Military UAV performance characteristics of different countries. Drone: a review of Russian and foreign unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The “drone revolution” is just beginning

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation signed a contract for the development of an aircraft with the Simonov Design Bureau. According to RIA Novosti, citing sources in the military-industrial complex, the drone will accelerate to 950 km/h and will be equipped with a turbojet engine.

To take bombs and missiles under their wing, UAVs will be made heavy enough. According to preliminary data, the weight of the drone will be about 4-5 tons. Experts are already comparing the future Russian drone with the American Avenger.

This device is able to spend more than 20 hours at an altitude of 18 km and accelerate to 740 km / h. And a fighter can envy its weapons: AGM-114 air-to-surface missiles, guided aerial bombs and even the HELLADS laser system, which already now shoots down enemy missiles and light aircraft. A number of analysts predict a great future for the "Avenger" (so translated into Russian Avenger), so it is not surprising that in Russia they wanted to create a similar one.

It is assumed that the drone will even replace the F-16, F-15 fighters, and after modernization, possibly the stealthy F-35. Of course, drones will not be able to completely replace people, but partially - completely. In the US Air Force, many pilots are wary of the "avengers", as they fear that the new strategy will lead to a reduction in the number of pilots. And this seems to be true.

Drones are seriously interested in aircraft carriers. The wings of the Avenger are foldable, making it very easy to store on deck. In addition, the device is equipped with a stern hook - especially for boarding ships.

It's no secret that landing and taking off from an aircraft carrier is very technically difficult, and there is always a risk that a car worth tens of millions of dollars will sink. The drone is much cheaper. In addition, during non-vertical takeoff and landing on the deck, the pilot experiences large overloads, which adversely affects his health. UAV could solve this problem.

Russia has only one aircraft carrier. Therefore, most likely, the new drone will be useful at ground airfields, and possibly at Arctic bases. UAVs can be armed with X-38 missiles or KAB-500 guided bombs, which have proven themselves well in Syria. Almost certainly, stealth technologies will be used in the creation of the drone, since the device, in fact, will duplicate a combat aircraft.

UAV "Altair". Photo: wikipedia.org

According to experts, while we are talking about a preliminary project. But if the military likes the UAV, the developer may receive an additional contract for the manufacture of several vehicles already - everything will depend on funding.

The Kazan Design Bureau is currently promoting another heavy drone, the Altair reconnaissance and strike drone, the Russian answer to the American MQ-9 Reaper. But the low-speed UAV has completely different tasks - reconnaissance and destruction of the target by an unprotected air defense system. Therefore, the jet drone project will develop in parallel.

Now Russia is making up for lost time in unmanned aircraft. It was recently introduced, but Israel undoubtedly remains the leader in this industry.

Although the Israeli Air Force today has the largest number of manned combat aircraft in the West, after the United States, it is Israel that today is leading the "unmanned revolution" that promises radical changes in military affairs in the near future.

Already today, in the Israeli Air Force, drones make more sorties than manned aircraft - they are on alert 24 hours a day.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Israel has a monopoly in the global drone market - Israeli aircraft companies account for 41% of drone sales in the global market (to more than fifty countries).

Here How did the “unmanned revolution” begin?

The first experiences of the Israelis with the combat use of drones began in 1969. Then, during the "War of Attrition" on the Suez Canal, Israeli aviation suffered losses from the action of Soviet anti-aircraft missile systems. To solve this problem, Firebee radio-controlled jets were purchased from the United States. These were bulky (weighing 1.5 tons) devices that were previously used only as training targets.

The Israelis used them as decoy aircraft to break through the Soviet air defense system - Soviet air defense systems unmasked themselves by opening fire on radio-controlled aircraft, after which Israeli aircraft launched missile and bomb attacks on identified targets. A division was formed in the Israeli Air Force to control these drones.

Subsequently, the Israelis equipped the Firebee aircraft with aerial photography equipment. The trap worked - during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, enemy air defense systems carried out 43 missile launches on radio-controlled aircraft.

However, the Israelis were dissatisfied with the use of Firebee radio-controlled aircraft - they were expensive, heavy and bulky, but the experience gained soon came in handy.

