Unmanned aerial vehicle. Russian attack drones (20 photos) New combat aircraft

In recent years, a large number of publications have appeared on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to solve topographic problems. This interest is largely due to their ease of operation, efficiency, relatively low cost, efficiency, etc. The listed qualities and the availability of effective software for automatic processing of aerial photography materials (including the selection of the necessary points) open up the possibility of widespread use of software and hardware for unmanned aircraft in the practice of engineering and geodetic surveys.

In this issue, with a review of technical means of unmanned aircraft, we open a series of publications about the capabilities of UAVs and the experience of using them in field and desk work.

D.P. INOZEMTSEV, project manager, PLAZ LLC, Saint Petersburg

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Part 1. Review of technical means

HISTORICAL REFERENCE

Unmanned aerial vehicles appeared in connection with the need to effectively solve military problems - tactical reconnaissance, delivery of military weapons (bombs, torpedoes, etc.) to their destination, combat control, etc. And it is no coincidence that their first use is considered to be the delivery of bombs by Austrian troops to a besieged Venice using balloons in 1849. A powerful impetus for the development of UAVs was the emergence of radio telegraphs and aviation, which made it possible to significantly improve their autonomy and controllability.

Thus, in 1898, Nikola Tesla developed and demonstrated a miniature radio-controlled vessel, and already in 1910, the American military engineer Charles Kettering proposed, built and tested several models of unmanned aerial vehicles. In 1933, the first UAV was developed in Great Britain.

reusable, and the radio-controlled target created on its basis was used in the Royal Navy of Great Britain until 1943.

The research of German scientists was several decades ahead of their time; in the 1940s they gave the world a jet engine and the V-1 cruise missile as the first unmanned aerial vehicle used in real combat operations.

In the USSR, in the 1930–1940s, aircraft designer Nikitin developed a torpedo bomber-glider of the “flying wing” type, and by the early 40s, a project for an unmanned flying torpedo with a flight range of 100 kilometers and above was prepared, but these developments did not turn into real designs.

After the end of the Great Patriotic War, interest in UAVs increased significantly, and since the 1960s, their widespread use has been noted to solve non-military problems.

In general, the history of UAVs can be divided into four time stages:

1.1849 – beginning of the twentieth century - attempts and experimental experiments to create UAVs, the formation of the theoretical foundations of aerodynamics, flight theory and aircraft calculations in the works of scientists.

2. Beginning of the twentieth century - 1945 - development of military UAVs (projectile aircraft with a short range and flight duration).

3.1945–1960 - a period of expansion of the classification of UAVs by purpose and their creation primarily for reconnaissance operations.

4.1960 - present day - expansion of the classification and improvement of UAVs, the beginning of mass use for solving non-military problems.

UAV CLASSIFICATION

It is well known that aerial photography, as a type of remote sensing of the Earth (ERS), is the most productive method of collecting spatial information, the basis for creating topographic plans and maps, creating three-dimensional models of relief and terrain. Aerial photography is carried out both from manned aircraft - airplanes, airships, trikes and balloons, and from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Unmanned aerial vehicles, like manned ones, are of airplane and helicopter types (helicopters and multicopters are aircraft with four or more rotors with main rotors). Currently in Russia there is no generally accepted classification of aircraft-type UAVs. Missiles.

Ru, together with the UAV.RU portal, offers a modern classification of aircraft-type UAVs, developed based on the approaches of the UAV International organization, but taking into account the specifics and situation of the domestic market (classes) (Table 1):

Short-range micro- and mini-UAVs. The class of miniature ultra-light and lightweight devices and complexes based on them with a take-off weight of up to 5 kilograms began to appear in Russia relatively recently, but already quite

widely represented. Such UAVs are intended for individual operational use at short ranges at a distance of up to 25–40 kilometers. They are easy to operate and transport, they are foldable and positioned as “portable”; they are launched using a catapult or by hand. These include: Geoscan 101, Geoscan 201, 101ZALA 421-11, ZALA 421-08, ZALA 421-12, T23 “Aileron”, T25, “Aileron-3”, “Gamayun-3”, “Irkut-2M”, “ Istra-10",

“BROTHER”, “Curl”, “Inspector 101”, “Inspector 201”, “Inspector 301”, etc.

Lightweight short-range UAVs. This class includes slightly larger aircraft - with a take-off weight from 5 to 50 kilograms. Their range is within 10–120 kilometers.

Among them: Geoscan 300, “GRANT”, ZALA 421-04, Orlan-10, PteroSM, PteroE5, T10, “Eleron-10”, “Gamayun-10”, “Irkut-10”,

T92 “Lotos”, T90 (T90-11), T21, T24, “Tipchak” UAV-05, UAV-07, UAV-08.

Lightweight, medium-range UAVs. A number of domestic models can be classified as this class of UAVs. Their weight varies between 50–100 kilograms. These include: T92M "Chibis", ZALA 421-09,

“Dozor-2”, “Dozor-4”, “Pchela-1T”.

Medium UAVs. The take-off weight of medium-sized UAVs ranges from 100 to 300 kilograms. They are intended for use at ranges of 150–1000 kilometers. In this class: M850 “Astra”, “Binom”, La-225 “Komar”, T04, E22M “Berta”, “Berkut”, “Irkut-200”.

Medium-heavy UAVs. This class has a range similar to that of the previous class of UAVs, but has a slightly larger take-off weight - from 300 to 500 kilograms.

This class should include: “Hummingbird”, “Dunham”, “Dan-Baruk”, “Stork” (“Yulia”), “Dozor-3”.

Heavy medium-range UAVs. This class includes UAVs with a flight weight of 500 kilograms or more, designed for use at medium ranges of 70–300 kilometers. The heavy class includes the following: Tu-243 “Flight-D”, Tu-300, “Irkut-850”, “Nart” (A-03).

Heavy UAVs with long flight duration. The category of unmanned aerial vehicles is quite in demand abroad, which includes the American UAVs Predator, Reaper, GlobalHawk, Israeli Heron, Heron TP. There are practically no samples in Russia: Zond-3M, Zond-2, Zond-1, Sukhoi unmanned aerial systems (BasS), within the framework of which a robotic aviation complex (RAC) is being created.

Unmanned combat aircraft (UCA). Currently, work is actively underway around the world to create promising UAVs that have the ability to carry weapons on board and are designed to attack ground and surface stationary and mobile targets in the face of strong opposition from enemy air defense forces. They are characterized by a range of about 1,500 kilometers and a weight of 1,500 kilograms.

