TSAMTO, August 20. It is planned to create a carrier aircraft for a swarm of strike and reconnaissance UAVs of the Molniya unmanned system on the basis of the Il-76 heavy military transport aircraft.
This was announced in an interview with RIA Novosti by the general director of the Kronstadt company, Sergey Bogatikov, on the eve of the Army-2021 forum.
Kronstadt is developing an unmanned complex for group use "Lightning". The complex will include strike and reconnaissance vehicles, as well as electronic warfare drones. It is assumed that they will be launched from a carrier aircraft.
"The main idea is that it will really be an air launch. The possibility of basing the "Lightning" on the Il-76 is envisaged, " S. Bogatikov told RIA Novosti, answering a question about future carriers of drones from the system.
He added that the Molniya drones are also planned to be used on the Checkmate single-engine fighter of the 5th generation, the layout of which was presented at the MAKS-2021 air show.
S. Bogatikov clarified that currently Kronstadt is preparing materials for participation in the competition for the implementation of the draft design of the Molniya swarm system. He clarified that the real devices of the future complex may differ from the models that were previously presented to the leadership of the military department.
"What was previously demonstrated is still an advance project, a certain general concept that we offer. A mock-up of the device was demonstrated, but in reality it will be somewhat different-it depends on the tactical and technical tasks that the Ministry of Defense will issue to the system," the head of the company said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
He added that Kronstadt has prepared a number of proposals for unmanned vehicles that can be part of the" Lightning " – of different dimensions, with different technical solutions.