In 1974, two young officers, Lieutenants Yehuda Mazi and Alvin Ellis, who served in the Firebee division, were demobilized from the army and created the Eirmeko company. Based on the experience of the Yom Kippur War, they suggested that a small simple drone, stuffed with the most modern Israeli electronic equipment and equipped with a TV camera, would be much more suitable for real combat missions than the radio-controlled jet giant Firebee.

The prototype of the first drone, called "Mastiff", was assembled in 1974 in the garage of one of the enthusiasts. However, the Israeli aircraft corporation Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), which at that time was engaged in the development and production of jet fighter-bombers, did not arouse interest in the first drone.

Young aircraft engineers were unexpectedly supported by the Tadiran company, which was engaged in the production of military communications equipment - it concluded an agreement with them for the production of a prototype.

From "Mastiff" to "Eitan"

After flight tests, the project was transferred to the Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) corporation, which began developing the Scout drones. "Mastiff" and "Scout" became the first examples of world drone building.

The first drones looked extremely unsightly against the backdrop of the achievements of jet aviation: despite their electronic filling, they had a piston engine with a pusher propeller, their cruising speed was slightly more than 100 km / h, the altitude ceiling was only 4.5 km, and the range was limited to a hundred kilometers . And the fuel reserves were enough for only a few hours of flight.

However, it soon became clear that just such a slow-moving vehicle met the requirements of aerial reconnaissance and targeting - the small size and the fiberglass body, which is transparent to RF radiation, made the drone invisible to enemy radars.

Israeli UAVs: drone Scout

The first case of a jet fighter being “downed” in the history of drones is associated with Scout. On May 14, 1981, when the Scout drone was performing a routine reconnaissance flight, it was attacked by a Syrian MiG-21. While chasing the drone, the MiG-21 pilot lost control and crashed into the ground. The Scout returned safely to its base, where grinning aircraft technicians drew a "kill mark" on the aircraft's side - a sign of victory in a dogfight.

Fight check. Operation "Artsav"

A true understanding of the role of drones in modern warfare came to many after the “baptism of fire” of new technology: in June 1982, the largest air battle since the Second World War unfolded in the sky over Lebanon, in which the Israeli army for the first time and successfully used drones to destroy enemy air defenses .

The grouping of Syrian troops in Lebanon included four air defense brigades equipped with Soviet anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) Kvadrat, S-75M Volga and S-125M Pechora. On the night of June 10, 1982, the 82nd mixed anti-aircraft missile brigade and three anti-aircraft artillery regiments were additionally introduced into Lebanese territory.

Now there were 24 Syrian anti-aircraft missile battalions in Lebanon, deployed in a dense battle formation 30 km long along the front and 28 km in depth. According to Soviet military experts, there was no such dense concentration of air defense missile and artillery forces anywhere in the world. The main purpose of these forces was to cover the Syrian troops in the Lebanese Bekaa Valley, where at least 600 tanks were concentrated.

Operation "Artsav" to destroy enemy air defense systems began at 4 am on June 9, 1982. 4 hours before the first strike, the Israeli Air Force increased the conduct of all types of intelligence (electronic, radar, television) tactical aircraft, electronic intelligence aircraft and long-range radar detection(DRLO) and drones AQM-34, Mastiff and Scout.

Drones were assigned serious tasks:

— Battlefield reconnaissance and surveillance. To accomplish this task, some modifications of the drones were equipped with a TV camera and a communication system capable of transmitting a continuous stream of images. This allowed Israeli commanders at all levels to have a visual representation of the real situation on the battlefield and coordinate the joint actions of the ground forces and the Air Force.

- Identification of the operating frequencies of radar stations (RLS) and guidance equipment for Syrian missile systems. The drones intercepted and analyzed the enemy radar radiation and relayed them to ground stations or aircraft in the air.

- Simulators of RF radiation that reflected radar radiation of such intensity as if they were attack aircraft.

- Target designation. The drones were equipped with laser and infrared range finders to illuminate targets intended for attack by laser and infrared guided missiles.

— False targets and jammers. Drones "Shimshon" were used as decoys. They called on themselves the fire of the Syrian air defense systems and thereby diverted it from attack aircraft. On June 9, dozens of such decoys were dropped. On the radar screen, they create a mark of a full-size aircraft.

