American analysts gave a mixed assessment of the latest Russian military ground and airborne drones. Some products, experts say, are practically foreign analogues, while others are clones of foreign developments. Experts agree on one thing: the war of the future is impossible without robots, and Russia will have to comply with modern realities.

Friends nearby

The Orion UAV (flight range - 250 kilometers, duration - up to a day) is suspiciously similar to the Iranian Shahed. The original product was used by Iran in Syria, it was also seen in Lebanon.

The main Russian drone Forpost was borrowed from Israel, where it is produced by IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) under the name Searcher. Bendett ironically notes that Israel manages to receive multi-billion dollar military aid from the United States and at the same time sell defense technology to Russia.

No connection

According to Bendett, development of Russia's first heavy drone, the Altair, is behind schedule and under budget, and has been delayed indefinitely as a result.

Russian developers claim that the device weighing three tons with a wingspan of 28.5 meters is capable of carrying a load of up to two tons, covering a distance of ten thousand kilometers, climbing to a height of up to 12 kilometers and being in autonomous flight for up to two days. The prototype of the device made its first flight in August 2016, its mass production is scheduled for 2018.

In his report, Bendett noted that the director of the Kazan Design Bureau named after Simonov, who is creating a combat drone, was recently removed from his position (in fact, documents were seized in the bureau, and investigators talked to its head).

Bendett concludes that UAVs developed directly in Russia tend to be smaller and limited in range compared to foreign ones, but the expert admits that Russian authorities have recently paid great attention to the development of unmanned systems - in particular, innovation and funding. .

The Russian military is getting a lot of practical experience with drones, and one of the main purposes of the Orlan-10 apparatus is to assist in radio suppression. Three aircraft capable of carrying six kilograms of load are controlled from one KamAZ-5350: one drone acts as a repeater, and the other two are involved in creating radio interference.

In the development of GSM jamming complexes (in the specific case, RB-341V "Leer-3"), Russia is a leader and ahead of the United States. It is precisely in the creation of radio interference, and not for delivering a direct strike, that the United States sees the main danger of flying drones being created in Russia. In this context, the expert, of course, did not forget to mention a possible attack by the Russian military on soldiers' mobile phones.

Strong point

Outside the context of electronic warfare, the United States does not yet take Russian military drones seriously, but ground-based drones being developed in Russia are of great concern to American experts.

"Russia is building a whole menagerie of armed ground robots - down to the size of armored personnel carriers," said Paul Sharr, director of technology and security for the Center for a New American Security. He noted the 11-ton "Uran-9", the 16-ton "Whirlwind" and the 50-ton T-14 ("Armata" with an uninhabited tower).

Photo: Valery Melnikov / RIA Novosti

“Many of these heavy vehicles are heavily armed, and the Russians often display these prototypes at exhibitions,” agrees Bendett, who attended the recently concluded annual US Army Association conference and exhibition.

On the other hand, according to analysts, many Russian robots look more like publicity stunts than real combat vehicles. To those, in particular, the experts attributed the anthropomorphic robot Fedor (FEDOR - Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research), capable of firing a pistol. The creators of Fedor boasted that the robot could sit on the twine and mastered the work of a storekeeper.

Most robots, as experts rightly point out, are not created from scratch, but in fact are ordinary armored vehicles converted for remote control. They cannot be considered truly autonomous products, since their operation requires the presence of a person, albeit outside the machine.

The automatic turret, created in Russia, according to Sharr, has "problems with distinguishing between an ally and an enemy in autonomous mode." However, he admits that with the development of artificial intelligence systems, the unit will cope with this task.

Bendett noted that most of the American military ground drones are remotely controlled (this makes it easier for the enemy to suppress radar), too light and practically not equipped with weapons, that is, in fact, they are not full-fledged combat robots. At present, American ground-based drones are as militarily useless as Russian drones.

Ultimately, experts found it difficult to name a leader in the development of drones. Scherr suggested that the United States is lagging behind Russia in the development of large ground combat robots due to ethical difficulties, involving the rationale for the possibility of destroying a person by a machine, as well as a "lack of ideas." Bendett, on the contrary, believes that Russia is now in the role of catching up, but is actively working to overcome the backlog in the development of aerial drones.

just business

It must be admitted that in the military conflicts of the future, unmanned systems will play one of the key roles. This component of weapons is spelled out in the American "third offset strategy", which provides for the use of the latest technologies and control methods to achieve an advantage over the enemy. Currently, almost all countries of the world that have any noticeable weapons are developing promising drones.

“Priorities are mainly given not so much to the modernization of old types of weapons, but to the creation of new ones. These are promising aviation systems, including military transport and long-range aviation, these are unmanned systems, robotics, that is, everything related to the possibility and necessity of withdrawing a person from the affected area, ”the Deputy Prime Minister explained the concept of the upcoming draft of the Russian state arms program for 2018-2025.

On the other hand, any discussion of the problem of the backlog in armaments comes down to the issue of funding. In such a situation, the conversion component of new technologies is interesting. The expediency of creating hypersonic missiles and electromagnetic weapons in Russia in the conditions of economic stagnation is doubtful, while in the field of developing unmanned systems there are much fewer of them.

The latest version of the national budget for 2018 provides for an increase in the share of military spending by 179.6 billion rubles, while spending on social policy, education and healthcare is proposed to be reduced by 54 billion rubles. Thus, in 2018, the share of military spending could reach 3.3 percent of the country's GDP.

UAV as part of an integrated monitoring system

Dozor-2, Transas, Russia

Remote controlled UAV. Now called Dozor-50

Dozor-3, Transas, Russia

UAV which was later called Dozor-600.

Dozor-50, Transas, Russia

Remote controlled UAV. Further development of Dozor-2

50 kg, 600 km, 130 km/h, 4 km, 2.6 m x 0.9 m x 4 m wings, 15 kg payload, up to 6 hours

Dozor-100, Transas, Russia

remote-controlled UAV, with a wing extended relative to Dozor-85.

95 kg, 1200 km, 150 km/h, ceiling 4.5 km, useful - 32 kg, length - 3 m, height 1.1 m, wingspan - 5.4 m, 10 hours

, Kronstadt, Russia

Medium-altitude heavy multi-purpose remote-controlled UAV with a long flight duration. Solves the problems of detecting and identifying objects in real time, regardless of weather conditions and time of day. Built according to the normal aerodynamic scheme. There is no information about readiness and entry into the Russian troops for 2017.01.

Drozd, OPK (KB Luch), Russia

UAV short range aircraft type. Range: up to 40 km, weight 10 kg, flight time - 2 hours.

E2U, Russia

Remote controlled aerial target, aircraft type, air jet engine M135, 400 km/h, 70 kg, up to 180 km.

Wingspan: 2.4 m, length - 2.1 m

Eo8, Russia

Remote controlled aerial target, aircraft type, M135 jet engine, 300 km/h, 150 kg, up to 100 km.

Launch from a towed installation.

Wingspan: 5 m, length - 4.15 m

, Russia

The E95M small-sized aerial target complex for ground launch is designed to provide combat training of troops and test (test) air defense systems.

, UZGA, licensed version of Bird Eye 400, Israel

aircraft type, reconnaissance

, OKB Simonov, Russia

aircraft type. shock. presumably air launch, MALE

, Kronstadt, Russia

Reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle. Aircraft-type drone weighing 1200 kg with a payload mass of up to 300 kg. Can be equipped with air-to-ground missiles. Developments in the field of R & D "Inohodets", order of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The development contract was signed in October 2011. The project also developed a civilian version - UAV "Orion".

