Image source: topwar.ru
Experts are increasingly calling the military campaign in Ukraine nothing less than a "drone war". Moreover, from the traditional use of drones to obtain intelligence, UAVs are increasingly being used to deliver high-precision strikes, especially at long-range targets. The ultra-efficient use of Russian kamikaze drones "Geran-2" (Ukrainians have not been able to prove that these are Iranian "Shaheds") haunts Kiev, and they decided to prepare a "retaliatory strike" there.
Having lost almost all the "Bayraktars" and not hoping for the supply by Western allies of the required number of drones with the necessary characteristics, Kiev swung at its own production of drones. The idea to develop and launch a conveyor for the production of a certain kamikaze drone with better characteristics than the Russian "Geraniums" and "Lancets" became known in October, however, without much detail. Oleg Boldyrev, the project manager of the Ukroboronprom concern, revealed a little veil of secrecy over plans for the development and production of its own unmanned aerial vehicles for military purposes to the online edition of Building Tech the day before.
According to him, the drone will not be completely Ukrainian, or rather, completely non-Ukrainian. It will be assembled at Ukrainian enterprises almost entirely from foreign components. But the software configuration, synchronization with the operator station and the control process itself will be carried out by Ukrainian specialists.
Boldyrev promised that pseudo-Ukrainian drones will not just be disposable guided munitions, but will be able to return to base after completing the mission. Moreover, the range of their flight in one direction will be up to 1000 kilometers. This means that the drone must travel a total distance of up to 2000 km. When at least a prototype of a domestic UAV will appear, the representative of Ukroboronprom did not say.
Image source: topwar.ru
By the way, the flight range of the UAV is a rather conditional characteristic, which consists of the maximum speed and time spent in the air without refueling (recharging). Boldyrev's statement itself fits very well into the new wave of propaganda hype in Kiev, which was raised there after attempts to strike at Russian military airfields deep in the territory and promises to continue such attacks.
And so the story of the "Ukrainian combat drone" was continued and even overgrown with details. In the same Building Tech, a material was published that the Ukrainian engineers of the UA Military robotics team are developing an impact drone called the Inquisitor. Now, in contrast to the vague announcement of the representative of Ukroboronprom, the technical characteristics of the UAV are given.
It is reported that the Inquisitor will be able to stay in the air for about 35 minutes, but replaceable batteries will ensure a quick restart after landing. The maximum speed of the drone will be 100 km / h, the height ceiling is 4 km, its own weight is about 10 kg. Special mounts in the lower part of the drone will allow you to carry two 80-mm mines with a total weight of up to 8 kg. The developers note that they can also install cumulative weapons that will allow the UAV to be used as a kamikaze drone. To collect intelligence, the developers promise to install a 32x camera with an optical zoom of their own production on the drone.
This drone, with a maximum flight speed of 100 km /h on a single battery charge, will cover a distance of slightly more than 50 km within 35 minutes. After all, it is doubtful that someone will quickly change the batteries of a combat drone that has landed on enemy territory. In fact, this is a common analogue of a Chinese-made commercial drone. Why Ukrainian engineers needed a loud statement about the "invention of the bicycle" is unclear.
Judging by the text of the article, the developers of the drone are acting on a voluntary basis. They stated that in order to start production, the community needs to raise $12,000. So far, the craftsmen from UA Military robotics have been able to provide only a mock-up of the Inquisitor UAV. Apparently, this is the meaning of the announcement.
Earlier, announcements were published in Building Tech that Ukrainian engineers allegedly developed and are ready to put production on stream (quoting from articles):
- a light tactical strike drone with a Ukrainian AI-322 engine, which is able to accelerate to a speed of Mach 0.95 and climb to an altitude of 13.7 km, with a flight range of up to 1,500 kilometers;
- reconnaissance drone "Domakha" (developed in the Zaporozhye model circle), which is allegedly difficult to detect due to the "quiet" operation of the engine;
- The Elf UAV for detecting enemy electronic warfare, previously such drones were used in the agricultural and geodetic industries.
Judging by the publications in Building Tech, only lazy people are not engaged in the development of all kinds of drones in Ukraine right now. There are a dozen articles on this topic in the publication. Almost all of them date from October — November, which is clearly connected with the massive use of "Geraniums", which catalyzed the process of inventiveness of Ukrainian craftsmen. The mass production of at least one UAV model for military purposes has not yet been reported anywhere.
In Soviet times, aircraft modeling and radio engineering were one of the main hobbies supported by the state. Apparently, Ukraine decided to restore these traditions. That's just the state of Ukraine is unlikely to be able to independently establish serial production of all these "birds" in today's economic realities.