As soon as the drone detected the air defense system battery and transmitted its image to the ground command, two more UAVs took off into the air: one as a decoy imitating an attacking aircraft in order to force the enemy air defense system battery to turn on the radiation, the second one equipped with equipment to intercept the radiation of the radar station ( radar) SAM.

The received information about the radiation parameters was processed by the on-board computers of the E-2C Hawkeye AWACS aircraft, which provided data for guiding anti-radar missiles at identified targets.

Destroyed antenna post SNR-125.

An hour before the strike, the Israelis began setting up passive electronic jamming on a front of 150-200 km; in 12 minutes - intense interference to communication systems and control of air defense systems; in 5-7 minutes - high-power active interference that suppressed the enemy's radar reconnaissance means.

Then began the total destruction of Syrian air defense systems. Attacks on Syrian positions were carried out by surface-to-surface missiles, long-range and rocket artillery, using ball and cluster munitions with the ability to aim at the target using infrared and laser beams.

Israeli UAVs: Ermes180 drone equipped with a laser designator to illuminate targets intended for attack by laser-guided missiles.

When the Syrians, trying to withdraw the air defense system from the impact of anti-radar missiles, turned off their radars, the Israelis lifted drones with a laser target designator into the air, and then strike aircraft armed with AGM-65 Maverick missiles with a laser homing head attacked the blinded air defense systems. After 10-12 minutes after a missile attack on Syrian positions, about 100 aircraft were attacked. Israeli aviation operated in groups of 2-6 fighter-bombers. Skyhawks, Kfirs (Israeli-made aircraft), Phantoms and F-16s attacked with conventional, cluster, ball and cumulative bombs, as well as guided and homing missiles, specially modified to match the operating frequencies of the Syrian radar.

Thus, during the day of Operation Artsav, the Israelis destroyed 19 Syrian anti-aircraft missile battalions.

Israeli Air Force aircraft involved in the air battle:

Fighter-bomber Phantom

At the same time, the largest air battle was unfolding in the skies of Lebanon. On both sides, about 350 aircraft participated in it, and at the same time 120-200 aircraft fought in air battles. The battle turned into a real massacre: the Israelis shot down about 90 MiG-21, MiG-23 and Su-22 aircraft in air battles on June 7-11, without losing a single aircraft.

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles during the Artsav operation made it possible to solve a whole range of tasks of all types of reconnaissance, electronic warfare, targeting. Israeli commanders at all levels received real-time information from the battlefield. For the first time, questions of the tactics of using drones and coordinating the joint actions of drones, ground forces and the Air Force were worked out.

From "Ghost" to "Eitan"

The successful experience of using UAVs in combat, gained during Operation Artsav, had a decisive influence on the rapid development of unmanned aircraft in subsequent years. After the Lebanese war, the IDF command did not spare money for drones. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Israeli drone industry began to rise. One after another, new firms were created, aircraft building corporations opened special divisions for the development and production of drones for various purposes.

Fighter "Lavi"

The development of unmanned aircraft was also significantly influenced by such a factor as the closure of the Lavi fighter project, which was the pride of the Israeli aviation industry. The goal of Israeli aircraft designers was to create a fighter aircraft that was superior in its performance characteristics the American counterpart is the F-16A/B fighter. The goal was achieved, which was proved by the test flights of the Israeli aircraft.

In the US, they realized that they were dealing with a dangerous competitor. Under the pretext of protecting their own aviation industry, the Americans began to seek a complete cessation of the Lavi program. Under American pressure, Israel was forced to curtail this project in 1987.

Multipurpose single-seat fighter J-10A.

However, the developments of Israeli aircraft designers were not in vain - the Israeli project of the Lavi fighter was embodied in the Chinese fighter Chengdu J-10 "Swift Dragon".

These dramatic events brought a galaxy of talented aeronautical engineers previously employed on the Lavi project into unmanned aviation, which only contributed to the rapid development of the Israeli drone industry.