Inspector-402, Aerocon, Russia

Aircraft-type UAV with a V-tail and a straight wing span of 4 meters. An electric motor powered by a hydrogen fuel cell - 400 km, or with an internal combustion engine - up to 1000 km.

Inspector-601, Aerocon, Russia

Multi-purpose remote-controlled aircraft-type UAV. Takeoff and landing "like an airplane". Gas engine.

Irkut-3, NPK Irkut, Russia

Aircraft-type remote-controlled mini-UAV.

Irkut-200

reconnaissance, flying wing, first flight - 2009

Istra 10, Istra, Russia

Reconnaissance remote-controlled aircraft-type UAV.

Istra 12, Istra, Russia

Reconnaissance remote-controlled aircraft-type UAV. Takeoff using guides, landing with a parachute or on the surface of the fuselage. It can carry out the flight program without using the signal of satellite navigation systems.

takeoff weight - 70 kg, payload - 15 kg, cruising speed - 130 km/h, flight duration - 1 hour

Ka-137, Kamov, Russia

Helicopter-type UAV

280 kg, 175 km/h, ceiling 5 km, payload 80 kg, 4 hours, length 1.88, width 1.88, height 2.3, propeller diameter 5.3 m.

viburnum

1963. First flight

Lastochka, OPK (KB Luch), Russia

Aircraft-type short-range UAV. Range: up to 25 km, weight 4 kg, flight time - 1.5 hours.

Leer, Russia

Tactical UAV. family of devices.

Luch, OPK (KB Luch), Russia

UAV medium-range aircraft type. Range: up to 250 km, weight 660 kg, flight time - 12-24 hours.

aircraft type, tactical

,

7 kg, up to 100 km, speed - 150 km/h, ceiling 7 km, useful - 1.8 kg, engine: ICE on methanol, up to 3 hours
takeoff from a collapsible catapult, landing - by parachute.

,

reconnaissance, first flight - 2011. In service in 2015.

, Dry,

in development, prototypes expected by 2020, impact, long range

Pchela-1T, Yakovlev (A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau), Russia

reconnaissance, development in 1990, first flight - 1997. Can be found in the troops in 2015.

Flight

T10 Eleron, ENIX, Russia

T23 Aileron

, Russia

the flying wing, 25 kg, has been supplied to the troops of the RF Armed Forces since 2015. There is an export version of Tachyon-E

UAV "flying wing" with an electric motor and fuel cells for unmanned aerial reconnaissance and surveillance. Launch weight - about 25 kg, payload over 5 kg, flight duration - about 6 hours. Development of "Izhmash - unmanned systems". The series may go with a different name.

, Taiber (OOO Taiber), Russia

Unmanned helicopter with internal combustion engine. Takeoff, flight along the route and landing are carried out automatically.

Tipchak, KB Luch (Concern Vega), Russia

small reconnaissance aircraft, first flight - 2008, put into service in 2008. For 2015 - is in service with the RF Armed Forces. Takeoff weight: 50 kg; speed: 200 km/h; maximum height: 3000 m; flight duration: 2 hours.

Supersonic unmanned long-range reconnaissance aircraft, first flight - 1964

Tu-130, ANTK named after A.N. Tupolev, Russia

hypersonic glider for thermonuclear munitions

Tu-141 Strizh (VR-2 complex), Tupolev, USSR

Reusable operational development of the Tupolev Design Bureau. It was part of the VR-2 Strizh complex. First flight - 1974, start of operation - 1979. Turbojet engine. Speed ​​up to 1110 km/h. Flight range - 1000 km. Practical ceiling - 6000 m. Produced until 1989. Produced 152 pieces. Deprecated. Read more: wiki.

TU-143 Flight (VR-3 complex), Tupolev, USSR

Reconnaissance UAV, first flight - 1970. For conducting tactical reconnaissance with photographing and TV reconnaissance of area targets and individual routes, monitoring the radiation situation along the flight route. It is part of the VR-3 complex. Developed in the 60s of the XX century. Produced in the period 1970-1980, about 950 pieces were produced. Inefficient for modern conditions. He was replaced by Tu-243. wiki

TU-243, Tupolev, Russia

Reconnaissance UAV.

TU-300 Korshun, Tupolev, Russia

Impact flying drone with a turbojet engine. It was launched from a transport and launch container using two solid propellant boosters. The payload mass exceeded 1 ton (it could be rockets and bombs). The aircraft did not have a landing gear, landing was carried out by parachute. Development was curtailed in 2007.

(Forpost-M), Ural Civil Aviation Plant, Russia

reconnaissance UAV aircraft type, assembled under license and from components produced in Israel. Similar to the Israeli Searcher MkII developed in 1998. In 2018, it is claimed that the device "is completely transferred to the domestic component base, including optoelectronic means and an engine." There are plans to purchase Forpost-M to the troops in 2019. Unlike the Israeli drone, it is equipped with weapons, in particular guided bombs.

Frigate, Kronstadt, Russia

Take-off weight: 5000 kg, payload - 800 kg, wing span - 17 m, folded wing - 9 m, length - 13 m, height 3.7 m, flight range - 2300 km, flight duration 4.3 h, service ceiling - 7000 m.
The device uses a pair of rotary fans, to which the force is transmitted from the engine. To increase stability during takeoff, landing and hovering, a rotary impeller was used in the rear fuselage. The tandem wing was used to increase the wing area and correct "weight distribution" of the aircraft. If necessary, the Frigate is able to take off like an airplane, which saves fuel. As of April 2019, the project has not been completed, although there is a flight model. Powerplant not selected. It takes at least 6-8 more years.

Husky, KVAND, Russia

UAV helicopter type, 2 gas turbine engines

90 kg, 130 km, 150 km/h, ceiling 4 km, LxW 3.75 m, 1.07 m, 42 kg useful, 1.2 hours, communication range with ground station - 100 km.

Chirok, OPK, Russia

multi-purpose hovercraft UAV, two-ton, in development for 2015. Previously built prototype.

, OPK, Russia

propeller UAV, in development for June 2016

Shtil, INDELA, Russia

multi-purpose turbojet UAV aircraft type with vertical takeoff and landing and the ability to hover in the air

speed 780 km/h, ceiling 9 km, L 3.15 x K 2.98 x H 0.95 m, 100 kg payload, 5 hours

Eleron, Russia

UAV and LHC family, including 3CB, T10, T23 and others

,

UAV type "flying wing". A reconnaissance system designed to operate at close range.

Eleron T10, ENIX, Russia

UAV, flying wing with folding consoles, pusher propeller, pneumatic catapult required for launch, parachute for landing.

ground station control.

12 kg, 200 km, 120 km/h, ceiling - 5 km, length - 0.83 meters, wingspan 2.2 m, flight - up to 2 hours

Eleron T23

small scout. First flight - 2007. UAV, flying wing, pusher propeller, folding consoles, catapult launch.

DELTA-M

Multipurpose, reconnaissance, first flight in 2014.

Merlin-21b, Russia

Reconnaissance remote-controlled aircraft type drone.

Equipped with a dual-band radar.
The decimeter range of radio waves is used to detect objects hidden from view or camouflaged by foliage. The centimeter range allows you to take pictures with high resolution.
Data transfer is carried out in real time.
The flight ceiling of the drone is up to 3 km, the drone can operate at a distance of up to 600 km from the launch point.
It can work in all weather conditions and at any time of the day.
It was demonstrated at the Army-2015 forum by representatives of the Russian Air Force in June 2015.