Today in Russia there are two projects presented in the BBS class: “Proryv-U”, “Scat”.

In practice, UAVs weighing up to 10–15 kilograms (micro-, mini-UAVs and light UAVs) are usually used for aerial photography. This is due to the fact that with an increase in the take-off weight of a UAV, the complexity of its development increases and, accordingly, the cost, but the reliability and safety of operation decreases. The fact is that when landing a UAV, energy E = mv2 / 2 is released, and the greater the mass of the vehicle m, the greater its landing speed v, that is, the energy released during landing grows very quickly with increasing mass. And this energy can damage both the UAV itself and property on the ground.

An unmanned helicopter and a multicopter do not have this drawback. Theoretically, such a device can be landed at an arbitrarily low speed of approach to the Earth. However, unmanned helicopters are too expensive, and copters are not yet capable of flying over long distances, and are used only for shooting local objects (individual buildings and structures).

Rice. 1. UAV Mavinci SIRIUS Fig. 2. UAV Geoscan 101

ADVANTAGES OF UAV

The superiority of UAVs over manned aircraft is, first of all, the cost of work, as well as a significant reduction in the number of routine operations. The very absence of a person on board the aircraft greatly simplifies the preparatory activities for aerial photography.

Firstly, you don’t need an airfield, even the most primitive one. Unmanned aerial vehicles are launched either by hand or using a special take-off device - a catapult.

Secondly, especially when using an electric propulsion circuit, there is no need for qualified technical assistance to maintain the aircraft, and measures to ensure safety at the work site are not so complex.

Thirdly, there is no or much longer inter-regulatory period of operation of a UAV compared to a manned aircraft.

This circumstance is of great importance when operating an aerial photography complex in remote areas of our country. As a rule, the field season for aerial photography is short; every fine day must be used for surveying.

UAV DEVICE

two main UAV layout schemes: classical (according to the “fuselage + wings + tail” scheme), which includes, for example, the Orlan-10 UAV, Mavinci SIRIUS (Fig. 1), etc., and the “flying wing”, which includes include Geoscan101 (Fig. 2), Gatewing X100, Trimble UX5, etc.

The main parts of an unmanned aerial photography system are: body, engine, on-board control system (autopilot), ground control system (GCS) and aerial photography equipment.

The UAV body is made of lightweight plastic (such as carbon fiber or Kevlar) to protect expensive camera equipment and controls and navigation, and its wings are made of plastic or extruded polystyrene foam (EPP). This material is lightweight, quite durable and does not break upon impact. A deformed EPP part can often be restored using improvised means.

A lightweight UAV with a parachute landing can withstand several hundred flights without repair, which usually includes replacing wings, fuselage elements, etc. Manufacturers are trying to reduce the cost of parts of the body that are subject to wear, so that the user's costs for maintaining the UAV in working condition are minimal.

It should be noted that the most expensive elements of the aerial photography complex, the ground control system, avionics, and software, are not subject to wear at all.

The UAV's power plant can be gasoline or electric. Moreover, a gasoline engine will provide a much longer flight, since gasoline, per kilogram, stores 10–15 times more energy than can be stored in the best battery. However, such a power plant is complex, less reliable and requires considerable time to prepare the UAV for launch. In addition, a gasoline-powered unmanned aerial vehicle is extremely difficult to transport to a work site by plane. Finally, it requires highly qualified operators. Therefore, it makes sense to use a gasoline UAV only in cases where a very long flight duration is required - for continuous monitoring, for examining particularly remote objects.

An electric propulsion system, on the contrary, is very undemanding in terms of the qualifications of the operating personnel. Modern batteries can provide a continuous flight duration of over four hours. Servicing an electric motor is not difficult at all. Mostly this is only protection from moisture and dirt, as well as checking the voltage of the on-board network, which is carried out from the ground control system. The batteries are charged from the on-board network of the accompanying vehicle or from an autonomous electric generator. The brushless electric motor of a UAV has virtually no wear and tear.

The autopilot - with an inertial system (Fig. 3) - is the most important control element of the UAV.

The autopilot weighs only 20–30 grams. But this is a very complex product. In addition to a powerful processor, the autopilot contains many sensors - a three-axis gyroscope and accelerometer (and sometimes a magnetometer), GLO-NAS/GPS receiver, pressure sensor, airspeed sensor. With these devices, an unmanned aerial vehicle will be able to fly strictly on a given course.

Rice. 3. AutopilotMicropilot

The UAV has a radio modem necessary for downloading the flight mission, transmitting telemetric data about the flight and the current location at the work site to the ground control system.

Ground control system

(NSU) is a tablet computer or laptop equipped with a modem for communication with the UAV. An important part of the NCS is software for planning a flight mission and displaying the progress of its implementation.

As a rule, a flight mission is compiled automatically, according to a given contour of an area object or nodal points of a linear object. In addition, it is possible to design flight routes based on the required flight altitude and the required resolution of photographs on the ground. To automatically maintain a given flight altitude, it is possible to take into account a digital terrain model in common formats in the flight mission.

During the flight, the position of the UAV and the contours of the photographs taken are displayed on the cartographic background of the NSU monitor. During the flight, the operator has the opportunity to quickly redirect the UAV to another landing area and even quickly land the UAV using the “red” button of the ground control system. Upon command from the NCS, other auxiliary operations can be planned, for example, parachute release.

In addition to providing navigation and flight support, the autopilot must control the camera to take pictures at a given frame interval (as soon as the UAV has flown the required distance from the previous photographing center). If the pre-calculated frame interval is not maintained stably, you have to adjust the shutter response time so that even with a tailwind, the longitudinal overlap is sufficient.

The autopilot must register the coordinates of the photographing centers of the GLONASS/GPS geodetic satellite receiver so that the automatic image processing program can quickly build a model and tie it to the terrain. The required accuracy in determining the coordinates of photographing centers depends on the technical specifications for performing aerial photography work.

Aerial photography equipment is installed on a UAV depending on its class and purpose of use.

Micro- and mini-UAVs are equipped with compact digital cameras equipped with interchangeable lenses with a fixed focal length (without a zoom lens or zoom device) weighing 300–500 grams. SONY NEX-7 cameras are currently used as such cameras.

with a 24.3 MP matrix, CANON600D 18.5 MP matrix and the like. The shutter is controlled and the signal from the shutter is transmitted to the satellite receiver using standard or slightly modified electrical connectors of the camera.

