usually classified by type of control into remote, automatic and unmanned.

In addition, in the course of the classification by weight and performance characteristics:

• Ultralight. These are the lightest UAVs, the weight of which does not exceed 10 kg. In the air, they can spend an hour on average, the practical ceiling is 1000 meters;
• Lungs. The mass of such machines reaches 50 kg, they are able to climb 3-5 km and spend 2-3 hours in work;
• Medium. These are serious devices weighing up to a ton, their ceiling is 10 km, and they can spend up to 12 hours in the air without landing;
• Heavy. Large aircraft weighing more than a ton can climb to a height of 20 km and work for more than a day without landing.

These groups also have civil devices, of course, they are lighter and simpler. Full-fledged combat vehicles are often no smaller than manned aircraft in size.

Unmanaged

Unmanaged systems are the simplest form of UAVs. They are controlled by on-board mechanics, established flight characteristics. In this form, targets, scouts or projectiles can be used.

remote control

Remote control usually occurs by radio communication, which limits the range of the machine. For example, civilian aircraft can operate within 7-8 km.

Automatic

Basically, these are combat vehicles capable of independently performing complex tasks in the air. This class of machines is the most multifunctional.

Principle of operation

The principle of operation of the UAV depends on its design features. There are several layout schemes that most modern aircraft correspond to:

• Fixed wing. In this case, the devices are close to the aircraft layout, they have rotary or jet engines. This option is the most economical in terms of fuel and has a long range;
• Multicopters. These propeller-driven vehicles, equipped with at least two motors, are capable of vertical takeoff / landing, hovering in the air, therefore they are especially good for reconnaissance, including in an urban environment;
• Helicopter type. The layout is helicopter, propeller systems can be different, for example, Russian developments are often equipped with coaxial propellers, which makes models similar to machines such as the Black Shark;
• Convertiplanes. This is a combination of helicopter and aircraft schemes. To save space, such machines rise into the air vertically, the wing configuration changes in flight, and the aircraft method of movement becomes possible;
• Gliders. Basically, these are devices without engines that are dropped from a heavier machine and move along a given trajectory. This type is suitable for reconnaissance purposes.

Depending on the type of engine, the fuel used also varies. Electric motors are powered by a battery, internal combustion engines - gasoline, jet engines - the corresponding fuel.

The power plant is mounted in the housing, the control electronics, controls and communications are also located here. The body is a streamlined volume to give the structure an aerodynamic shape. The basis of the strength characteristics is the frame, which is usually assembled from metal or polymers.

The simplest set of control systems is as follows:

• CPU;
• barometer for determining altitude;
• accelerometer;
• gyroscope;
• navigator;
• random access memory;
• signal receiver.

Military devices are controlled by remote control (if the range is short) or by satellite.

The collection of information for the operator and the software of the machine itself comes from various types of sensors. Laser, sound, infrared and other types are used.

Navigation is carried out by GPS and electronic maps.

The incoming signals are transformed by the controller into commands that are already transmitted to the executing devices, for example, elevators.

Advantages and disadvantages of UAV

Compared to manned vehicles, UAVs have serious advantages:

1. Weight and size characteristics are improving, the survivability of a unit is growing, visibility for radars is decreasing;
2. UAVs are dozens of times cheaper than manned aircraft and helicopters, while highly specialized models can solve complex tasks on the battlefield;
3. Intelligence data when using UAVs are transmitted in real time;
4. Manned vehicles are subject to restrictions on use in combat conditions, when the risk of death is too high. There are no such problems with automated machines. Considering economic factors, sacrificing a few will be much more profitable than losing a trained pilot;
5. Combat readiness and mobility are maximum;
6. Several units can be combined into entire complexes to solve a number of complex tasks.

Any flying drone also has disadvantages:

• manned devices have much more flexibility in practice;
• so far it has not been possible to come to a unified solution to the issues of rescuing the apparatus in the event of a fall, landing on prepared sites, and reliable communication over long distances;
• the reliability of automatic devices is still significantly lower than manned counterparts;
• for various reasons, in peacetime, unmanned aircraft flights are seriously limited.