ZALA 421-02X, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

helicopter type, video communication - 25 km, flight time 90-180 minutes, weight 90 kg, ZALA page 421-02X

ZALA 421-04M, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

aircraft type, flying wing, video link - 15 km, flight time 90 minutes, weight 5.5 kg, off page ZALA 421-04M. UAV flying wing.

ZALA 421-06, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

UAV helicopter type. Up to 3 hours, up to 40 km from the control point.

12 kg, 50 km/h, ceiling - 2 km, max 70 km/h, payload 3.5 kg,

ZALA 421-08, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

UAV "flying wing", produced by "Unmanned Systems", Izhevsk.

2.5 kg, 10 km, 120 km/h, ceiling 4 km, length 0.44 m, wingspan 0.8 m, flight duration 1.3 hours

ZALA 421-08M, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

aircraft type, flying wing, midget reconnaissance, first flight in 2008, video communication - 15 km, flight time - 80 minutes, weight 2.5 kg. A feature of this drone is support for target acquisition and tracking, a unique functionality for small class drones. Off page ZALA 421-08M.

ZALA 421-16, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

aircraft type, video communication - 50 km, flight time 4-8 hours, 16 kg, ZALA page 421-16.

ZALA 421-16E, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

aircraft type, video communication - 50 km, flight time - 4 hours, weight - 10 kg. Off page ZALA 421-16E.

ZALA 421-16EM, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

aircraft type, video link - 25 km, 2.5 h in flight, 6.5 kg, off page ZALA 421-16EM.

ZALA 421-20, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

aircraft type, video communication 70 km, flight time - 6-8 hours, weight - 200 kg. Off page ZALA 421-20.

ZALA 421-21, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

silent mini-hexacopter, video communication - 2 km, flight time - 40 minutes, weight - 1.5 kg. ZALA page 421-21.

takeoff weight: 1.5 kg

ZALA 421-22, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

octocopter, video communication - 5 km, flight time - 35 minutes, weight - 8 kg. It can not only transmit a video stream of surveillance, but also perform the task of flying around the perimeter or monitoring a specific infrastructure object. It can carry an SSK-4 sea rescue kit, consisting of an inflatable life jacket or a small inflatable raft, which the drone is able to drop at the specified coordinates to the person being rescued. ZALA page 421-22.

ZALA 421-23, ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

helicopter type, video communication - 25 km, flight time 1.5-2 hours, weight - 35 kg. ZALA page 421-23.

ZALA 421-M1 (target), ZALA Aero Group, Izhevsk, Russia

flying wing, speed - up to 400 km / h, flight time - 30 minutes, wingspan - 1215 mm. Offsite ZALA 421-M1.

Name unknown, Russia

Reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle of helicopter type. Developed in 2016 in the interests of the Naval Aviation and the Russian Navy. Purpose: target designation, fire adjustments, terrain mapping, search for distressed crews of aircraft and ships. The complex includes several drones, controls, vehicles and a maintenance point. Perhaps we are talking about an attempt to "reincarnate" the "Roller" theme, which previously ended in failure. / tass.ru

Austria

Israel

Aerostar, Aeronautics Defense Systems, Israel

UAV aircraft type, requiring a runway for takeoff and landing. Engine 490 IA, 38 hp For use by law enforcement agencies.
Bought in the USA and Poland. More than 12 hours in flight. Line-of-sight control at a distance of up to 200 km, or optionally via satellite, speeds - 60 knots and up to a maximum of 110 knots. Wingspan - 6.5 m, length 4.5 m, height 1.2 m. Weight 210 kg, payload weight 50 kg.

AirMule, Tactical Robotics

bird eye

Tactical UAV.

2015 Assembled in Russia, in Tatarstan under the name Zastava.

2008 Studied in Ukraine by specialists of the Ministry of Defense for procurement for the army. The benchmark for the cost of the complex is $ 1.3 million. It has not been put into service with the Ukrainian army.

Cormorant, Tactical Robotics

VTOL. It has been developed since at least 2008, until 2016 under the name AirMule. Designed for the transfer of infantry, civilians or cargo. Supports remotely controlled and autonomous flight modes. Weight - 1.4 tons, speed - up to 180 km / h, payload - more than 200 kg, altitude ceiling - 3.7 km, power reserve - 5 hours. As of November 2016, field tests were carried out, which revealed a number of shortcomings.
2016.11.19 .

E-Hunter, Israel Aerospace Industries, Israel

Israeli modification of the reconnaissance remote-controlled drone RQ-5 Hunter with increased payload, flight range and flight time. First flight in July 1995.

Eitan, IAI, Israel

aka Heron TP, see

Elbit Hermes-180, Elbit Systems / Elbit Maarahot, Israel

Multipurpose UAV

Elbit Hermes-450, Elbit Systems / Elbit Maarahot, Israel

Length: 2.7 meters, wingspan - 2.1 meters, 28 kW engine, pushing propeller in the rear of the hull, maximum speed - 185 km / h, flight range up to 500 km. Armament - warhead 32 kg. Weight - 132 kg.

Exported to China in 1994 and to other countries - Chile, India, South Korea, Turkey.

Hero 30, UVision, Israel

Impact UAV. Loitering aircraft in a knapsack version, to defeat the enemy's manpower. 3 kg. / Cursorinfo.co.il ; stop-news.com

Hero 70, UVision, Israel

Impact UAV. Ultralight 7-kg intelligent complex HERO 70 to destroy cars. Data transmission in the line-of-sight zone of 40 km. / Cursorinfo.co.il ; stop-news.com

Hero 120, UVision, Israel

Impact UAV. The largest short-range aircraft for destroying tanks or other strategic targets. It can carry a warhead weighing up to 3.5 kg. Flight duration up to 60 minutes. / Cursorinfo.co.il ; stop-news.com

Hero 250, UVision, Israel

Impact UAV. Flight duration up to 3 hours and line-of-sight up to 150 km, allowing strikes at a great distance. / Cursorinfo.co.il ; stop-news.com

Hero 400, UVision, Israel

Impact UAV. Loitering small-sized long-range aircraft Hero 400 for delivering pinpoint strikes against combat targets in populated built-up areas or remote areas. Weight - 40 kg, warhead - 8 kg. Flight duration - up to 4 hours, range - 150 km. / Cursorinfo.co.il ; stop-news.com

Hero 900, UV Vision. Israel

Impact UAV. for strategic operations. Able to carry a warhead up to 20 kg with a flight duration of up to 7 hours. Range - 250 km. / Cursorinfo.co.il ; stop-news.com

MALE UAV, i.e. medium-altitude remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle with a long time of controlled flight. It is customary to compare it with the American MQ-1 Predator.

, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel

A remote-controlled strike aircraft. Main parameters: wingspan - 26 meters, length - 15 meters. Weight - 4 tons, payload - 1 ton. Time in the air - up to 36 hours.

Status: First flown in 2009, regularly used since 2011. As of 2015, it is in service with the Israeli Air Force, and is also imported by a number of customers in Europe and Asia. .

Israel Aerospace

Loitering ammunition. Designed to destroy enemy personnel and lightly armored vehicles. Speed ​​- up to 120 - 157 km / h, when "diving to the target" the speed reaches 203 km / h. Loitering time - up to 75 minutes. Range - up to 40 km. Warhead - 2.5 kg. Push screw, electric motor

Orbiter, Aeronautics Defense Systems, Israel

Mini UAV, aircraft type, intended for use by the military and other security forces for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes. Launching from a catapult or bungee (possibly by hand), low noise, parachute landing. Range - up to 15 km, flight duration - up to 1.5 hours. Carried along with the remote control in a backpack. Wingspan 2.2 m, length 1 m. Assembly at the launch point - in 10 minutes.
Purchased, for example, in Poland.