Israeli unmanned aircraft (including advanced developments) is a long list aircraft for various purposes - from tiny, weighing 300 grams of Ghost drones, capable of being launched from the hand and armed with reconnaissance and infantry companies (the latest developments have already surpassed these parameters), to the world's largest UAV "Eitan", whose wingspan reaches 35 meters, and the weight is 4 tons.

The main purpose of "Eitan" is called long-range reconnaissance, search and destruction of ballistic missile installations. The machine can “hang” for about 50 hours at an altitude of up to 10 km above controlled areas, it is planned to equip it with an air refueling system.

"Eitan" is equipped with satellite navigation systems, tracking and target detection equipment in the optical, infrared and radio ranges, fire control and strike systems. With a cruising speed of 296 km / h (maximum - 460 km / h), it can theoretically fly 14.8 thousand km. The Eitan payload weight, depending on the flight range, can reach 1.8 tons.

Despite the expanding production of multifunctional UAVs, Israeli designers do not disregard small tactical drones, the so-called close reconnaissance ones. The Israeli army has adopted small drones "Skylark" and "Seagull".

Skylark
Seagull

Designed to perform tasks at the platoon-company level, both drones have a range of 5-10 km and can be launched from the hand. They can be equipped with a video camera and infrared vision sensors. "Skylark" can stay in the air for more than two hours, "Seagull" - more than six hours.

During the operation in Gaza, for the first time in the world, close scouts solved combat missions on a par with tanks and infantry.

After the Israeli troops crossed the Gaza border, the UAVs were in front of the infantry and tank units at a distance of about 500 meters. Drone operators constantly kept in touch with combat units, coordinating their actions and suggesting the safest routes, as well as warning of danger.

UAV Firebird 2001 is specially designed to control the fire situation in large forests.

In addition, according to the Israeli military, the drones helped them to carry out humanitarian tasks - to detect the wounded in time, provide them with the necessary assistance and deliver them to safe regions. In general, the combat units were completely satisfied with the interaction with the UAV units.

Aerostar drones, developed by Aeronautics Defense Systems, are being successfully used by the Israeli traffic police to detect and arrest traffic offenders.

An increasing number of drones are being developed for dual purposes - military and civilian. Israel has become the first country in the world to use drones to save lives. A helicopter with a body length of 8 meters, a width of 3 meters, and a height of 1.5 meters was created here. The car will be able to pick up speed up to 150 km / h and soar at an altitude of up to 3 kilometers.

After landing on the battlefield or in hard-to-reach terrain four victims can be loaded into the aircraft, after which it will head back - towards the hospital or field hospital. The rescue drone helicopter is equipped with medical equipment, as well as systems that protect it from enemy missiles.

The unmanned passenger aircraft was first introduced by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). At this stage, we are talking about a four-seat aircraft. While there are no technological barriers to creating an unmanned passenger aircraft, there is a significant psychological challenge that needs to be overcome. “Passengers are still afraid to fly on an aircraft that does not have a pilot,” explains Zvi Arazi, director of the IAI engineering center.

Another IAI development is an unmanned aircraft powered by solar energy. According to project director Idan Regev, the new aircraft can stay in the air for as long as necessary, since the solar energy accumulated during the day is enough to fly during the night. To store energy, solar panels are located on the wings of the aircraft.

killer drones

Recently, there have been many reports about the so-called flying killers - strike UAVs, not only collecting information, but also capable of carrying missile weapons and delivering fire strikes.

We are talking about the use of such devices by the Israeli army during anti-terrorist operations and during the war in Lebanon. Israeli drones have already carried out countless strikes, according to Palestinian sources.

The drone has become a symbol of targeted liquidations. As an example, on October 2, 2004, during Operation Days of Repentance, according to Palestinian media reports, a rocket was fired from an Israeli drone at a group of Islamic Jihad militants. Six militants were killed. Israeli security sources declined to comment on this information.

On March 26, 2009, international media reported that Israeli drones attacked an Iranian convoy with weapons intended for Hamas, thousands of kilometers from Israeli borders - in Sudan. During the attack, 37 trucks with Iranian Fajar-3 missiles were destroyed and 39 people were killed.