Lightweight short-range UAVs are equipped with SLR cameras with a large photosensitive element, for example CanonEOS5D (sensor size 36×24 mm), NikonD800 (matrix 36.8 MP (sensor size 35.9×24 mm)), Pentax645D (CCD sensor 44x33 mm, 40 MP matrix) and the like, weighing 1.0–1.5 kilograms.

Rice. 4. Layout of aerial photographs (blue rectangles with number signatures)

UAV CAPABILITIES

According to the requirements of the document “Basic provisions for aerial photography performed to create and update topographic maps and plans” GKINP-09-32-80, the carrier of aerial photography equipment must extremely accurately follow the design position of aerial photography routes, maintain a given echelon (photographing height), and ensure compliance requirements maximum deviations in camera orientation angles - tilt, roll, pitch. In addition, navigation equipment must provide the exact time of operation of the photo shutter and determine the coordinates of photographing centers.

The equipment integrated into the autopilot was indicated above: a microbarometer, an airspeed sensor, an inertial system, and navigation satellite equipment. Based on the tests carried out (in particular, the Geoscan101 UAV), the following deviations of the actual shooting parameters from the specified ones were established:

UAV deviations from the route axis are in the range of 5–10 meters;

Photography height deviations are in the range of 5–10 meters;

Fluctuation in photographing heights of adjacent images - no more

The “herringbones” that appear during flight (reversals of images in the horizontal plane) are processed by an automated photogrammetric processing system without noticeable negative consequences.

Photographic equipment installed on a UAV allows you to obtain digital images of the area with a resolution of better than 3 centimeters per pixel. The use of short-, medium-, and long-focus photographic lenses is determined by the nature of the resulting finished materials: be it a relief model or an orthomosaic. All calculations are made in the same way as in “large” aerial photography.

The use of a dual-frequency GLO-NASS/GPS satellite geodetic system to determine the coordinates of image centers allows, in the process of post-processing, to obtain the coordinates of photographing centers with an accuracy of better than 5 centimeters, and the use of the PPP (PrecisePoint Positioning) method allows one to determine the coordinates of image centers without the use of base stations or at a significant distance from them.

The final processing of aerial photography materials can serve as an objective criterion for assessing the quality of the work performed. To illustrate, we can consider data on assessing the accuracy of photogrammetric processing of aerial photography materials from a UAV, performed in the PhotoScan software (manufactured by Agisoſt, St. Petersburg) according to control points (Table 2).

Point numbers	Errors along coordinate axes, m				Abs, pix	Projections
(ΔD)2= ΔХ2+ ΔY2+ ΔZ2

UAV APPLICATION

In the world, and recently in Russia, unmanned aerial vehicles are used in geodetic surveys during construction, for drawing up cadastral plans of industrial facilities, transport infrastructure, settlements, summer cottages, in surveying to determine the volume of mine workings and dumps, taking into account traffic bulk cargo in quarries, ports, mining and processing plants, to create maps, plans and 3D models of cities and enterprises.

3. Tseplyaeva T.P., Morozova O.V. Stages of development of unmanned aerial vehicles. M., “Open information and computer integrated technologies”, No. 42, 2009.

The ability to preserve the most valuable resource - fighters on the battlefield from the beginning of the first wars was the most important and promising. Modern technologies make it possible to use combat vehicles remotely, which eliminates the loss of an operator even if a unit is destroyed. One of the most pressing issues these days is the creation of unmanned aerial vehicles.

What is a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)

A UAV is any aircraft that does not have a pilot in the air. The autonomy of the devices varies: there are the simplest options with remote control, or fully automated machines. The first option is also called remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), they are distinguished by the continuous delivery of commands from the operator. More advanced systems require only occasional commands, between which the device operates autonomously.

The main advantage of such machines over manned fighters and reconnaissance aircraft is that they are up to 20 times cheaper than their analogues with comparable capabilities.

The disadvantage of the devices is the vulnerability of communication channels, which are easy to disrupt and disable the machine.

History of the creation and development of UAVs

The history of drones began in Great Britain in 1933, when a radio-controlled aircraft was assembled based on the Fairy Queen biplane. Before the outbreak of World War II and in the early years, more than 400 of these vehicles were assembled and used as targets by the Royal Navy.

The first combat vehicle of this class was the famous German V-1, equipped with a pulsating jet engine. It is noteworthy that warhead aircraft could be launched both from the ground and from air carriers.

The rocket was controlled by the following means:

• an autopilot, which was given altitude and heading parameters before launch;
• the range was measured by a mechanical counter, which was driven by the rotation of the blades in the bow (the latter were launched by the incoming air flow);
• upon reaching the set distance (dispersion - 6 km), the fuses were cocked, and the projectile automatically went into dive mode.

During the war, the United States produced targets for training anti-aircraft gunners - Radioplane OQ-2. Towards the end of the confrontation, the first repeatable attack drones appeared - Interstate TDR. The aircraft turned out to be ineffective due to its low speed and range, which were due to the low cost of production. In addition, the technical means of that time did not allow targeted fire or combat at a long distance without being followed by a control aircraft. Nevertheless, there were successes in the use of machines.

In the post-war years, UAVs were regarded exclusively as targets, but the situation changed after the appearance of anti-aircraft missile systems in the army. From that moment on, drones became reconnaissance aircraft, false targets for enemy anti-aircraft guns. Practice has shown that their use reduces losses of manned aircraft.

In the Soviet Union, until the 70s, heavy reconnaissance aircraft were actively produced as unmanned aircraft:

1. Tu-123 "Hawk";
2. Tu-141 Swift;
3. Tu-143 "Flight".

Significant aviation losses in Vietnam for the United States Army resulted in a revival of interest in UAVs.

Here tools appear to perform various tasks;

• photographic reconnaissance;
• radio intelligence;
• electronic warfare targets.

In this form, the 147E was used, which collected intelligence so effectively that it recouped the cost of the entire program for its development many times over.

The practice of using UAVs has shown significantly greater potential as full-fledged combat vehicles. Therefore, after the beginning of the 80s, the United States began to develop tactical and operational-strategic drones.

Israeli specialists took part in the development of UAVs in the 80s and 90s. Initially, US devices were purchased, but their own scientific and technical base for development was quickly formed. The Tadiran company has proven itself best. The Israeli army also demonstrated the effectiveness of using UAVs in operations against Syrian forces in 1982.