Nevertheless, work continues to improve technology, including neural networks that can affect the future of UAVs.

Unmanned vehicles of Russia

Yak-133

This is a drone developed by the Irkut company - an inconspicuous device capable of conducting reconnaissance and, if necessary, destroying enemy combat units. It is supposed to be equipped with guided missiles and bombs.

A-175 "Shark"

A complex capable of conducting all-weather climate monitoring, including on difficult terrain. Initially, the model was developed by AeroRobotics LLC for peaceful purposes, but manufacturers do not exclude the release of military modifications.

"Altair"

A reconnaissance and strike apparatus capable of staying in the air for up to two days. Practical ceiling - 12 km, speed in the range of 150-250 km / h. On takeoff, the mass reaches 5 tons, of which 1 t is the payload.

BAS-62

Civil development of the Sukhoi Design Bureau. In the reconnaissance modification, it is able to collect versatile data on objects on water and land. It can be used to control power lines, mapping, monitoring the meteorological situation.

U.S. drones

EQ-4

Developed by Northrop Grumman. In 2017, the United States Army received three vehicles. They were sent to the UAE.

"Fury"

A Lockheed Martin drone designed not only for surveillance and reconnaissance, but also for electronic warfare. Able to continue flying up to 15 hours.

"Lightning Strike"

The brainchild of Aurora Flight Sciences, which is being developed as a vertical take-off combat vehicle. It develops a speed of more than 700 km / h, can carry up to 1800 kg of payload.

MQ-1B "Predator"

The development of General Atomics is a medium-altitude vehicle, which was originally created as a reconnaissance vehicle. Later it was modified into a multi-purpose vehicle.

Unmanned aerial vehicles of Israel

Mastiff

The first UAV created by the Israelis was the Mastiff, which flew in 1975. The purpose of this machine was reconnaissance on the battlefield. He stood in service until the early 90s.

Shadmit

These devices were used for reconnaissance in the early 80s, when the first Lebanon war was going on. Some of the systems used transmitted intelligence data in real time, some simulated an air invasion. Thanks to them, the fight against air defense systems was successfully carried out.

IAI "Scout"

The Scout was created as a tactical reconnaissance vehicle, for which it was equipped with a television camera and a system for broadcasting collected information in real time.

I-View MK150

Another name is "Observer". The devices were developed by the Israeli company IAI. This is a tactical vehicle equipped with an infrared surveillance system and a combined optoelectronic filling.

Unmanned vehicles of Europe

MALE RPAS

One of the recent developments is a promising reconnaissance and strike vehicle, which is being created jointly by Italian, Spanish, German and French companies. The first demonstration took place in 2018.

"Sagem Sperwer"

One of the French developments that managed to prove itself in the Balkans at the end of the last century (1990s). The creation was based on national and pan-European programs.

Eagle 1

Another French vehicle, which is designed for reconnaissance operations. It is assumed that the device will operate at altitudes of 7-8 thousand meters.

HALE

A high-altitude UAV that can fly up to 18 kilometers. In the air, the device can last up to three days.

In general, in Europe, the leading role in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles is taken by France. New products are constantly appearing around the world, including modular multifunctional models, on the basis of which various military and civilian vehicles can be assembled.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

For a quarter of a century, ideas have been floating around the world about creating a so-called hybrid aircraft, which in its design will allow combining an airship, an airplane and a helicopter. Why is such a strange design needed, if all three of these types of aircraft can be used separately? But the fact is that even in the era of large Soviet construction projects, the problem arose of transporting massive structures that still had to be installed exactly in the agreed place. After all, in fact, an ordinary helicopter will not carry a multi-ton drilling rig to the place of operation. Therefore, the elements of the tower were delivered by rail, and then proceeded to the assembly. It took a huge amount of time and resources, including financial ones. It was then that the Tyumen designers came up with the idea of ​​creating such an aircraft that could move through the air at a relatively low speed and carry a large load.