However, these are just assumptions: the IDF never comments on reports of the use of unmanned vehicles in combat operations. Even when it comes to targeted killings in the Gaza Strip, and local residents claim to have seen drones in the air, the IDF press office refuses to confirm that drones were used to carry out the combat mission.

Israeli UAVs: Hunter drone

The US military is more talkative. As Airforce Times magazine reported, the Americans successfully used Israeli Hunter drones in Iraq to eliminate militants. On September 1, 2007, the US military spotted two gunmen planting an explosive device. The Hunter headed towards them, dropping a laser-guided bomb on the terrorists. As a result of the explosion, both terrorists were destroyed. Colonel Don Heiselwood, head of the UAV project in the US Army, told the publication that this was the first time that terrorists were eliminated using an unmanned aircraft.

The “drone revolution” is just beginning

Reserve General Ofir Shaham, who heads the research department of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, believes that the world is now facing a real "unmanned revolution" that will completely overturn traditional ideas about the role and place of man in war and in everyday life.

There is a real "drone race", in which 76 countries are participating today. According to Israeli experts, the volume of the global UAV market, which was only $5.1 billion in 2009, will grow to $50 billion in 2020. as well as manned aircraft. In the short term, the use of drones in civilian industries will grow - the next step is the arrival of unmanned aircraft not only in the military sphere, but also in cargo and passenger air transportation.

However, one can also find approximately the same opinion that was expressed by nerhnerh :

the story of "invisible aircraft" is repeated.

First, enthusiastic advertising, the promise of an early "breakthrough in all military affairs," and then the quiet dying of the topic. More recently, a Russian general, speaking of possible reaction Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria on "unidentified flying objects" put an end to the issue of "stealth aircraft", who are interested, listen and see the source.

Same with drones. They were created and had an advantage only under strictly defined conditions, outside of which they, like "stealth aircraft", are ordinary air targets.

The conditions under which "drones", "stealth aircraft" and other similar equipment have UNDISPUTABLE advantages and allow solving REAL tasks is only one thing: the enemy should not have at least ELEMENTARY means of dealing with them, the enemy should not have ABSOLUTELY any means of countermeasures .

If we are talking about "stealth aircraft", then the enemy should have only single-frequency narrow-band radars of old generations, because only when using such radars there is such a thing as "reducing the EPR", which is the essence of obtaining this very "invisibility", but in fact - reducing visibility at certain frequencies. As soon as broadband and multi-band radars appeared, the "invisibility effect" disappeared, and forever .. It should be noted that similar airborne radars appeared, ground-based ones have existed for a long time ...

So it is with drones. They have " weak link"-radio channels for communication and navigation. The suppression of these channels turns them into an ordinary low-speed projectile with a relatively short range.
Moreover, no one is going to "open the code sequences" of the control system, "replace the navigation data from satellites" and engage in other cinematic nonsense.
Dumb barrage directional interference in the widest possible frequency range and our "drone" loses external control, it is impossible to get information from it ..
All sorts of talk about "flying according to the program", " artificial intelligence", "noise-correcting coding", etc. are premature, they turn the topic into a conversation about "cruise missiles", but not about combat unmanned vehicles.

Interference transmitters are a relatively simple and not expensive thing, but it works on the principle of "no reception against scrap".

That is why all the "successes" of the Israeli army refer only to the time of the past and well-known enemy, who is armed with home-made missiles ...

If anyone disagrees, answer the question: where and when was the "indisputable advantage of stealth aircraft" realized? The answer is simple: nowhere and never. Same with drones.

But: I must say a big thank you to the American and Israeli engineers: with their work, they in practice reveal dead-end directions in the development of military and not only technology.
We recall again "space shuttles", "invisible aircraft", now "drones" - it is the presence of a dimensionless dough that allows them to come all the way from enthusiastic advertising and expectations of a "revolution in military affairs" to bitter disappointments and the concept of REAL possibilities. there is still an opinion that

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 the operator even when the 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 devices is different: there are simple 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.

AT 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 effectively 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 simplest form UAV. 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.

Collection of information for the operator and 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 played 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.

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In the view of most people who are not related to aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles are somewhat complicated versions of radio controlled models aircraft. In a sense, it is. However, the functions of these devices have recently become so diverse that it is no longer possible to limit ourselves to this view of them.

