A system of UAV bases will be built along the coast of the Arctic Ocean
The waters of the Northern Sea Route and the coast of Kamchatka will be patrolled by drones — for this purpose, a system of UAV bases will be built there, a source told Izvestia in the Ministry of Defense. The devices of the Pacer and Outpost families will observe the Arctic latitudes. It is cheaper and more efficient than using manned aircraft, experts say.
Continuous monitoring
Kamchatka and the Northern Sea Route will be covered by drones. It is planned to build UAV bases with all necessary infrastructure on the peninsula and in several areas along the NSR, sources told Izvestia in the military department. We are talking about large aircraft—type drones - the Pacer and Outpost families. The drones' task will be to control the sea and airspace, search for intruders, and participate in search and rescue operations.
"It is advisable to conduct continuous monitoring in these areas," Admiral Sergei Avakyants, ex—commander of the Pacific Fleet, told Izvestia. — We must have all the information about the presence of foreign vessels and warships in our economic zone in the Arctic and especially passing through the Northern Sea Route without our permission and notification. The same applies to Kamchatka, Anadyr and the adjacent seas. Monitoring can be carried out both by manned aircraft and by UAVs.
UAV "Outpost" during a test flight
Image source: Photo: TASS/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
According to the admiral, taking into account climatic conditions, weather, visibility features, and sudden weather changes, it is necessary to create a new, heavier device that can be used in the Arctic regions.
— Previously, there was a special aviation that was created specifically for work in the Arctic, — he said. — Of course, unmanned vehicles should also be quite heavy. They will travel long enough distances, and stable space communication is necessary to control them. They have to carry a lot of equipment. Replacement airfields should also be provided along the entire coast of the Arctic Ocean, Chukotka, and Kamchatka. In the future, if the situation worsens, when designing such drones, it will be necessary to take into account the possibility of their use in the reconnaissance and strike version.
Pacer UAV during takeoff
Image source: Photo: Kronshtadt Company
The Northern Sea Route is a huge territory, almost deserted, requiring control, military historian Dmitry Boltenkov believes.
— Suddenly there will be some armed formations, foreign ships or submarines. It is expensive to drive airplanes with people for surveillance, and why, when there are drones that can perform these tasks more cheaply and efficiently. "Pacer" and "Outpost" are quite suitable devices capable of flying over long distances and seeing what is happening.
Earlier, Izvestia reported that it is planned to involve Tu-142 aircraft in work on the Northern Sea Route. Their flight range allows them to completely block this route without landing. If necessary, they can be used for search and rescue operations and control over the water area. However, their direct purpose is to search for submarines of a potential enemy.
Pacer and Outpost
The Pacer is a Russian medium—altitude UAV with a cruising speed of 200 km/h and a range of 300 kilometers. The take-off weight of the device exceeds 1 ton. It is capable of performing many different tasks, including topographic surveying, radio reconnaissance, fire correction and strikes using precision weapons. To solve strike tasks, the Pacer can carry anti-tank missiles, adjustable, guided and free-falling bombs.
UAV "Outpost" at the airfield
Image source: Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The drone lifts up to 300 kg of cargo and, due to optimized aerodynamics and power plant, is able to stay in the air for up to 24 hours. It is equipped with surveillance systems that allow you to receive information in real time, and a satellite communication system that provides data transmission at any distance from the drone operator.
The Outpost UAV is designed for reconnaissance, monitoring, surveillance and destruction of single stationary and moving ground objects. With a maximum take-off weight of 500 kg, the Outpost can carry aircraft weapons weighing up to 100 kilograms, for example, the KAB-20 adjustable aerial bomb and anti-tank missiles. Cruising speed is from 120 to 180 km/h, maximum flight duration is 18 hours, practical altitude is 6,000 meters.
Defense of Kamchatka
In recent years, the military department has been paying significant attention to the protection of the northeastern borders and strengthening the defense of Kamchatka. The basis of the ground group on the peninsula is the 40th separate Marine Brigade. She is considered the heir of the 22nd Infantry Division of the famous commander of the Red Army Vasily Chapaev. In addition, the 50th separate Coastal Defense Regiment is located in the region. The 520th separate coastal Missile and Artillery Brigade, which is armed with the Bastion and Bal missile systems, is responsible for the defense of the coast.
Bastion coastal missile systems during training on launching a missile attack on ships of a simulated enemy
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Mikhail Golenkov
In March of this year, the commander of the Kamchatka heterogeneous Association of Forces and Troops, Vice Admiral Alexander Yuldashev, said that a tank battalion had been formed on the basis of a marine brigade located on the peninsula, which was armed with T-80BVM tanks. In addition, the Arctic Marine battalion, jet and anti-tank divisions have been created.
Last year, during the maneuvers of the Pacific Fleet, the updated Kamchatka security system was tested. It has shown high reliability and effectiveness in protecting the coast from both air and sea strikes. At the same time, for the first time, they checked the possibility of all submarines leaving bases on the peninsula, worked out their protection along the entire route to the specified areas.
Specialists of the aviation engineering service during the preparation of the MiG-31BM fighter for flight at the Tsentralnaya Ugolovaya military airfield in Primorsky Krai
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Ankov
The aviation component of the Kamchatka defense is represented by the 317th Mixed Aviation Regiment. They have a special structure, unlike other aircraft parts. The regiment consists of a MiG-31 and MiG-31BM fighter squadron; a mixed squadron with Il-38N and Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft, An-12 and An-26 transport aircraft; two helicopter squadrons with Mi-8AMTSh, Mi-8, Ka-27 and Ka-29; as well as an unmanned squadron aviation from the Orlan-10 UAV.
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