DUBNA (Moscow region), January 27 - RIA Novosti. The first flight of the Helios-RLD radar patrol unmanned aerial vehicle, manufactured at Kronstadt JSC, is scheduled for 2024, the company's CEO Sergey Bogatikov said.
"Last year, three new state contracts were signed for the preliminary design of three topics. These are Helios-RLD, Thunder and Lightning," Bogatikov reported to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
He clarified that a preliminary design is currently underway for the Helios-RLD drone. "Our task this year is to hand over the preliminary design. We are ready to fully release the RKD (working design documentation) next year, begin production preparation and ensure the first flight of this aircraft in 2024," the head of Kronstadt said.
Bogatikov noted that a similar situation has developed with the high-speed unmanned aerial vehicle "Thunder". "This is the concept of a faithful wingman, he provides a breakthrough in the first place of air echeloned defense. We are ready to carry out work on it in the coming years," the CEO explained.
Denis Manturov, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Andrey Vorobyov, the Governor of the Moscow Region, also got acquainted with the new production.