The beginning of the unmanned era

If we talk about automatic flying and remotely controlled space systems, then this topic is not new. Another thing is that in the last decade a certain fashion has arisen for them. At its core, the Soviet shuttle Buran, which made a space flight without a crew and landed safely in the now distant 1988, is also a drone. Photos of the surface of Venus and many scientific data on this planet (1965) were also obtained in automatic and telemetric modes. And lunar rovers are quite consistent with the idea of ​​unmanned vehicles. And many other achievements of Soviet science in the space sphere. Where did this fashion come from? Apparently, it was the result of experience in the combat use of such equipment, and he was rich.

And how to use it?

Managing unmanned aerial vehicles is the same specialty as an ordinary one. An expensive and complex car can easily be smashed to the ground, making an inept landing. It can be lost as a result of an unsuccessful maneuver or shelling by the enemy. Like a regular plane or helicopter, you need to try to save the drone and take it out of the danger zone. The risk, of course, is not the same as in the case of a "live" crew, but you should not scatter expensive equipment either. Today, in most countries, instructor and training work is carried out by experienced pilots who have mastered the control of UAVs. They are usually not professional educators and specialists in computer technology, so this approach is unlikely to continue for a long time. The requirements for a "virtual pilot" are different from those that apply to a future cadet upon admission to a flight school. It can be assumed that the competition among applicants for the specialty "UAV operator" will be considerable.

Bitter Ukrainian experience

Without going into the political background of the armed conflict in the eastern regions of Ukraine, one can note the extremely unsuccessful attempts to conduct aerial reconnaissance by An-30 and An-26 aircraft. If the first of them was developed specifically for aerial photography (mainly peaceful), then the second is an exclusively transport modification of the passenger An-24. Both planes were shot down by militia fire. But what about the drones of Ukraine? Why were they not used to obtain information about the deployment of rebel forces? The answer is simple. They are not here.

Against the backdrop of permanent financial crisis the country did not have the funds necessary to create modern weapons. UAVs of Ukraine are at the stage of draft designs or the simplest home-made devices. Some of them are assembled from radio-controlled aircraft models purchased at the Pilotage store. The militias do the same. Not so long ago, an alleged downed Russian drone was shown on Ukrainian television. The photo, which shows a small and not the most expensive model (without any damage) with a homemade video camera attached, can hardly serve as an illustration of the aggressive military power of the “northern neighbor”.

Even 20 years ago, Russia was one of the world leaders in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. In the 80s of the last century, only 950 Tu-143 air reconnaissance aircraft were produced. The famous reusable spacecraft "Buran" was created, which made its first and only flight in a completely unmanned mode. I don’t see the point and now somehow give in to the development and use of drones.

Background of Russian drones (Tu-141, Tu-143, Tu-243). In the mid-sixties, the Tupolev Design Bureau began to create new tactical and operational unmanned reconnaissance systems. On August 30, 1968, the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR N 670-241 was issued on the development of a new unmanned tactical reconnaissance complex "Flight" (VR-3) and the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft "143" (Tu-143) included in it. The deadline for presenting the complex for testing in the Decree was stipulated: for the variant with photo reconnaissance equipment - 1970, for the variant with television intelligence equipment and for the variant with radiation reconnaissance equipment - 1972.

The reconnaissance UAV Tu-143 was mass-produced in two configurations of the nasal interchangeable part: in the photo reconnaissance version with information registration on board, in the television reconnaissance version with the transmission of information via radio to ground command posts. In addition, the reconnaissance aircraft could be equipped with radiation reconnaissance equipment with the transmission of materials on the radiation situation along the flight route to the ground via a radio channel. UAV Tu-143 presented at the exhibition of samples aviation technology at the Central Aerodrome in Moscow and at the Museum in Monino (you can also see the Tu-141 UAV there).

As part of the aerospace show in Zhukovsky MAKS-2007 near Moscow, in the closed part of the exposition, the MiG aircraft manufacturing corporation showed its Skat strike unmanned complex - an aircraft made according to the “flying wing” scheme and outwardly very reminiscent of the American B-2 Spirit bomber or its a smaller version is the Kh-47V marine unmanned aerial vehicle.