Panther, IAI, Israel

Military reconnaissance UAV. VTOL functionality and hybrid powertrain. 130 km / h, control channel - 60 km. Height - up to 3 km, flight duration - up to 6 hours. 67 kg, payload - 8.5 kg. Swivel screw design.
2017.04.30 .

Rotem, IAI, Israel

The Rotem is a portable, foldable military quadcopter that can be quickly ready to fly. The Rotem L can hover over a target and, upon command, dive down and strike. The drone is controlled from a tablet. The payload can be two grenades used to detonate near the target or a camera for video surveillance of the target. The weight of the drone is 4.5 kg, it is designed for use both in the daytime and at night. The drone can hover over the target in full readiness to attack for up to 30 minutes. The weight of the explosive charge must not exceed 0.45 kg.

Searcher MkII, IAI, Israel

tactical drone. Used since 2008 or earlier. Known in Russia as Forpost.

Silver Arrow Darter, Elbit Systems, Israel

Tactical reconnaissance UAV

Silver Arrow Sniper, Elbit Systems, Israel

Tactical reconnaissance UAV

Skylark I Mini, Elbit Systems, Israel

Tactical reconnaissance UAV (Lark)

Skylark C, Elbit Systems, Israel

Tactical reconnaissance UAV for use in maritime conditions. Inertial navigation system (INS), stabilized optical-electronic load (EO) - thermal imager and camera. Takeoff - catapult, landing - parachute or net over the deck. Two operators to control.

Iran

Saegheh (Thunderbolt)

UAV created on the basis of the American attack UAV RQ-170 Sentinel captured by Iran

Shahed 129, Shahed Aviation Industries Research, Iran

aircraft type, multipurpose, MALE,

2017.06 The US Air Force (F-15 Strike Eagle) shot down a Shahed 129 strike drone of Syrian government forces over Syria.

Italy

SW-4 Solo, Finmeccanica Helicopter Division, . pdf

, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Attack aircraft-type UAV from the "Raduga" family with a wingspan of 7.62 m, with a pushing three-blade propeller behind the hull. Flight speed - up to 240 km / h.

, China Aerospace and Technology Corporation, China

Sky Saber, China

UAV, announced in 2013 in the status of "under development". With high-precision weapons on board.

, NORINCO, China

Helicopter-type multi-purpose drone, announced in 2016.

Soar Dragon, China

UAV, similar in functionality and characteristics to the American RQ-4 Global Hawk.

Other product names Chengdu Pterodactyl I or Yillong-1. This is a medium-altitude strike military UAV developed in China in 2008 in an attempt to recreate an analogue of the American MQ-1 Predator. Several modifications have been released, for example, Pterosaur I, Pterodactyl I, WJ-1, GJ-1

, Chengdu Aircraft Institute, China

This is a high-altitude strike military UAV, announced in China in 2015 in an attempt to recreate an analogue of the American MQ-1 Predator. The first flight is in February 2017.

WJ-500, CASIC, China

WJ-500, CASIC. Image Source: www.uasvision.com

, CASIC, China

Strike-reconnaissance UAV of a modular design. Up to 600 kg payload. Speed ​​- up to 720 km / h, ceiling height - up to 10 km. Range - 2100 km. The wings are equipped with units for external cargo movement.

China

UAV, announced in 2013 in the status of "under development".

Yilong I, see

The United Kingdom has its own development of military UAVs, but in addition, the country buys American military UAVs from the United States, for hundreds of millions of dollars. These are, first of all, such drones as Predator and Reaper.
In particular, in 2016, it was decided to purchase 10 Protector UAVs from General Atomics, USA, in the amount of $125 million.

Blackstart, Blue Bear System, United Kingdom

https://www.bbsr.co.uk/

hand-launched winged drone, weight - 4.5 kg

, BAE Systems, United Kingdom

Developed by BAE Systems, a military stealth drone that lacks ailerons.

Protector, General Atomics, USA

Whatchkeeper WK450, U-TacS (Thales Group and Elbit Systems), United Kingdom

All-weather drone used by the United Kingdom Army (based on the Israeli Elbit Hermes 450). 450 kg, payload - 150 kg, 17 hours - flight duration. Used since 2010. Dual-mode synthetic aperture radar with detection of moving ground targets.

Experimental UAV - pseudo-satellite. 22.5 m wingspan. 14 days of continuous flight.

, Airbus Defense and Space, Europe

Experimental UAV - pseudo-satellite. The task is to stay in the air for several weeks. In development for 2015-2016.

, Airbus Defense and Space, Europe

Reconnaissance UAV is a pseudo-satellite developed in 2016 in Airbus Defense and Space for the United Kingdom Department of Defense. Trials are scheduled for 2017.

United Arab Emirates

Yabhon United 40, ADCOM Systems, United Arab Emirates

Military UAV, aircraft type, wingspan - 20 meters, length 11.13 m, height 4.38 meters, weight without payload - 520 kg, maximum takeoff weight - up to 1500 kg, payload up to 1000 kg, tank capacity - 900 liters. Drives - the main engine and the electric motor. Up to 120 hours of non-stop flight, ceiling - 7 km, speeds from 75 to 220 km/h. Official site: adcom-systems.com

Yabhon United 40 block 5, ADCOM Systems, United Arab Emirates

Military strike UAV, aircraft type. Can carry rocket weapons. Official page: adcom-systems.com

Pakistan

Burraq

The Burraq strike UAV developed by Pakistan was used for the first time to attack "terrorists" in North Waziristan. /defencetalk.com

The Burraq UAV was developed in Pakistan in the second half of the 2000s. The first flight was recorded in 2009, the UAV entered service in 2014. The UAV is equipped with several types of sensors and Barq air-to-ground missiles. The first tests of missile launches from UAVs took place in March 2015. Now, probably, the first combat use of UAVs has occurred. / nplus1.ru

Poland

W.B. Electronics

Military attack drone. Loitering ammunition designed to detect and counter targets such as light tanks and armored personnel carriers.

Serbia

Pegaz

Military Technical Institute Belgrade, Serbia and BB Composite

Length - 5.4 m, wingspan - 6.3 m, height - 1.5 m. Curb weight - 120 kg, maximum takeoff - 231 kg. Flight range - about 100 km. Maximum speed - 201 km / h, cruising - 144.8 km / h. Maximum flight duration - 12 hours. Height ceiling - 3 km.

Avenger (Predator-C), General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., USA

, Marine Research Laboratory, USA

unmanned microdrone gliders. In development as of 2015.05. Microdrones are supposed to be thrown out in a "swarm" from a great height, from an airplane, drone or balloon. Then they plan to the target, guided by GPS. These microdrones are being developed at the US Marine Research Laboratory.

, Raytheon, USA

Loitering ammunition. Designed to destroy enemy personnel and lightly armored vehicles. Developed by Raytheon. The system is able to stay in the air for up to 2 hours and accelerate to 130 km/h.

dragon lady

EQ-4, Northrop Grumman, USA

Version of the RQ-4 Global Hawk equipped with the BACN (Battlefield Airborn Communications Node) system. In 2017, the US Air Force has three of these drones attached to the 38th Air Expeditionary Wing based at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE.