In the 80-90s, the obvious success of aircraft without a crew on board provoked the start of development by many companies around the world.

In the early 2000s, the first strike vehicle appeared - the American MQ-1 Predator. AGM-114C Hellfire missiles were installed on board. At the beginning of the century, drones were mainly used in the Middle East.

Until now, almost all countries are actively developing and implementing UAVs. For example, in 2013, the Russian Armed Forces received short-range reconnaissance systems, the Orlan-10.

The Sukhoi and MiG design bureaus are also developing a new heavy vehicle - an attack aircraft with a take-off weight of up to 20 tons.

The purpose of the drone

Unmanned aerial vehicles are mainly used to solve the following tasks:

• targets, including to distract enemy air defense systems;
• intelligence service;
• striking at various moving and stationary targets;
• electronic warfare and others.

The effectiveness of the apparatus in performing tasks is determined by the quality of the following means: reconnaissance, communications, automated control systems, weapons.

Now such aircraft successfully reduce personnel losses and deliver information that cannot be obtained at a line-of-sight distance.

Types of UAVs

Combat drones are usually classified by type of control into remote, automatic and unmanned.

In addition, classification by weight and performance characteristics is in use:

• Ultralight. These are the lightest UAVs, weighing no more than 10 kg. They can spend an hour in the air on average, the practical ceiling is 1000 meters;
• Lungs. The mass of such machines reaches 50 kg, they are capable of climbing 3-5 km and spending 2-3 hours in operation;
• Average. These are serious devices weighing up to a ton, their ceiling is 10 km, and they can spend up to 12 hours in the air without landing;
• Heavy. Large aircraft weighing more than a ton are capable of rising to a height of 20 km and operating for more than a day without landing.

These groups also have civil structures, of course, they are lighter and simpler. Full-fledged combat vehicles are often no smaller in size than manned aircraft.

Uncontrollable

Unmanned systems are the simplest form of UAV. Their control occurs due to on-board mechanics and established flight characteristics. In this form you can use targets, scouts or projectiles.

Remote control

Remote control usually occurs through radio communication, which limits the range of the machine. For example, civilian aircraft can operate within a range of 7-8 km.

Automatic

Basically, these are combat vehicles capable of independently performing complex tasks in the air. This class of machines is the most multifunctional.

Principle of operation

The operating principle of a UAV depends on its design features. There are several layout schemes that most modern aircraft correspond to:

• Fixed wing. In this case, the devices are close to the aircraft layout and have rotary or jet engines. This option is the most fuel efficient and has a long range;
• Multicopters. These are propeller-driven vehicles, equipped with at least two engines, capable of vertical takeoff/landing and hovering in the air, therefore they are especially good for reconnaissance, including in urban environments;
• Helicopter type. The layout is helicopter, the propeller systems can be different, for example, Russian designs are often equipped with coaxial propellers, which makes the models similar to machines such as the Black Shark;
• Convertiplanes. This is a combination of helicopter and airplane design. To save space, such machines rise vertically into the air, the wing configuration changes during flight, and an airplane method of movement becomes possible;
• Gliders. Basically, these are devices without engines that are dropped from a heavier vehicle and move along a given trajectory. This type is suitable for reconnaissance purposes.

Depending on the type of engine, the fuel used also changes. Electric motors are powered by a battery, internal combustion engines are powered by gasoline, jet engines are powered by the appropriate fuel.

The power plant is mounted in the housing, and control electronics, controls and communications are also located here. The body is a streamlined volume to give the structure an aerodynamic shape. The basis of the strength characteristics is the frame, which is usually assembled from metal or polymers.

The simplest set of control systems is as follows:

• CPU;
• barometer for determining altitude;
• accelerometer;
• gyroscope;
• navigator;
• random access memory;
• signal receiver.

Military devices are controlled using a remote control (if the range is short) or via satellites.

The collection of information for the operator and the software of the machine itself comes from various types of sensors. Laser, sound, infrared and other types are used.

Navigation is carried out using GPS and electronic maps.

Incoming signals are transformed by the controller into commands, which are transmitted to executing devices, for example, elevators.

Advantages and disadvantages of UAVs

Compared to manned vehicles, UAVs have serious advantages:

1. Weight and size characteristics are improved, the survivability of the unit increases, and visibility for radars decreases;
2. UAVs are tens of times cheaper than manned airplanes and helicopters, while highly specialized models can solve complex tasks on the battlefield;
3. Intelligence data when using UAVs is transmitted in real time;
4. Manned equipment is subject to restrictions on use in combat conditions when the risk of death is too high. Automated machines do not have such problems. Considering economic factors, sacrificing a few will be much more profitable than losing a trained pilot;
5. Combat readiness and mobility are maximized;
6. Several units can be combined into entire complexes to solve a number of complex problems.

Any flying drone also has disadvantages:

• manned devices have significantly greater flexibility in practice;
• It is still not possible to come to a unified solution to the issues of saving the device in the event of a fall, landing on prepared sites, and ensuring reliable communication over long distances;
• the reliability of automatic devices is still significantly lower than their manned counterparts;
• For various reasons, in peacetime, the flights of unmanned aircraft are seriously limited.

Nevertheless, work continues to improve technology, including neural networks that can influence the future of UAVs.

Unmanned vehicles of Russia

Yak-133

This is a drone developed by the Irkut company - an unobtrusive device capable of conducting reconnaissance and, if necessary, destroying enemy combat units. It is expected to be equipped with guided missiles and bombs.

A-175 "Shark"

A complex capable of all-weather climate monitoring, including on difficult terrain. Initially, the model was developed by AeroRobotics LLC for peaceful purposes, but manufacturers do not rule out the release of military modifications.

"Altair"

A reconnaissance and strike vehicle capable of staying in the air for up to two days. Practical ceiling - 12 km, speed within 150-250 km/h. At takeoff, the weight reaches 5 tons, of which 1 ton is the payload.

BAS-62

Civil development of the Sukhoi Design Bureau. In the reconnaissance modification, it is capable of collecting diverse data about objects on water and land. Can be used for monitoring power lines, mapping, and monitoring meteorological conditions.

US unmanned vehicles

EQ-4

Developed by Northrop Grumman. In 2017, three vehicles entered the United States Army. They were sent to the UAE.

