Thanks to the coaxial scheme, the new UAV will be able to fly combat missions despite wind, rain and snow
The development of the Jumper-1 drone line is underway in Russia. Externally, the new UAVs look like cylinders with two coaxial screws. Depending on the configuration, drones can solve both reconnaissance and strike tasks. Several "Jumpers" can be combined into a swarm, which will allow for concentrated group strikes. Experts note that the stated characteristics correspond to the challenges that the SVO has set for our army, but the effectiveness of the product will become clear after it is tested by combat.
The quiet "Jumper"
Currently, two UAVs of the Jumper-1 line are in development — a large and a small one. Depending on the combat mission, a large drone can be used as a scout equipped with video cameras and thermal imagers, or as a kamikaze with a warhead. A small drone is a powerful grenade that can independently find a target and hit it. Drones run on electric batteries, can operate within a radius of up to 30 km and stay in the air for up to 35 minutes, the developer NGO Dvina told Izvestia.
— A drone made according to a coaxial scheme is more energy efficient than a quadcopter, since it has only two propellers, respectively, it consumes two times less electricity, — Vladimir Orlov, General Director of NPO Dvina, told Izvestia. — For the same reason, he needs smaller batteries. It also has a lower propeller rotation speed, which makes it quieter — this ensures stealth. This scheme also provides good stability in flight in almost any weather, which will significantly expand the range of weather conditions and use new UAVs in strong wind, rain and snow, when the quadrocopters will not be able to take off.
Vladimir Orlov, General Director of NGO Dvina
Image source: Photo: NGO Dvina
In both versions, the Jumper-1 can be launched from a launcher in the form of a pipe — a gas generator shoots the device upwards. Next, the drone pushes out the folded propellers and begins its flight.
— The UAV has a modular design, — said the CEO. — The operator does not need to solder wires, equip the warhead, make detonators, or program controllers. This is a kind of Kalashnikov assault rifle among drones. You can convert a shock Jumper into a scout in the field in just a few seconds — to do this, unscrew the head of the device with optical equipment and replace it with a shock one. If necessary, you can install more powerful batteries on the drone in the same way, and change the battery equipment.
In a dangerous direction
The novelty can be quickly retrofitted with a tank, an IFV or an armored personnel carrier. Launch tubes can be installed on the tank from the outside of the rear part of the tower, the developer noted.
— The crew does not understand what awaits them ahead, — said Vladimir Orlov. — In this case, the tankers launch a "Jumper". In the combat compartment there is a remote control that allows you to control the UAV, and a screen on which the picture is broadcast. The tanker needs to press the button to send the scout flying. He will see the situation on the screen. If necessary, it will be able to launch an impact version of the munition, which will independently find and destroy the target, clearing the road. This is how we increase the survivability of technology.
Small UAV of the "Jumper-1" line
Image source: Photo: NGO Dvina
The system is as compact as possible and will be able to replace soldiers in difficult combat conditions.
— A large number of launchers with "Jumpers" can be placed on a truck, pickup truck or a ground—based unmanned platform, - said the developer. — A ground drone can be sent to an area where infantry actions involve heavy losses, or installed in a threatened direction, where it will hide for the time being. When an enemy appears, the operators will lift the "Jumpers" into the air, clarify the situation and deliver a concentrated blow with a swarm of UAVs.
Such tactics of using UAVs will allow you to ambush or quickly block threatened directions.
The Jumper-1 attack UAV at the X International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2024" at the Patriot Convention and Exhibition Center
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Lantyukhov
According to the developers, the Jumpers will be paired with an Awareness-raising Complex (KPO-A) already developed by the NGO Dvina. It allows a soldier or officer on the tablet where this application is installed to see their own forces and the forces of the enemy on the ground.
Jumpers connected to KPO-A will be able to send up-to-date intelligence information, including a video card, to the application.
The "era" of important tasks
The flagship of the project is the military innovative technopolis Era. Thanks to its scientific and technical potential, it helps developers solve a number of tasks.
— One of the aspects of cooperation is the creation of a mathematical model of a drone, a digital twin of a UAV, on which you can practice the behavior of a drone in a particular situation or environment, — Vladimir Orlov told Izvestia. — In addition, technopolis is engaged in the creation of swarming UAVs and the development of protocols for the interaction of attack drones — they also help us a lot in this.
Photo: NGO Dvina
Image source: iz.ru
Another area of technopolis is artificial intelligence, training our neural network models on their training sample of digital signatures.
— Era has a large and good selection of targets on which it is possible to train neural networks, that is, to train artificial intelligence to identify and destroy enemy personnel and equipment, this is very important, — explained Vladimir Orlov.
Combat verification
In the zone of its own, the demand for such UAVs is huge — these are consumables that play an important role on the battlefield, and their actions directly affect the combat capability of units, military expert Alexey Leonkov believes.
"Up to 200 UAVs from both sides can now be observed in the sky over certain sections of the front," he told Izvestia. — The stated characteristics of the device are very interesting. The fact that technopolis Era is involved in the development is a plus for the product, they specialize in introducing new products. But everything will be decided by how the new UAV will show itself on the battlefield — this is now the main examiner.
UAVs of the "Jumper-1" line — large and small
Image source: Photo: NGO Dvina
— In a good scenario, he certainly needs to be given a green street, — said the expert. — The new Minister of Defense promised to remove the bureaucratic slingshots that stand in the way of such inventions. The possibility of mass production of new products is also important — effective drones are needed here and now.
New UAVs are being actively developed in Russia. In particular, earlier Izvestia reported that serial production of the Rusak-S FPV drone with artificial intelligence elements had begun in the country. He can independently recognize and prioritize goals. The operator of such a device has to choose the right one and give the command to kill. The Guide system allows the UAV to autonomously exit the EW range in the direction of the take-off point without using satellite navigation.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Julia Leonova