, USA

Military drone for reconnaissance, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare. Can stay in flight for over 15 hours. Designed to provide strategic support to ground tactical groups. Does not need GDP, starts from a catapult, landing - into the net. Got a new engine in 2017.

Gremlin, DARPA, USA

, USA

The name of the US Navy LOCUST project stands for LOw-Cost Unmanned aerial vehickle Swarming Technology, i.e. low-cost drone swarm technology.
The launcher of the LOCUST project, developed at the US Naval Research Office, is capable of launching an entire group of aircraft-type drones into the air in a few seconds. Drones are designed to solve target designation tasks, and they can also impede the operation of enemy air defense systems. The main advantage of this approach is that it is more difficult for the enemy to deal with a large number of small targets performing a task, for example, correcting fire. Part of the group's drones, according to the plan, can be converted for use as loitering ammunition. Apparently, the Americans liked the experience of the Israelis with their HARPY, which many countries would like to buy. News at the link.

, General Atomics,

MALE UAS, a medium-altitude remote-controlled UAV, aircraft type, originally reconnaissance (RQ-1), later modified to multi-purpose (MQ-1). Since 2018, the US plans to abandon its use.

, General Atomics,

Multi-purpose remote-controlled aircraft-type UAV. The cost is about $21 million per unit. Can carry air-to-ground missiles.

, Northrop Grumman, USA

Multi-purpose BAMS UAS, aircraft type. For reconnaissance purposes. Able to stay in the air for more than 24 hours. Created by order of the US Navy, as a further development of BAMS UAS RQ-4Global Hawk. First flight - May 22, 2013. It is planned to release 68 pieces. The cost is about $182 million (including development costs).

MQ-5B Hunter, IAI Malat Division, USA/Israel

multi-purpose remote-controlled UAV, medium-altitude, aircraft type, with a long flight time.

It differs from the reconnaissance RQ-5B by the presence of GBU-44 / B Viper Strike bombs.

Developed in 1989 by Israeli Aircraft Industries together with the American company TRW (Northorp Grumman Corp.) based on the Israeli Impact UAV.

First flight - 1991

First production contract for the US Army - 1993. Also purchased by France, Belgium, India.

2014.03 According to the publications of the Russian press, he was landed on the territory of the Crimea after the interception of control using the Russian EW complex Avtobaza. / tvzvezda.ru . The information is most likely not reliable, in particular, Rostec denies the use of the Avtobaza complex in the Crimea. / Rostec.ru Deny this and other sources, in particular, with reference to the press secretary of the Pentagon / bbc.com

Fire Scout, Northrop Grumman, USA

Unmanned autonomous helicopter for US Navy use.

2015.06.20 Helicopter-type UAV. In service with the US Army. 7.32 m long, load capacity - 272 kg. At least 30 units.

, Northrop Grumman, USA

Naval unmanned autonomous helicopter. First flight 31.10.2013. Equipped with a radar, sensors to intercept communications and an APKWS (high-precision fire) system, which means laser-guided missiles.

, General Atomics, USA

aircraft type, multi-purpose, extended range

, Boeing, USA

aircraft type, multi-purpose.

2019.05 . In 2017, it was said that the full-size version of the MQ-25 would have to lift about 8328 liters of fuel into the air and refuel aircraft at distances of more than 800 km from the aircraft carrier.

Resembling giant stingrays, combat remote-controlled strike drones are considered one of the strangest flying systems ever invented by man. They represent the next evolutionary step in the art of war, as they will definitely soon become the vanguard of any modern air force, as they have a lot of undeniable advantages in frontal combat, especially when dealing with a strong symmetrical opponent.

Lessons that hardly anyone is taught

Essentially seen as a means of getting crews out of danger in areas with dense air defenses, where the chances of survival are not so great, attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are essentially the brainchild of countries with strong defense industries and solid annual budgets and often with high moral standards regarding the cost of the lives of its soldiers. In the past few years, the United States, Europe and Russia have been actively developing subsonic stealth UAVs, followed by China, always ready to copy and adapt everything that is invented in the world.

These new weapons systems are very different from the MALE (medium-altitude, long-range) drones that everyone sees around the clock on their TV screens and which are built by well-known Israeli and American companies, such as IAI and General Atomics, which are today excellent experts in the field, by the well-researched Ryan Aero with its BQM-34 Firebee remotely controlled jet aircraft… 60 years ago.

Probing the future of dogfighting: The Rafale fighter accompanies the Neuron strike drone, designed to break through heavily defended airspace. Due to the superior combat effectiveness of the new generation of surface-to-air missiles, only such stealthy strike UAVs (with a low effective scattering area) will be able to close in on a ground target and destroy it with a high probability of hitting and return home to prepare for the next battle.

UAVs are not just "armed" drones, as it might seem, even if today it is customary to classify UAVs like the armed MQ-1 Predator or MQ-9 Reaper, for example, as strike systems. This is a completely misused term. After all, apart from participating in offensive operations in safe or controlled airspace by allied forces, UAVs are completely incapable of passing through the battle formations of properly manned opponent systems.

A visit to the Aerospace Museum in Belgrade acts as a real revelation in this area. In 1999, during NATO operations in Yugoslavia, at least 17 American RQ-1 Predators were shot down by either MiG fighters or Strela MANPADS missiles. Even despite their discretion, once discovered, MALE drones are doomed and will not survive even an hour. It is worth recalling that in the same campaign, the Yugoslav army destroyed an American F-117 Nighthawk stealth aircraft. For the first time in the history of military aviation, an aircraft that was not detected by radar and was considered invulnerable was shot down.

For the only time in its entire combat service, the F-117 was discovered and shot down, and on a moonless night (there were only three such nights in the five-week war) by a missile of the antiquarian S-125 air defense system of Soviet production. But the Yugoslavs were not a rabble of marginals with primitive notions of military art like the Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia) or the Taliban, they were well-trained and cunning professional soldiers, able to adapt to new threats. And they have proven it.

The Northrop Grumman X-47B UAV prototype took another historic step on May 17, 2013, making several landings with immediate take-off after touching down on the USS George W. Bush, off the coast of Virginia.

Military aviation is only a hundred years old, but it is already replete with spectacular inventions, the latest ones include attack unmanned aerial vehicles or combat drones. Over the course of a century, the concept of aerial combat has changed radically, especially since the end of the Vietnam War. The dogfights of the First and Second World Wars, using machine guns to destroy the enemy, have now become a page of history, and the advent of second-generation air-to-air missiles have turned cannons into a rather obsolete tool for this task, and now they are only useful as auxiliary weapons for shelling the earth from the air.

Today, this trend is reinforced by the advent of hypersonic maneuverable missiles for engaging targets beyond the range of visual visibility, which, when launched in large numbers and in tandem with missiles of the wing aircraft, for example, leave almost no chance for evasive maneuver to any enemy flying at high altitude.

The situation is the same with modern ground-to-air weapons controlled by an instantaneously reacting network-centric air defense computer system. Indeed, the level of combat effectiveness of modern missiles, which easily enter well-defended airspace, has become higher than ever in our days. Perhaps the only panacea for this is aircraft and cruise missiles with a reduced effective reflection area (EPO) or low-flying attack weapons with the mode of flying around and around the terrain at extremely low altitude.

In April 2015, the X-47B demonstrated not only a convincing ability to operate from an aircraft carrier, but it also proved its ability to refuel in the air. The second participant in this event over the Chesapeake Bay was the Boeing KC-707 tanker. This is a real premiere for the UAV, as this test marked the first in-flight refueling of an unmanned aircraft.