"Skat" is designed to strike both at previously reconnoitered stationary targets, primarily air defense systems, in the face of strong opposition from enemy anti-aircraft weapons, and at mobile ground and sea targets when conducting autonomous and group actions, joint with manned aircraft.

Its maximum takeoff weight should be 10 tons. Flight range - 4 thousand kilometers. The flight speed near the ground is not less than 800 km / h. It will be able to carry two air-to-surface / air-to-radar missiles or two adjustable bombs with a total mass of not more than 1 ton.

The aircraft is made according to the scheme of the flying wing. In addition, the well-known methods of reducing radar visibility were clearly visible in the appearance of the structure. So, the wingtips are parallel to its leading edge and the contours of the rear of the apparatus are made in the same way. Above the middle part of the wing, the Skat had a fuselage of a characteristic shape, smoothly mated with the bearing surfaces. Vertical plumage was not provided. As can be seen from the photographs of the Skat layout, control was to be carried out using four elevons located on the consoles and on the center section. At the same time, yaw control immediately raised certain questions: due to the lack of a rudder and a single-engine scheme, the UAV required to somehow solve this problem. There is a version about a single deviation of the internal elevons for yaw control.

The layout presented at the MAKS-2007 exhibition had the following dimensions: a wingspan of 11.5 meters, a length of 10.25 and a parking height of 2.7 m. Regarding the mass of the Skat, it is only known that its maximum takeoff weight should have been approximately equal to ten tons. With these parameters, the Skat had good calculated flight data. At top speed up to 800 km / h, it could rise to a height of up to 12 thousand meters and overcome in flight up to 4000 kilometers. It was planned to provide such flight data with the help of a bypass turbojet engine RD-5000B with a thrust of 5040 kgf. This turbojet engine was created on the basis of the RD-93 engine, however, it is initially equipped with a special flat nozzle, which reduces the visibility of the aircraft in the infrared range. The engine air intake was located in the forward fuselage and was an unregulated intake device.

Inside the fuselage of the characteristic shape, the Skat had two cargo compartments measuring 4.4x0.75x0.65 meters. With such dimensions, various types of guided missiles, as well as adjustable bombs, could be suspended in the cargo compartments. The total mass of the Skat combat load was supposed to be approximately equal to two tons. During the presentation at the MAKS-2007 Salon, Kh-31 missiles and KAB-500 guided bombs were located next to Skat. The composition of the onboard equipment, implied by the project, was not disclosed. Based on information about other projects of this class, we can conclude that there is a complex of navigation and sighting equipment, as well as some possibilities for autonomous actions.

UAV "Dozor-600" (development of the designers of the company "Transas"), also known as "Dozor-3", is much lighter than "Skat" or "Breakthrough". Its maximum takeoff weight does not exceed 710-720 kilograms. At the same time, due to the classic aerodynamic layout with a full-fledged fuselage and a straight wing, it has approximately the same dimensions as the Skat: a wingspan of twelve meters and a total length of seven. In the bow of the Dozor-600, a place is provided for target equipment, and a stabilized platform for observation equipment is installed in the middle. A propeller group is located in the tail section of the drone. Its basis is the Rotax 914 piston engine, similar to those installed on the Israeli IAI Heron UAV and the American MQ-1B Predator.

115 horsepower of the engine allows the Dozor-600 drone to accelerate to a speed of about 210-215 km / h or make long flights at a cruising speed of 120-150 km / h. When using additional fuel tanks, this UAV is able to stay in the air for up to 24 hours. Thus, the practical flight range is approaching the mark of 3700 kilometers.

Based on the characteristics of the Dozor-600 UAV, we can draw conclusions about its purpose. The relatively low takeoff weight does not allow it to carry any serious weapons, which limits the range of tasks to be solved exclusively by reconnaissance. Nevertheless, a number of sources mention the possibility of installing various weapons on the Dozor-600, the total mass of which does not exceed 120-150 kilograms. Because of this, the range of weapons allowed for use is limited to only certain types of guided missiles, in particular anti-tank ones. It is noteworthy that when using anti-tank guided missiles, the Dozor-600 becomes largely similar to the American MQ-1B Predator, both in terms of technical characteristics and armament.