By the way, this idea, having been born first in the USSR, reached the United States. Already next year, the Americans are planning to lift into the sky a giant "Aeroscraft" - both a plane and an airship at the same time. It can be stated that Russian designers are ahead of the Americans in terms of implementing the idea of ​​a hybrid aircraft. After all, his "BARS", namely the name of the hybrid, made its first flight over the Tyumen fields back in the mid-90s. It turns out that the job is done and our aircraft designers can rest on their laurels, however, as always, their work and talent cannot be appreciated. It is connected, first of all, with total underfunding. The same BARS, despite its obvious advantages, has not been put into serial production, so many tasks for the transportation of goods by air have not yet been solved.

Let's try to figure out what are the advantages of hybrid aircraft? The fact is that the design of the same "BARS" is a real integration of elements of three aircraft at once. Its body is made of the same materials as the aircraft body, but in its central part there is a technological area with several propellers. These propellers allow a strictly vertical movement of the hybrid machine. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with helium containers, which implement the principle of airship flight and allow the hybrid to be rigidly fixed on the ground during unloading. The "BARS" and models close to it have elevators, as well as lateral plumage, like a conventional aircraft. This allows him to effectively maneuver in flight.

Many may notice that an airship could also cope with the function of delivering equipment of a large mass to an agreed point, however, an airship is much harder to control and is subject to the influence of air mass flows, which can easily lead to disaster. And the airship cannot effectively lower a large load - after the descent of a multi-ton structure, the airship can take off uncontrollably, as if large ballast is discarded. The hybrid aircraft is devoid of such shortcomings. In addition, aircraft such as BARS are equipped with an air cushion, which can allow it to fill a special capsule with water and then use it to extinguish fires or irrigate fields.

If the Russian idea is so far entirely focused on civilian cargo transportation, then the Americans plan to use their hybrid for military purposes. The Pentagon declares that it is already ready to acquire several Aeroscraft in order to later use it to deliver warheads and contingents to hard-to-reach areas.

Of course, one should not say that hybrid aircraft should be used as passenger transport. For this purpose, aircraft are better suited, because the speed of the hybrid is not higher than 200 km / h. But in terms of effective provision of remote construction sites, transportation of large loads through mountain ranges, and fire fighting, these machines will not be equal. Note that the carrying capacity of the hybrid is about 400 tons, which is 130 tons higher than the carrying capacity of the huge Mriya aircraft.

Let's hope that flying hybrids will soon begin to be delivered to various sectors of Russian civil aviation.

Protection of Russian airspace / Photo: cdn5.img.ria.ru

Russian scientists are developing hypersonic aircraft to overcome missile defenses, said Boris Satovsky, head of the design team.

According to him, now the whole world is going through a turning point, when, taking into account the achieved level of technological development, there is a rethinking of the methods of using strategic weapons. In the process of technological development, new types and types of weapons are emerging, for example, based on maneuvering hypersonic elements.

According to media reports, this year the Russian military twice tested a hypersonic aircraft designed to replace traditional warheads for advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The maneuver that a hypersonic warhead performs after entering the dense layers of the atmosphere makes it difficult for missile defense systems to intercept it. Hypersonic is a flight speed that is significantly (five times or more) higher than the speed of sound in the atmosphere, that is, 330 meters per second, RIA Novosti reports.

Technical reference

Russia will be able to limit the effectiveness of the US missile defense system with the help of the Yu-71 hypersonic aircraft, which is currently being tested, writes the American edition of the Washington Times. The new weapon will be able to carry a nuclear charge at a speed of 10 times the speed of sound.