At the turn of the new millennium, American pilots began to think about what could be done differently with remotely piloted aircraft, which had become quite a fashionable topic after its expanded use in military operations. As entry into well-defended airspace became more and more dangerous and associated with great risk to combat pilots, even those flying the latest jet fighter-bombers, the only way to solve this problem was to use weapons that were used outside the reach of enemy weapons. , and/or the creation of low-observable high subsonic attack drones capable of disappearing into the air through the use of special radar avoidance technologies, including radar absorbing materials and advanced jamming modes.

Remotely controlled attack drones of a new type, using data transmission channels with enhanced encryption from frequency hopping, should be able to enter the protected "sphere" and set the work to air defense systems without risking the lives of flight crews. Their excellent maneuverability with increased g-forces (up to +/-15 g!) allows them to remain somewhat invulnerable to manned interceptors…

Aside the philosophy of "deny access / block zone"

With two advanced stealth aircraft, the F-117 Nighthawk and B-2 Spirit, presented with great fanfare and splurge, the first in 1988 and the second a decade later, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA and the US Air Force played an important role in in order for this new technology to be successfully implemented and demonstrated its advantages in combat conditions. Although the stealthy F-117 tactical strike aircraft has now been retired, some of the technological developments gained from the development of this unusual aircraft (which periodically became the object of indignation of zealous adherents of aesthetics) were applied to new projects, such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, and to an even greater extent in the promising bomber B-21 (LRS-B). One of the most secret programs that the United States is implementing is related to the further development of the UAV family using radar absorbing materials and modern technologies for actively providing extremely low visibility.

Building on UAV technology demonstration programs, the Boeing X-45 and Northrop Grumman X-47, whose accomplishments and results remain largely classified, Boeing's Phantom Works division and Northrop Grumman's secret division continue to develop attack drones today. A special mystery is shrouded in the RQ-180 UAV project, apparently being developed by Northrop Grumman. It is assumed that this platform will enter the closed airspace and conduct constant reconnaissance and surveillance, while simultaneously performing the tasks of active electronic suppression of enemy manned aircraft. A similar project is being implemented by the Skunks Works division of Lockheed Martin.

In the process of developing the SR-72 hypersonic vehicle, the issues of safe operation of a reconnaissance UAV in protected airspace are being addressed, both through the use of its own speed and through advanced radar absorbing materials. Promising UAVs designed to break through modern (Russian) integrated air defense systems are also being developed by General Atomics; its new Avenger drone, also known as the Predator C, includes many innovative stealth elements. In fact, it is vital for the Pentagon today, as ever, to stay ahead of what Russia creates in order to maintain the current military imbalance in favor of Washington. And for the United States, the impact drone is becoming one of the means to ensure this process.

A Dassault Neuron drone returns to Istres Air Force Base from a night flight, 2014. Flight tests of the Neuron in France, as well as in Italy and Sweden in 2015, demonstrated its excellent flight and visibility characteristics, but all of them still remain classified. Armed drone Neuron is not the only European program to demonstrate UAV technology. BAE Systems is implementing the Taranis project, it has almost the same design and is equipped with the same RR Adour engine as the Neuron drone.

What the developers of American UAVs today call “protected airspace” is one of the components of the concept of “denial of access / blocking the zone” or a single (integrated) air defense system successfully deployed today by the Russian armed forces, both in Russia itself and abroad. its borders in order to provide cover for the expeditionary forces. No less smart and savvy than American military developers, albeit with significantly less money, Russian researchers from the Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Radio Engineering (NNIIRT) created a mobile two-coordinate radar station with a circular view of the meter range (from 30 MHz to 1 GHz) P-18 ( 1RL131) "Terek". The latest versions of this station, with their own specific frequency ranges, can detect F-117 and B-2 bombers from several hundred kilometers, and this remains no mystery to Pentagon experts!

A Taranis UAV at an air base in England, with a Typhoon fighter in the background, 2015. With almost the same size and proportions as Neuron, Taranis, however, is more rounded and does not have weapon bays.

Starting in 1975, NNIIRT developed the first three-coordinate radar station capable of measuring the height, range and azimuth of a target. As a result, the surveillance radar 55ZH6 "Sky" of the meter range appeared, the deliveries of which to the armed forces of the USSR began in 1986. Later, after the demise of the Warsaw Pact, NNIIRT designed the 55Zh6 Nebo-U radar, which became part of the S-400 Triumf long-range air defense system currently deployed around Moscow. In 2013, NNIIRT announced the next model 55Zh6M Nebo-M, in which VHF and UHF radars are combined in a single module.

With vast experience in developing high-end stealth target detection systems, the Russian industry is currently very active and offers new digital versions of the P-18 radar to its allies, which can often simultaneously perform the functions of an air traffic control radar. Also, Russian engineers have created new digital mobile radar systems "Sky UE" and "Sky SVU" on a modern element base, all with the ability to detect subtle targets. Similar complexes for the formation of unified air defense systems were later sold to China, while Beijing got at its disposal a good irritant for the US military.

The radar systems are expected to be deployed in Iran to defend against any Israeli attack on its fledgling nuclear industry. All new Russian radars are solid-state active phased array antennas capable of operating in fast sector/path scanning mode or traditional circular scanning mode with mechanically rotating antennas. The Russian idea of ​​integrating three radars, each of which operates in a separate range (meter, decimeter, centimeter), is undoubtedly a breakthrough and is aimed at obtaining the possibility of detecting objects with extremely small signs of visibility.

Mobile two-coordinate all-round radar P-18

Meter radar module from the complex 55Zh6ME "Nebo-ME"

RLC 55ZH6M "Nebo-M"; decimeter radar module RLM-D

The Nebo-M radar system itself is radically different from previous Russian systems, since it has good mobility. Its design was originally designed to avoid unexpected blitz destruction by American F-22A Raptor fighters (armed with GBU-39 / B SDB bombs or JASSM cruise missiles), whose primary task is the destruction of low-frequency detection systems of the Russian air defense system in the first minutes of the conflict. The 55ZH6M Nebo-M mobile radar complex includes three different radar modules and one signal processing and control machine.

Three radar modules of the Nebo M complex are: RDM-M of the meter range, a modification of the Nebo-SVU radar; RLM-D decimeter range, modification of the radar "Opponent-G"; RLM-S centimeter range, modification of the Gamma-S1 radar. The system uses state-of-the-art digital moving target indicator and digital pulse-Doppler radar technologies, as well as a spatiotemporal data processing method, which provides air defense systems such as the S-300, S-400 and S-500 with amazingly fast response, accuracy and the power of action against all targets, except for subtle ones flying at extremely low altitudes.

As a reminder, one S-400 complex deployed by Russian troops in Syria was able to close a circular zone around Aleppo with a radius of about 400 km from allied aviation. The complex, armed with a combination of at least 48 missiles (from 40N6 long-range to 9M96 medium-range), is able to cope with 80 targets simultaneously ... In addition, it keeps Turkish F-16 fighters in good shape and keeps them from rash acts in the form attacks on the Su-24 in December 2015, since the zone controlled by the S-400 air defense system partially captures the southern border of Turkey.