"Fury"

A Lockheed Martin drone designed not only for surveillance and reconnaissance, but also for electronic warfare. Capable of continuing flight up to 15 hours.

"LightingStrike"

The brainchild of Aurora Flight Sciences, which is being developed as a vertical take-off combat vehicle. It reaches speeds of more than 700 km/h and can carry up to 1800 kg of payload.

MQ-1B "Predator"

The development of General Atomics is a medium-altitude vehicle, which was originally created as a reconnaissance vehicle. Later it was modified into a multi-purpose technique.

Israeli drones

"Mastiff"

The first UAV created by the Israelis was the Mastiff, which flew in 1975. The purpose of this vehicle was reconnaissance on the battlefield. It remained in service until the early 90s.

"Shadmit"

These devices were used for reconnaissance in the early 1980s during the first Lebanon War. Some of the systems used transmitted intelligence data in real time, while others simulated an air invasion. Thanks to them, the fight against air defense systems was successfully carried out.

IAI "Scout"

The Scout was created as a tactical reconnaissance vehicle, for which it was equipped with a television camera and a system for broadcasting collected information in real time.

I-View MK150

Another name is “Observer”. The devices were developed by the Israeli company IAI. This is a tactical vehicle equipped with an infrared surveillance system and a combined optical-electronic filling.

Unmanned vehicles in Europe

MALE RPAS

One of the recent developments is a promising reconnaissance and strike vehicle, which is being created jointly by Italian, Spanish, German and French companies. The first demonstration took place in 2018.

"Sagem Sperwer"

One of the French developments, which managed to prove itself in the Balkans at the end of the last century (1990s). The creation was carried out based on national and pan-European programs.

"Eagle 1"

Another French vehicle, which is designed for reconnaissance operations. It is assumed that the device will operate at altitudes of 7-8 thousand meters.

HALE

A high-altitude UAV that can fly up to 18 kilometers. The device can survive in the air for up to three days.

In Europe as a whole, France takes the leading role in the development of unmanned aircraft. New products are constantly appearing all over the world, including modular multifunctional models, on the basis of which various military and civilian vehicles can be assembled.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

Just 20 years ago, Russia was one of the world leaders in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. Only 950 Tu-143 aerial reconnaissance aircraft were produced in the 80s of the last century. The famous reusable spacecraft Buran was created, which made its first and only flight in completely unmanned mode. I don’t see any point in somehow giving up on the development and use of drones now.

Background of Russian drones (Tu-141, Tu-143, Tu-243). In the mid-sixties, the Tupolev Design Bureau began creating new unmanned reconnaissance systems for tactical and operational purposes. On August 30, 1968, Resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers N 670-241 was issued on the development of a new unmanned tactical reconnaissance complex "Reis" (VR-3) and its included unmanned reconnaissance aircraft "143" (Tu-143). The deadline for presenting the complex for testing was specified in the Resolution: for the version with photo reconnaissance equipment - 1970, for the version with equipment for television reconnaissance and for the version with equipment for radiation reconnaissance - 1972.

The Tu-143 reconnaissance UAV was mass-produced in two variants with a replaceable nose part: a photo reconnaissance version with recording information on board, and a television reconnaissance version with the transmission of information via radio to ground command posts. In addition, the reconnaissance aircraft could be equipped with radiation reconnaissance equipment with the transmission of materials about the radiation situation along the flight route to the ground via a radio channel. The Tu-143 UAV is presented at an exhibition of aviation equipment at the Central Aerodrome in Moscow and at the Museum in Monino (you can also see the Tu-141 UAV there).

As part of the aerospace show in Zhukovsky MAKS-2007 near Moscow, in the closed part of the exhibition, the MiG aircraft manufacturing corporation showed its attack unmanned system "Scat" - an aircraft designed according to the "flying wing" design and outwardly very reminiscent of the American bomber B-2 Spirit or its a smaller version is the X-47B maritime unmanned aerial vehicle.

"Scat" is designed to strike both pre-reconnaissance stationary targets, primarily air defense systems, in conditions of strong opposition from enemy anti-aircraft weapons, and mobile ground and sea targets when conducting autonomous and group actions, joint with manned aircraft.

Its maximum take-off weight should be 10 tons. Flight range - 4 thousand kilometers. Flight speed near the ground is at least 800 km/h. It will be able to carry two air-to-surface/air-to-radar missiles or two adjustable aerial bombs with a total mass of no more than 1 ton.

The aircraft is designed according to the flying wing design. In addition, well-known techniques for reducing radar signature were clearly visible in the design. Thus, the wingtips are parallel to its leading edge and the contours of the rear part of the device are made in exactly the same way. Above the middle part of the wing, the Skat had a fuselage of a characteristic shape, smoothly connected to the load-bearing surfaces. Vertical tail was not provided. As can be seen from the photographs of the Skat model, control was to be carried out using four elevons located on the consoles and on the center section. At the same time, certain questions were immediately raised by the yaw controllability: due to the lack of a rudder and a single-engine design, the UAV needed to somehow solve this problem. There is a version about a single deflection of the internal elevons for yaw control.

The model presented at the MAKS-2007 exhibition had the following dimensions: a wingspan of 11.5 meters, a length of 10.25 and a parking height of 2.7 m. Regarding the mass of the Skat, all that is known is that its maximum take-off weight should have been approximately equal to ten tons. With such parameters, the Skat had good calculated flight data. At a maximum speed of up to 800 km/h, it could rise to a height of up to 12 thousand meters and cover up to 4000 kilometers in flight. Such flight performance was planned to be achieved using a two-circuit turbojet engine RD-5000B with a thrust of 5040 kgf. This turbojet engine was created on the basis of the RD-93 engine, but was initially equipped with a special flat nozzle, which reduces the visibility of the aircraft in the infrared range. The engine air intake was located in the forward part of the fuselage and was an unregulated intake device.

Inside the characteristically shaped fuselage, the Skat had two cargo compartments measuring 4.4 x 0.75 x 0.65 meters. With such dimensions, it was possible to hang guided missiles of various types, as well as adjustable bombs, in the cargo compartments. The total mass of the Stingray's combat load should have been approximately two tons. During the presentation at the MAKS-2007 salon, next to the Skat there were Kh-31 missiles and KAB-500 adjustable bombs. The composition of the on-board equipment implied by the project was not disclosed. Based on information about other projects of this class, we can draw conclusions about the presence of a complex of navigation and sighting equipment, as well as some capabilities for autonomous actions.