The project of a heavy strike unmanned aerial vehicle. The development of the research project "Hunter" to study the possibility of creating a strike UAV weighing up to 20 tons in the interests of the Russian Air Force was or is being conducted by the Sukhoi company (JSC Sukhoi Design Bureau). For the first time, the plans of the Ministry of Defense to adopt an attack UAV were announced at the MAKS-2009 air show in August 2009. According to Mikhail Pogosyan, in August 2009, the design of a new attack unmanned complex was to be the first joint work of the relevant units of the Sukhoi Design Bureau and MiG (project " Skat"). The media reported on the conclusion of a contract for the implementation of research "Okhotnik" with the company "Sukhoi" July 12, 2011. ” and “Dry” were signed only on October 25, 2012.

The terms of reference for the strike UAV was approved by the Russian Ministry of Defense in the first days of April 2012. On July 6, 2012, information appeared in the media that the Sukhoi company had been selected by the Russian Air Force as the lead developer. Also, an unnamed source in the industry reports that the strike UAV developed by the Sukhoi company will simultaneously be a sixth-generation fighter. As of mid-2012, it is assumed that the first sample of the strike UAV will begin testing no earlier than 2016. It is expected to enter service by 2020. In the future, it was planned to create navigation systems for landing approach and taxiing of heavy UAVs on the instructions of JSC Sukhoi Company (source).

Media reports that the first sample of the Sukhoi Design Bureau's heavy strike UAV will be ready in 2018.

Combat use (otherwise they will say exhibition copies, Soviet junk)

“For the first time in the world, the Russian Armed Forces carried out an attack on a fortified militant area with combat drones. In the province of Latakia, army units of the Syrian army, with the support of Russian paratroopers and Russian combat drones, took the strategic height of 754.5, the Siriatel tower.

Most recently, the Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, General Gerasimov, said that Russia is striving to completely robotize the battle, and perhaps soon we will witness how robotic groups independently conduct military operations, and this is what happened.

In Russia, in 2013, the newest automated control system "Andromeda-D" was adopted by the Airborne Forces, with the help of which it is possible to carry out operational control of a mixed group of troops.
The use of the latest high-tech equipment allows the command to ensure continuous control of troops performing combat training tasks at unfamiliar training grounds, and the command of the Airborne Forces to monitor their actions, being at a distance of more than 5 thousand kilometers from their deployment sites, receiving from the exercise area not only a graphic picture of moving units, but also a video image of their actions in real time.

The complex, depending on the tasks, can be mounted on the chassis of a two-axle KamAZ, BTR-D, BMD-2 or BMD-4. In addition, taking into account the specifics of the Airborne Forces, Andromeda-D is adapted for loading into an aircraft, flight and landing.
This system, as well as combat drones, were deployed to Syria and tested in combat conditions.
Six Platform-M robotic complexes and four Argo complexes took part in the attack on the heights, the attack of drones was supported by the Akatsiya self-propelled artillery mounts (ACS) recently transferred to Syria, which can destroy enemy positions with mounted fire.

From the air, behind the battlefield, drones conducted reconnaissance, transmitting information to the deployed Andromeda-D field center, as well as to Moscow, to the National Defense Control Center of the command post of the Russian General Staff.

Combat robots, self-propelled guns, drones were tied to automated system control "Andromeda-D". The commander of the attack on the heights, in real time, led the battle, the operators of combat drones, being in Moscow, conducted the attack, everyone saw both their own area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe battle and the whole picture.

Drones were the first to attack, approaching 100-120 meters to the fortifications of the militants, they called fire on themselves, and self-propelled guns immediately struck at the detected firing points.

Behind the drones, at a distance of 150-200 meters, the Syrian infantry advanced, clearing the height.

The militants did not have the slightest chance, all their movements were controlled by drones, artillery strikes were carried out on the detected militants, literally 20 minutes after the start of the attack by combat drones, the militants fled in horror, leaving the dead and wounded. On the slopes of a height of 754.5, almost 70 militants were killed, the Syrian soldiers had no dead, only 4 wounded.