Estimated view of Yu-71 / Image: nampuom-pycu.livejournal.com

In the strictest secrecy, Russia is testing a new Yu-71 hypersonic maneuvering aircraft that will be capable of carrying nuclear warheads at a speed of 10 times the speed of sound, reports the Washington Times. The Kremlin is developing similar devices to overcome US missile defenses, InoTV notes, citing the newspaper. The Yu-71 (Yu-71) has been in development for several years. The last tests of the aircraft took place in February 2015. The launch took place from the Dombarovsky training ground near Orenburg. Previously, it was purely presumptively reported on other Western sources, but now this launch has been confirmed by new analysts. The publication refers to a report released in June by the well-known Western military think tank Jane's.

Previously, this designation - Yu-71 - did not appear in open sources.

Yu-71 - hypersonic aircraft / Photo: azfilm.ru

According to The Washington Free Beacon, the aircraft is part of a secret Russian project with the creation of a certain object 4202. Analysts say that the February launch was carried out using a UR-100N UTTKh rocket, in which object 4202 served as the warhead, and ended unsuccessfully.

It is possible that this index refers to the developed modifications of hypersonic maneuvering nuclear warheads, which have been equipped with Russian ICBMs for several years now. These blocks, after separation from the launch vehicle, are capable of changing the flight path in altitude and course, and as a result, successfully bypass both existing and future missile defense systems.

This will give Russia the ability to deliver precision strikes against selected targets, and combined with the capabilities of its missile defense system, Moscow will be able to successfully hit a target with only one missile.

24 hypersonic aircraft with nuclear warheads will be deployed at the Dombarovsky training ground from 2020 to 2025, the military-analytical center Jane's Information Group is sure. By that time, Moscow will already have a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying the Yu-71, the newspaper writes.

The speed of hypersonic aircraft reaches 11,200 km / h, and unpredictable maneuverability makes the task of finding them almost impossible, the Washington Times emphasizes.

In Hollywood science fiction films, the image of an unmanned aerial strike vehicle is quite often traced. So, at present The United States is the world leader in the construction and design of drones. And they do not stop there, more and more increasing the fleet of UAVs in the armed forces.

Having gained experience in the first, second Iraqi campaigns and the Afghan campaign, the Pentagon continues to develop unmanned systems. UAV purchases will be increased, criteria for new devices are being created. UAVs first occupied the niche of light reconnaissance aircraft, but already in the 2000s it became clear that they were also promising as strike aircraft - they were used in Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Drones have become full-fledged strike units.

MQ-9 Reaper "Reaper"

The last purchase of the Pentagon was order 24 strike UAVs of the MQ-9 Reaper type. This contract will almost double their number in the armed forces (in early 2009, the US had 28 of these drones). Gradually, the "Reapers" (according to Anglo-Saxon mythology, the image of death) should replace the older "Predators" MQ-1 Predator, about 200 of them are in service.

UAV MQ-9 Reaper first took to the air in February 2001. The device was created in 2 versions: turboprop and turbojet, but the US Air Force, interested in new technology, indicated the need for uniformity, refusing to purchase a jet version. In addition, despite the high aerobatic qualities (for example, a practical ceiling of up to 19 kilometers), he could be in the air for no more than 18 hours, which did not tire the Air Force. The turboprop model went into production on a 910-horsepower TPE-331 engine, the brainchild of Garrett AiResearch.

Basic performance characteristics of the "Reaper":

- Weight: 2223 kg (empty) and 4760 kg (maximum);
- Maximum speed - 482 km / h and cruising - about 300 km / h;
- Maximum flight range - 5800 ... 5900 km;
- With a full load, the UAV will do its job for about 14 hours. In total, the MQ-9 is able to stay in the air for up to 28-30 hours;
- Practical ceiling - up to 15 kilometers, and the working altitude level -7.5 km;

Armament "Reaper": has 6 suspension points, a total payload of up to 3800 pounds, so instead of 2 AGM-114 Hellfire guided missiles on the Predator, its more advanced counterpart can take up to 14 SD.
The second option for equipping the Reaper is a combination of 4 Hellfires and 2 five-hundred-pound laser-guided GBU-12 Paveway II guided bombs.
In caliber 500 pounds, it is also possible to use GPS-guided JDAM weapons, such as the GBU-38 ammunition. Air-to-air weapons are represented by the AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and more recently the AIM-92 Stinger, a modification of the well-known MANPADS missile adapted for air launch.

avionics: AN/APY-8 Lynx II Synthetic Aperture Radar capable of mapping mode - in the nose cone. At low (up to 70 knots) speeds, the radar allows you to scan the surface with a resolution of one meter, viewing 25 square kilometers per minute. At high speeds (about 250 knots) - up to 60 square kilometers.