The Dozor-600 UAV (developed by Transas designers), also known as Dozor-3, is much lighter than the Skat or Proryv. Its maximum take-off weight does not exceed 710-720 kilograms. Moreover, due to the classic aerodynamic layout with a full fuselage and a straight wing, it has approximately the same dimensions as the Stingray: a wingspan of twelve meters and a total length of seven. In the bow of the Dozor-600 there is space for target equipment, and in the middle there is a stabilized platform for observation equipment. A propeller group is located in the tail section of the drone. It is based on a Rotax 914 piston engine, similar to those installed on the Israeli IAI Heron UAV and the American MQ-1B Predator.

The 115 horsepower engine allows the Dozor-600 drone to accelerate to a speed of about 210-215 km/h or make long flights at a cruising speed of 120-150 km/h. When using additional fuel tanks, this UAV is capable of staying in the air for up to 24 hours. Thus, the practical flight range is approaching 3,700 kilometers.

Based on the characteristics of the Dozor-600 UAV, we can draw conclusions about its purpose. Its relatively low take-off weight does not allow it to transport any serious weapons, which limits the range of tasks it can perform exclusively to reconnaissance. However, a number of sources mention the possibility of installing various weapons on the Dozor-600, the total mass of which does not exceed 120-150 kilograms. Because of this, the range of weapons permissible for use is limited only to certain types of guided missiles, in particular anti-tank missiles. It is noteworthy that when using anti-tank guided missiles, the Dozor-600 becomes largely similar to the American MQ-1B Predator, both in technical characteristics and in the composition of its weapons.

Heavy attack unmanned aerial vehicle project. The development of the research topic “Hunter” to study the possibility of creating an attack UAV weighing up to 20 tons in the interests of the Russian Air Force was or is being carried out by the Sukhoi company (JSC Sukhoi Design Bureau). For the first time, the plans of the Ministry of Defense to adopt an attack UAV were announced at the MAKS-2009 air show in August 2009. According to a statement by Mikhail Pogosyan in August 2009, the design of a new attack unmanned system was to be the first joint work of the respective departments of the Sukhoi and MiG Design Bureaus (project " Skat"). The media reported the conclusion of a contract for the implementation of the Okhotnik research work with the Sukhoi company on July 12, 2011. In August 2011, the merger of the relevant divisions of RSK MiG and Sukhoi to develop a promising strike UAV was confirmed in the media, but the official agreement between MiG " and "Sukhoi" were signed only on October 25, 2012.

The terms of reference for the strike UAV were approved by the Russian Ministry of Defense on the first of April 2012. On July 6, 2012, information appeared in the media that the Sukhoi company had been selected by the Russian Air Force as the lead developer. An unnamed industry source also reports that the strike UAV developed by Sukhoi will simultaneously be a sixth-generation fighter. As of mid-2012, it is expected that the first sample of the strike UAV will begin testing no earlier than 2016. It is expected to enter service by 2020. In 2012, JSC VNIIRA carried out a selection of patent materials on the topic of R&D “Hunter”, and in In the future, it was planned to create navigation systems for landing and taxiing heavy UAVs on the instructions of Sukhoi Company OJSC (source).

Media reports that the first sample of a heavy attack UAV named after the Sukhoi Design Bureau will be ready in 2018.

Combat use (otherwise they will say exhibition copies are Soviet junk)

“For the first time in the world, the Russian Armed Forces carried out an attack on a fortified area of ​​militants with combat drones. In the province of Latakia, army units of the Syrian army, with the support of Russian paratroopers and Russian combat drones, took the strategic height of 754.5, the Siriatel tower.

More recently, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General Gerasimov, said that Russia is striving to completely robotize the battle, and perhaps soon we will witness how robotic groups independently conduct military operations, and this is what happened.

In Russia, in 2013, the Airborne Forces adopted the latest automated control system “Andromeda-D”, with the help of which it is possible to carry out operational control of a mixed group of troops.
The use of the latest high-tech equipment allows the command to ensure continuous control of troops performing combat training missions at unfamiliar training grounds, and the Airborne Forces command to monitor their actions, being at a distance of more than 5 thousand kilometers from their deployment sites, receiving from the training area not only a graphic picture of the moving units, but also video images of their actions in real time.

Depending on the tasks, the complex can be mounted on the chassis of a two-axle KamAZ, BTR-D, BMD-2 or BMD-4. In addition, taking into account the specifics of the Airborne Forces, Andromeda-D is adapted for loading into an aircraft, flight and landing.
This system, as well as combat drones, were deployed to Syria and tested in combat conditions.
Six Platform-M robotic systems and four Argo systems took part in the attack on the heights; the drone attack was supported by Akatsiya self-propelled artillery units (SPGs) recently deployed to Syria, which can destroy enemy positions with overhead fire.

From the air, behind the battlefield, drones conducted reconnaissance, transmitting information to the deployed Andromeda-D field center, as well as to Moscow to the National Defense Control Center of the command post of the Russian General Staff.

Combat robots, self-propelled guns, and drones were linked to the Andromeda-D automated control system. The commander of the attack to the heights, in real time, led the battle, the operators of combat drones, being in Moscow, led the attack, everyone saw both their own area of ​​​​the battle and the whole picture as a whole.

The drones were the first to attack, approaching 100-120 meters to the militants’ fortifications, they called fire on themselves, and immediately attacked the detected firing points with self-propelled guns.

Behind the drones, at a distance of 150-200 meters, Syrian infantry advanced, clearing the heights.

The militants did not have the slightest chance, all their movements were controlled by drones, artillery strikes were carried out on the discovered militants, literally 20 minutes after the start of the attack by combat drones, the militants fled in horror, abandoning the dead and wounded. On the slopes of height 754.5, almost 70 militants were killed, there were no dead Syrian soldiers, only 4 wounded.”

Nowadays, many developing countries allocate a lot of money from their budgets to improve and develop new types of UAVs - unmanned aerial vehicles. In the theater of military operations, it was not uncommon for the command to give preference to a digital machine over a pilot when solving a combat or training mission. And there were a number of good reasons for this. Firstly, it is continuity of work. Drones are capable of performing a task for up to 24 hours without interruption for rest and sleep - integral elements of human needs. Secondly, it's endurance.

