Drone "Surprise". Photo: RIA Novosti
Next year, the drones used by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will be replenished with a new strike drone named "Surprise", which can carry a pair of 82-millimeter mines as weapons. The development of the device on "Roboavia" is carried out by order of the Ministry of Defense, taking into account the real experience of using UAVs in its own.
In order to increase the secrecy of the "Surprise", carbon fiber with plastic is used in the manufacture of its body, the electric motor with special propellers is almost silent, and the working height of about 400 meters does not allow it to be detected visually even with optical devices. "Surprise" is a quadcopter weighing almost 25 kg, which can be quickly and easily folded and placed in a backpack. The combat load of the drone does not exceed 7 kg, with which it can operate within a radius of 10 km from the operator. At the same time, if the UAV does not have a task to return to base, that is, it is used as a barrage ammunition, the range of its operation is doubled.
The "Surprise" drone. Photo: RIA Novosti
Also on board the novelty there is a camera with a thermal imager and a system for correcting the flight of ammunition, and the control of the "Surprise" is carried out either from the control station or with a traditional joystick. Now there are active tests of the "Surprise", which should be completed by the end of the year, and mass production of the shock drone is planned to be launched in early 2024 and at the same time begin their deliveries to the existing units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Max Antonovia