In search modes, the radar, in the so-called SPOT mode, provides instantaneous "images" of local areas of the earth's surface measuring 300 × 170 meters from a distance of up to 40 kilometers, while the resolution reaches 10 centimeters. Combined electron-optical and thermal imaging sighting station MTS-B - on a spherical suspension under the fuselage. Includes a laser rangefinder-target designator capable of targeting the entire range of US and NATO munitions with semi-active laser guidance.

In 2007, the first attack squadron "Reapers" was formed., they entered service with the 42nd strike squadron, which is located at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. In 2008, they were armed with the 174th Fighter Wing of the National Guard Air Force. NASA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Border Guard also have specially equipped Reapers.
The system was not put up for sale. Of the allies of the "Reapers" bought Australia and England. Germany abandoned this system in favor of its developments and Israeli ones.

prospects

The next generation of medium-sized UAVs under the MQ-X and MQ-M programs should be on the wing by 2020. The military wants to simultaneously expand the combat capabilities of the strike UAV and integrate it as much as possible into the overall combat system.

Main goals:

- They plan to create such a basic platform that can be used in all theaters of military operations, which will multiply the functionality of the Air Force unmanned grouping in the region, as well as increase the speed and flexibility of response to emerging threats.

- Increasing the autonomy of the device and increasing the ability to perform tasks in difficult weather conditions. Automatic takeoff and landing, exit to the combat patrol area.

- Interception of air targets, direct support of ground forces, the use of a drone as an integrated reconnaissance complex, a set of electronic warfare tasks and the tasks of providing communications and situational illumination in the form of deploying an information gateway based on an aircraft.

- Suppression of the enemy air defense system.

- By 2030, they plan to create a model of a tanker drone, a kind of unmanned tanker capable of supplying fuel to other aircraft - this will dramatically increase the duration of being in the air.

- There are plans to create UAV modifications that will be used in search and rescue and evacuation missions related to the air transfer of people.

- The concept of combat use of UAVs is planned to include the architecture of the so-called "swarm" (SWARM), which will allow for the joint combat use of groups of unmanned aircraft for the exchange of intelligence information and strike actions.

- As a result, UAVs should "grow" to such tasks as inclusion in the country's air defense system and even delivering strategic strikes. This is attributed to the middle of the 21st century.

Fleet

In early February 2011, a jet took off from Edwards Air Force Base (California) UAV Kh-47V. Drones for the Navy began to be developed in 2001. Sea trials should begin in 2013.

Basic requirements of the Navy:
— deck-based, including landing without violating the stealth regime;
- two full-fledged compartments for installing weapons, the total weight of which, according to a number of reports, can reach two tons;
— air refueling system.

The US is developing a list of requirements for the 6th generation fighter:

- Equipping with next-generation on-board information and control systems, stealth technologies.

- Hypersonic speed, that is, speeds above Mach 5-6.

- Possibility of unmanned control.

- The electronic element base of the aircraft's on-board systems should give way to optical, built on photonics technologies, with a complete transition to fiber-optic communication lines.

Thus, the United States confidently maintains its position in the development, deployment and accumulation of experience in the combat use of UAVs. Participation in a number of local wars allowed the US armed forces to maintain combat-ready personnel, improve equipment and technologies, combat use and control schemes.

The Armed Forces received unique combat experience and the opportunity in practice to uncover and correct the flaws of the designers without major risks. UAVs are becoming part of a single combat system - conducting a "network-centric war".