The drone operates almost uninterruptedly in conditions of high overloads, and where the human body is simply not able to withstand overloads of 9G, the drone can continue to operate. Well, thirdly, this is the absence of the human factor and the execution of the task according to the program embedded in the computer complex. The only person who can make a mistake is the operator who enters information to complete the mission - robots do not make mistakes.

History of UAV development

For a long time now, man has had the idea of ​​​​creating a machine that could be controlled from a distance without harm to oneself. 30 years after the Wright brothers' first flight, this idea became a reality, and in 1933 a special remote-controlled aircraft was built in the UK.

The first drone to take part in the battles was. It was a radio-controlled rocket with a jet engine. It was equipped with an autopilot, into which German operators entered information about the upcoming flight. During the Second World War, this missile successfully completed about 20 thousand combat missions, carrying out air strikes on important strategic and civilian targets in Great Britain.

After the end of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union, in the course of growing mutual claims against each other, which became a springboard for the start of the Cold War, began to allocate huge amounts of money from the budget for the development of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Thus, during combat operations in Vietnam, both sides actively used UAVs to solve various combat missions. Radio-controlled vehicles took aerial photographs, conducted radar reconnaissance, and were used as repeaters.

In 1978, there was a real breakthrough in the history of drone development. The IAI Scout was introduced by Israeli military representatives and became the first combat UAV in history.

And in 1982, during the war in Libya, this drone almost completely destroyed the Syrian air defense system. During those hostilities, the Syrian army lost 19 anti-aircraft batteries and 85 aircraft were destroyed.

After these events, Americans began to pay maximum attention to the development of drones, and in the 90s they became world leaders in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Drones were actively used in 1991 during Desert Storm, as well as during military operations in Yugoslavia in 1999. Currently, the US Army has about 8.5 thousand radio-controlled drones in service, and these are mainly small-sized UAVs for performing reconnaissance missions in the interests of ground forces.

Design features

Since the invention of the target drone by the British, science has made huge strides in the development of remote-controlled flying robots. Modern drones have a greater range and flight speed.

This happens mainly due to the rigid fixation of the wing, the power of the engine built into the robot and the fuel used, of course. There are also battery-powered drones, but they are not able to compete in flight range with fuel-powered ones, at least not yet.

Gliders and tiltrotors are widely used in reconnaissance operations. The former are quite simple to manufacture and do not require large financial investments, and some designs do not include an engine.

A distinctive feature of the latter is that its take-off is based on helicopter thrust, while when maneuvering in the air, these drones use airplane wings.

Tailsiggers are robots that the developers have endowed with the ability to change flight profiles while in the air. This happens due to the rotation of either the entire or part of the structure in a vertical plane. There are also wired drones and the drone is piloted by transmitting control commands to its board via a connected cable.

There are drones that differ from the rest in their set of non-standard functions or functions performed in an unusual style. These are exotic UAVs, and some of them can easily land on water or stick to a vertical surface like a stuck fish.

UAVs, which are based on a helicopter design, also differ from each other in their functions and tasks. There are devices with both one propeller and several - such drones are called quadrocopters, and they are used mainly for “civilian” purposes.

They have 2, 4, 6 or 8 screws, paired and symmetrically located from the longitudinal axis of the robot, and the more there are, the better the UAV is stable in the air, and it is much better controllable.

What types of drones are there?

In uncontrolled UAVs, a person takes part only when launching and entering flight parameters before the drone takes off. As a rule, these are budget drones that do not require special operator training or special landing sites for their operation.

Remotely controlled drones are designed to adjust their flight path, while automatic robots perform the task completely autonomously. The success of the mission here depends on the accuracy and correctness of the operator entering pre-flight parameters into a stationary computer complex located on the ground.

The weight of micro drones is no more than 10 kg, and they can stay in the air for no more than an hour, drones of the mini group weigh up to 50 kg, and are capable of performing a task for 3...5 hours without a break; for medium-sized ones, the weight of some samples reaches 1 ton and their time work is 15 hours. As for heavy UAVs, which weigh more than a ton, these drones can fly continuously for more than 24 hours, and some of them are capable of intercontinental flights.

Foreign drones

One of the directions in the development of UAVs is to reduce their dimensions without significant damage to technical characteristics. The Norwegian company Prox Dynamics has developed a helicopter-type micro drone PD-100 Black Hornet.

This drone can operate for about a quarter of an hour at a distance of up to 1 km. This robot is used as a soldier's personal reconnaissance device and is equipped with three video cameras. Used by some US regular units in Afghanistan since 2012.

The most common U.S. Army drone is the RQ-11 Raven. It is launched from the soldier’s hand and does not require a special platform for landing; it can fly both automatically and under operator control.

US soldiers use this lightweight drone to solve short-range reconnaissance missions at the company level.

Heavier UAVs of the American army are represented by the RQ-7 Shadow and RQ-5 Hunter. Both samples are intended for reconnaissance of terrain at the brigade level.

The continuous operating time in the air of these drones differs significantly from lighter models. There are numerous modifications of them, some of which include the function of hanging small guided bombs weighing up to 5.4 kg on them.

MKyu-1 Predator is the most famous American drone. Initially, its main task, like many other models, was terrain reconnaissance. But soon, in 2000, manufacturers made a number of modifications to its design, allowing it to carry out combat missions related to the direct destruction of targets.

In addition to suspended missiles (Hellfire-S, created specifically for this drone in 2001), three video cameras, an infrared system and its own on-board radar are installed on board the robot. Now there are several modifications of the MKyu-1 Predator to perform tasks of a wide variety of nature.

In 2007, another attack UAV appeared - the American MKyu-9 Reaper. Compared to the MKyu-1 Predator, its flight duration was much higher, and in addition to missiles, it could carry guided bombs on board and had more modern radio electronics.

Type of UAV	MKyu-1 Predator	MKew-9 Reaper
Length, m	8.5	11
Speed, km/h	up to 215	up to 400
Weight, kg	1030	4800
Wingspan, m	15	20
Flight range, km	750	5900
Power plant, engine	piston	turboprop
Operating time, h	up to 40	16-28
up to 4 Hellfire-S missiles	bombs up to 1700 kg
Service ceiling, km	7.9	15

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is rightfully considered the largest UAV in the world. In 1998, it took off for the first time and to this day carries out reconnaissance missions.

This drone is the first robot in history that can use US airspace and air corridors without permission from air traffic control.