For the United States, the research of the French company Onera, published in 1992, was a complete surprise. They talked about the development of a 4D (four-coordinate) RIAS radar (Synthetic Antenna and Impulse Radar - an antenna with a synthetic aperture of pulsed radiation), based on the use of a transmitting antenna array (simultaneous emission of a set of orthogonal signals) and a receiving antenna array (formation of a sampled signal in processing equipment signals providing Doppler frequency filtering, including spatiotemporal beamforming and target detection).

The 4D principle allows the use of fixed sparse antenna arrays operating in the meter band, thus providing excellent Doppler separation. The great advantage of low frequency RIAS is that it generates a stable, unreduced effective target area, provides a larger coverage area and better beam analysis, as well as improved localization accuracy and target selectivity. Enough to fight low-profile targets on the other side of the border...

China, the world champion in copying Western and Russian technologies, has made an excellent copy of the modern UAV, in which the external elements of the European Taranis and Neuron drones are well traced. First flown in 2013, Li-Jian (Sharp Sword) was developed jointly by Shenyang Aerospace University and Hongdu (HAIG). Obviously, this is one of two AVIC 601-S models that have moved beyond the show model. "Sharp Sword" with a wingspan of 7.5 meters has a jet engine (apparently, a turbofan of Ukrainian origin)

Creation of inconspicuous UAVs

Well-informed about a new effective barring system that would counter Western manned aircraft in wartime, the Pentagon settled at the turn of the century on a new generation of stealth jet-powered flying wing attack drones. New unmanned vehicles with low visibility will be similar in shape to a stingray, tailless with a body smoothly turning into wings. They will have a length of approximately 10 meters, a height of one meter and a wingspan of about 15 meters (the naval version is suitable for standard American aircraft carriers).

The drones will be able to either carry out surveillance missions lasting up to 12 hours or carry weapons weighing up to two tons for distances up to 650 nautical miles, cruising at a speed of about 450 knots, which is ideal for suppressing enemy air defenses or launching a first strike. A few years earlier, the US Air Force brilliantly paved the way for the use of armed drones. First flown in 1994, the RQ-1 Predator MALE Piston-powered UAV was the first remotely controlled aerial platform capable of delivering air-to-ground weapons to a target with high accuracy. As a technologically advanced combat drone, armed with two AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles adopted by the Air Force in 1984, it has been successfully deployed in the Balkans, Iraq and Yemen, as well as Afghanistan. Undoubtedly vigilant sword of Damocles over the heads of terrorists around the world!

Developed with funds from the secret DARPA fund, the Boeing X-45A became the first “purely” strike drone to fly. He is pictured dropping a GPS-guided bomb for the first time in April 2004.

If Boeing was the first creator of the X-45 UAV capable of dropping a bomb, then the US Navy did not engage in practical work on UAVs until 2000. Then he issued contracts to Boeing and Northrop Grumman for a program to study this concept. The design requirements for a maritime UAV included operation in a corrosive environment, takeoff and landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier and related maintenance, integration into command and control systems, as well as resistance to high electromagnetic interference inherent in aircraft carrier operating conditions.

The fleet was also interested in purchasing UAVs for reconnaissance tasks, in particular, for penetrating into protected airspace in order to identify targets for subsequent attacks on them. Northrop Grumman's X-47A Pegasus, which became the basis for the development of the X-47B J-UCAS platform, first flew in 2003. The US Navy and Air Force ran their own UAV programs. The Navy selected the Northrop Grumman X-47B platform as the UCAS-D unmanned combat system demonstrator. In order to conduct realistic tests, the company manufactured a device of the same size and mass as the planned production platform, with a full-size weapons bay capable of accepting existing missiles.

The X-47B prototype was rolled out in December 2008, and taxiing with its own engine took place for the first time in January 2010. The first flight of the X-47B drone, capable of semi-autonomous operation, took place in 2011. Later, he took part in real sea trials aboard aircraft carriers, performing tasks together with F-18F Super Hornet carrier-based fighters and refueling in the air from the KS-707 tanker. What can I say, a successful premiere in both areas.

A demonstrator of the X-47B strike drone being unloaded from the side lift of the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN77), May 2013. Like all US Navy fighters, the X-47B has folding wings.

Bottom view of the UAV Northrop Grumman X-47B, demonstrating its very futuristic contours. The drone with a wingspan of about 19 meters is equipped with a Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan engine. It represents the first step towards a fully operational maritime strike drone, which is scheduled to appear on the list of regular aircraft after 2020.

While the American industry was already testing the first models of its UAVs with might and main, other countries, albeit with a ten-year delay, began to create similar systems. Among them are the Russian RAC "MiG" with the device "Skat" and the Chinese CATIC with a very similar "Dark Sword". In Europe, the British company BAE Systems went its own way with the Taranis project, while other countries joined forces to develop a project with the rather apt name nEUROn. In December 2012, nEUROn made its first flight in France. Flight tests for operating ranges and evaluating stealth characteristics were successfully completed in March 2015. These tests were followed by avionics tests in Italy, which were completed in August 2015. At the end of last summer, the last stage of flight tests took place in Sweden, within the framework of which tests were carried out on the use of weapons. Classified test results are called positive.

The contract for the nEUROn project worth 405 million euros is being implemented by several European countries, including France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. This allowed the European industry to begin a three-year phase of refining the concept and design of the system, with related research into visibility and data rate enhancement. This phase was followed by a development and assembly phase ending with first flight in 2011. In two years of flight testing, about 100 sorties were made, including the release of a laser-guided bomb. The initial budget of 400 million euros in 2006 increased by 5 million because a modular bomb bay was added, including a target designator and the laser-guided bomb itself. France at the same time paid half of the total budget.

With a pair of 250 kg bombs stowed in a modular bomb bay, a Neuron drone takes off from an airfield in Swedish Lapland, summer 2016. Then the capabilities of this UAV as a bomber were successfully assessed. You can see the rarely seen registration designation F-ZWLO (LO stands for small EPO) applied to the door of the front landing gear compartment

A 250 kg bomb dropped by a Neuron drone over a test site in Sweden in the summer of 2015. Five bombs were dropped, confirming Neuron's ability as a stealthy strike drone. Some of these real-life tests were carried out under the control of Saab, which, along with Dassault, Aiema, Airbus DS, Ruag and HAI, is implementing this advanced UAV program, which is likely to culminate in the creation of a promising air strike system FCAS (Future Combat Air System) around 2030

The potential of the British-French UAV

In November 2014, the governments of France and the UK announced a two-year study into the feasibility of a €146 million advanced strike drone project. This may lead to the implementation of a stealth UAV program, which will combine the experience of the Taranis and nEUROn projects in order to create a single promising strike drone. Indeed, in January 2014, at the British air base Brize Norton, Paris and London signed a statement of intent on a promising strike air system FCAS (Future Combat Air System).

Since 2010, Dassault Aviation, together with its partners Alenia, Saab and Airbus Defense & Space, has been working on the nEUROn project, and BAE Systems on its own Taranis project. Both flying wing craft are powered by the same Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour turbofan engine. The decision adopted in 2014 gives a new impetus to joint research already being implemented in this direction. It is also an important step towards British-French cooperation in the field of military aircraft construction. It is possible that it could become the basis for another first-class achievement like the Concorde aircraft project. This decision will undoubtedly contribute to the development of this strategic area, since UAV projects will help maintain technological experience in the aviation industry at the level of world standards.

A drawing of what could turn into a promising FCAS (Future Combat Air System) strike air system. The project is being developed jointly by the UK and France based on the experience of implementing the Taranis and Neuron projects. New undetectable strike drone may not appear before 2030

Meanwhile, the European FCAS program and similar American UAV programs are facing certain difficulties, since defense budgets on both sides of the Atlantic are quite tight. It will take more than 10 years before stealth UAVs begin to take over from manned combat aircraft, performing high-risk missions. Experts in the field of military drones are confident that the air force will begin to deploy stealth attack drones no earlier than 2030.

Greetings dear readers! As you know, most of even quite harmless inventions have military roots. Take, for example, a microwave oven, space satellites, the Internet, or even a modern quadrocopter. Behind all of them is primarily the idea of ​​​​using not for the most peaceful purposes. Therefore, today we decided to delve into the history of the invention of the first UAVs and at the same time figure out what combat drones are, what they are created for, why they are dangerous and what benefits they can bring if they are used for peaceful purposes.

In general, a combat drone is the “popular nickname” for these aircraft. Their full name is Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Ideas for the creation and use of such devices appeared in the minds of military organizations in different countries as early as the century before last. But seriously, the development of such devices took up in the 30s of the last century.

The American military was especially active on them. For the period of the Second World War, they decided to convert 17 B-17 bombers for independent flight, carried out by radio control. These combat vehicles could not take off on their own, so the launch of the vehicles was carried out by a pilot and a flight engineer. Their task was to lift the vessel into the air, as well as the activation of combat systems and radio control systems. After that, they ejected and the subsequent control of the unmanned vehicle was carried out due to television and radio communications, which was carried out from the side of the accompanying aircraft.

Such machines were planned to be used to blow up factories where the Germans assembled V-1 and V-2 retaliatory weapons. However, out of 17 unmanned vehicles produced, only one reached the goal, and the operation "Aphrodite" was completed without success. After that, the US did not return to the development of drones until the 1960s.

Drones today

Currently, the United States and Israel have succeeded in the production of drones. So, the armies of these countries actively used such equipment in hostilities. Their UAVs performed reconnaissance and strike functions.

Today, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are successfully using Russian drones in the Syrian conflict to identify terrorist concentration areas and aim aviation missiles at them.

The Kalashnikov Concern is actively developing drones. In addition, we plan to release other tools related to such devices. This is not only a technique capable of flying without a pilot, but also a weapon capable of detecting and subsequently destroying enemy aircraft in a minimum period of time. Now the Kalashnikov flying drone is under development.

The Ukrainian military also does not want to lag behind the world, and this year they showed their development - the Gorlitsa UAV. This is the first experience of Ukraine in the creation of such weapons. To date, the Ukrainian combat drone is capable of carrying up to 50 kg of explosives, staying in the air for up to 7 hours, and reaching a maximum speed of 180 km/h.

Capabilities of modern UAVs

In military service, drones are capable of performing the following tasks:

• From its side, launch missiles at enemy fortifications. Such goals should be carried out by the military drones of the future after at least one decade. However, despite this, such a technique already exists and has already been used by the US military.
• Conduct reconnaissance of any objects and transmit data to the headquarters in real time.
• Guide missiles to coordinates with absolute accuracy using GPS.
• To carry out electronic warfare with the enemy, creating interference on the enemy's communication channels.
• Relay the signal, passing it along the chain to ensure communication.
• Act as an aerial target, thereby attracting enemy fire to yourself. This is done in order to identify the location of enemy artillery.

Now drones of the future are being developed not only for armies, but also for peaceful purposes.

In civilian use, they can be useful for:

• Use in the field of cartography. This includes the study of landscapes and for hard-to-reach mountainous areas.
• Monitoring and surveying farm areas, as well as monitoring pastures and livestock that move within a vast area. In this area, Russian developers are also actively working.
• Filming in cinema. They are used to shoot from above. It is much cheaper compared to other types of air transport.

Drone Disadvantages

For all its advantages, the drone is still not the most ideal aircraft. And in order to completely replace the aircraft, you will have to solve the two most important problems of such machines:

1. Low speed. The lower the speed, the easier it is to shoot down the UAV. It also makes it easier for radar to detect.
2. Little autonomy. Most unmanned vehicles are not capable of staying in the air for more than a few hours.

The main disadvantage is the ease of detection. In addition, if the drone is not autonomous, that is, it is not controlled by the algorithms embedded in its program, but carries out its flight by remote control with the help of operators, then all signals can be intercepted by the enemy. This means that it will be taken under control and destroyed, or used by the enemy for their own purposes.

Speaking of military and civilian drones, one should also not forget about completely harmless things designed to make leisure time more enjoyable and richer. For example, Nerf develops toy quadcopters for children.

And very soon in different countries it is planned to create mail drones delivering goods directly to the house. This suggests that even what was created as a weapon can benefit society. It all depends on what goals humanity considers priority.

Just 15 years ago, drones were treated like science fiction. In 2005, Israel launched a trial balloon and sent some almost toy planes with cameras to the side of Syria. The planes returned with intelligence and a few hours later F-16s returned to their place. Since then, combat drones have become much cooler: today they no longer need fighter jets.

A real giant among unmanned vehicles. The Triton MQ-4C was developed by Northrop Grumman for the Pentagon. The wingspan of this giant is comparable to that of a Boeing 747, but so far there is no exact information on the scope of the giant drone.

WU-14

A Chinese experimental hypersonic drone designed to deliver missiles across the continent. In fact, the Ministry of Defense of the PRC at one time declared the WU-14 as a "scientific aircraft", but subsequently recognized its military purpose. The WU-14 is the most powerful drone on our list, as it is designed to deliver nuclear weapons to a target.

CH-5

Chinese development, which can be called a modified clone of the American "Reaper of Death". The UAV was created by the military corporation China Aerospace Science and Technology and has already been tested in combat conditions. The drone is equipped with two new types of ammunition (what exactly is not yet known) and a laser guidance system.

Taranis

Until now, almost all information about the British intercontinental UAV project is classified. Only the main parameters of Taranis are known (weight - three tons, length - 11 meters, wingspan - 10 meters) and that the drone is equipped with stealth technology.

Northrop Grumman X-47BC

The brainchild of American geniuses from the famous Northrop Grumman. A combat UAV of the second generation is capable of taking off and landing without an operator at all, only with the help of an on-board computer. The wings are equipped with rocket launchers, which are already controlled by a person from the ground.

IAI Harpy

This is a kamikaze drone designed to detect and destroy enemy manpower and armored forces. The drone dives at a target from a great height, hitting it with a high-explosive fragmentation projectile.

MQ-9 Reaper

Perhaps one of the most famous and deadliest drones in the world. "Reaper" came to replace the unmanned reconnaissance complex MQ-1 Predator. Reaper is able to take off to a height of thirteen kilometers, lift the entire 4.7 tons and stay in the air for a whole day. It will be very, very difficult to escape from such a steel predator.

outpost

In fact, the Russian Forpost is a slightly modified version of the battle-tested Israeli Searcher 2. At the moment, these complexes are just beginning to enter the Russian Army, but are already being used in combat operations in Syria.

C Worker 5

Not only aircraft, but also ships are becoming unmanned. The UK has unveiled its C-Worker 5 boat, which can reach low speeds but stay on one tank of fuel for a whole week. The vessel is planned to be used for reconnaissance and trawling, in extreme cases it can be blown up remotely and arranged for something like sabotage.

S-100 Camcopter

The Australian company Schiebel introduced its unmanned helicopter back in 2005, but so far it has not lost its relevance at all. The S-100 Camcopter is able to track large enemy groups at a distance inaccessible to detection and is most often used as a reconnaissance aircraft. However, this screw kid also has “teeth”.