Domestic UAVs

Russian drones are conventionally divided into the following categories

The Eleon-ZSV UAV is a short-range device, it is quite simple to operate and can be easily carried in a backpack. The drone is launched manually from a harness or compressed air from a pump.

Capable of conducting reconnaissance and transmitting information via a digital video channel at a distance of up to 25 km. Eleon-10V is similar in design and operating rules to the previous device. Their main difference is the increase in flight range to 50 km.

The landing process of these UAVs is carried out using special parachutes, ejected when the drone exhausts its battery charge.

Reis-D (Tu-243) is a reconnaissance and strike drone capable of carrying aircraft weapons weighing up to 1 ton. The device, produced by the Tupolev Design Bureau, made its first flight in 1987.

Since then, the drone has undergone numerous improvements; an improved flight and navigation system, new radar reconnaissance devices, and a competitive optical system have been installed.

Irkut-200 is more of an attack drone. And it primarily values ​​the high autonomy of the device and its low weight, thanks to which flights lasting up to 12 hours can be carried out. The UAV lands on a specially equipped platform about 250 m long.

Type of UAV	Reis-D (Tu-243)	Irkut-200
Length, m	8.3	4.5
Weight, kg	1400	200
Power point	turbojet engine	ICE with a capacity of 60 hp. With.
Speed, km/h	940	210
Flight range, km	360	200
Operating time, h	8	12
Service ceiling, km	5	5

Skat is a new generation heavy long-range UAV being developed by the MiG Design Bureau. This drone will be invisible to enemy radars, thanks to the body assembly design that eliminates the tail.

The task of this drone is to carry out precise missile and bomb attacks on ground targets, such as anti-aircraft batteries of air defense forces or stationary command posts. According to the developers of the UAV, Skat will be able to perform tasks both autonomously and as part of an aircraft flight.

Length, m	10,25
Speed, km/h	900
Weight, t	10
Wingspan, m	11,5
Flight range, km	4000
Power point	Double-circuit turbojet engine
Operating time, h	36
Adjustable bombs 250 and 500 kg.
Service ceiling, km	12

Disadvantages of unmanned aerial vehicles

One of the disadvantages of UAVs is the difficulty in piloting them. Thus, an ordinary private who has not completed a special training course and does not know certain subtleties when using the operator’s computer complex cannot approach the control panel.

Another significant drawback is the difficulty of searching for drones after they land using parachutes. Because some models, when the battery charge is close to critical, may provide incorrect data about their location.

To this we can also add the sensitivity of some models to wind, due to the lightness of the design.

Some drones can rise to great heights, and in some cases, reaching the height of a particular drone requires permission from air traffic control, which can significantly complicate the completion of the mission by a certain deadline, because priority in the airspace is given to vessels under the control of a pilot, and not operator.

Use of UAVs for civilian purposes

Drones have found their calling not only on the battlefield or during military operations. Now drones are actively used for completely peaceful purposes by citizens in urban environments, and even in some branches of agriculture they have found use.

Thus, some courier services use helicopter-powered robots to deliver a wide variety of goods to their customers. Many photographers use drones to take aerial photographs when organizing special events.

Some detective agencies also adopted them.

Conclusion

Unmanned aerial vehicles are a significantly new word in the age of rapidly developing technologies. Robots keep up with the times, covering not only one direction, but developing in several at once.

But still, despite the models still being far from ideal, by human standards, in terms of errors or flight ranges, UAVs have one huge and undeniable advantage. Drones have saved hundreds of human lives during their use, and this is worth a lot.

Video

Russian airspace protection / Photo: cdn5.img.ria.ru

Russian scientists are developing hypersonic aircraft to overcome missile defenses, said the head of the project team, Boris Satovsky.

According to him, now the whole world is going through a turning point, when, taking into account the achieved level of technological development, the methods of using strategic weapons are being rethought. In the process of technological development, new types and types of weapons emerge, for example, based on maneuvering hypersonic elements.

According to media reports, this year the Russian military has twice tested a hypersonic aircraft designed to replace traditional warheads for promising intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The maneuver that a hypersonic warhead makes after entering the dense layers of the atmosphere makes it difficult for missile defense systems to intercept it. Hypersonic is a flight speed that significantly (five times or more) exceeds the speed of sound in the atmosphere, that is, 330 meters per second, reports RIA Novosti.

Technical information

Russia will be able to limit the effectiveness of the US missile defense system with the help of the Yu-71 hypersonic aircraft, which is currently being tested, writes the American edition of the Washington Times. The new weapon will be able to carry a nuclear charge at 10 times the speed of sound.

Estimated view of Yu-71 / Image: nampuom-pycu.livejournal.com

In an atmosphere of strict secrecy, Russia is testing a new hypersonic maneuvering aircraft, the Yu-71, which will be capable of carrying nuclear warheads at a speed of 10 times the speed of sound, reports the American edition of the Washington Times. The Kremlin is developing similar devices to overcome US missile defenses, InoTV notes, citing the newspaper. (Yu-71) has been in development for several years. The last tests of the aircraft took place in February 2015. The launch took place from the Dombarovsky test site near Orenburg. Previously, it was purely speculatively reported by other Western sources, but now this launch has been confirmed by new analysts. The publication refers to a report released in June by the famous Western military analytical center Jane’s.

Previously, this designation - Yu-71 - did not appear in open sources.

Yu-71 - hypersonic aircraft / Photo: azfilm.ru

According to The WashingtonFree Beacon, the aircraft is part of a secret Russian project to create a certain object 4202. Analysts claim that the February launch was carried out using an UR-100N UTTH rocket, in which object 4202 served as the warhead, and ended unsuccessfully.

Perhaps this index refers to the modifications being developed of hypersonic maneuvering nuclear warheads, which have been equipped with Russian ICBMs for several years now. These units, after separation from the launch vehicle, are capable of changing the flight trajectory in altitude and heading and, as a result, successfully bypass both existing and future missile defense systems.

This would give Russia the ability to launch precision strikes against selected targets, and when combined with the capabilities of its missile defense system, Moscow would be able to successfully hit a target with just one missile.

24 hypersonic aircraft with nuclear warheads will be deployed at the Dombarovsky training ground from 2020 to 2025, the military analytical center Jane’s Information Group is confident. By that time, Moscow will already have a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying the Yu-71, the publication writes.

The speed of hypersonic aircraft reaches 11,200 km/h, and unpredictable maneuverability makes the task of finding their bearing almost impossible, the Washington Times emphasizes.