India's Current & Future UAVs & UCAVs

[Abhi9]

suchan UAV NAL ................................................

 

[Abhi9]

VTOl tricopter-NAL -.................................................................

 

[charlie]

a peak into what future will look like

 

[kunal1123]

Exclusive Updates on Panchi, Rustam-1, Tapas-201, Rotor UAV and Solar UAV - Indian Defence Research Wing
SOURCE: IDRW NEWS NETWORK

Idrw.org has put together official information it had gathered at Aero India 2017 on all major UAV projects initiated in India by various Public sector companies.

Panchi: Wheeled version of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Nishant till now has completed 5 test flights and due to the removal of parachutes, skids and other control crash landing safety features, UAV now has an endurance of Six hours which is 1.5 hours more than Nishant.

Panchi also now comes with an improved Service ceiling of 14,000 ft which is 2000 ft more than Nishant, while it has same all up weight of 350kgs and 200 km range.

Rustom-I: Recently has been demonstrated for a full range of 200km and now also has been flown for the endurance of 12 hours with a 75kg payload and all up weight of 750kgs.

Rustom-1 also has been flown with variable pitch propeller and weaponised variant has been planned for which Rustom-1 with two HELINA Anti-tank guided missiles has carried out taxi sorties but a new Mark-5 variant is been prepared of Rustom-1 to be used as a dedicated weaponised Rustom-1 UAV platform to continue testing different weapons package.

Rustom-1 flights have been demonstrated for Indian Navy and Indian coast Guard.

Tapas-201: After its first flight last November, Tapas-1 is currently going through improvisation and weight reduction measures. DRDO has identified 8 target areas which will go through weight reduction and target weight reduction is 320 kgs.

Rotor UAV: Comprehensive project proposal has been done and Indian Navy will soon be handing over a Helicopter to continue work on its development.

Solar UAV: Project will be completed in Two Phases, Ground demonstrations of UAV have been carried out and the first prototype has been developed which can generate 25 to 30 watt of power has been harvested during peak solar radiation and all onboard avionics have been powered up by onboard power generated.

NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form

 

[sthf]

Even though Nishant had been an unmitigated disaster I hope that the experience gained will be put to good use in Panchi. The so called UAV road map India was supposed to follow is in tatters. A Panchi sized UAV is desperately needed for brigade level ops in conventional war & for battalion level in asymmetric warfare.

 

[chevy111]

That is such a good idea I think it must already be a project. The Bell X-1 was launched from the bomb bay of a B-29.

 

[Chinmoy]

India all set to get missile armed drones from Israel

NEW DELHI: India's first missile armed drones that will give it the capability to carry out stand off cross-border strikes are ready in Israel, ahead of the first ever visit to the nation by an Indian prime minister.

The Heron TP-armed drones, capable of detecting, tracking and taking down targets with air to ground missiles, have been on the armed forces wish list for years, before the programme was fast tracked in September 2015, as reported by ET.


Prime Minister Narender Modi is heading for a historic visit to Israel in July and is expected to discuss and take forward the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.

One of India's top weapons suppliers, Israel has been most enthusiastic on the 'Make in India' initiative and is keen to shift its production lines in partnership with the Indian private sector.

Sources have told ET that 10 Heron TP-armed drones, which were under the procurement process since 2015, are now ready for delivery. The drones could be brought into service by India at the earliest but the final milestone payment is still pending.

Israel had displayed the Heron TP drone at the AeroIndia show in Bengaluru in February. As reported by ET on September 11, 2015, the defence ministry had quietly approved the purchase of 10 missile-armed drones from Israel for $400 million under directions from the highest levels of government.

The armed forces had proposed buying the same armed drones in 2012. But that proposal did not get political backing in UPA-2.

Similar to the Predator unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Heron TPs are capable of reconnaissance, combat and support roles, carrying a payload of air -to-ground missiles to take down targets deep in enemy territory.

The Indian Air Force also has a fleet of Harpy UAVs from Israel but these are not equipped with missiles—they are self-destructing systems primarily tasked with taking out enemy radar positions. India also operates a fleet of unarmed Heron and Searcher UAVs for
surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Armed drones will give India the option of taking out large terrorist camps or individual targets in hostile territory with minimal risk. India is also pursuing an indigenous drone programme—Rustom 2—that is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...d-drones-from-israel/articleshow/57980098.cms

 

[bhaskar teja yerneni]

 

[bhaskar teja yerneni]

ADA Annual Report 2015-2016

GHATAK PROJECT FOR UNMANNED COMBAT AERIAL VEHICLE
Present Status:

Draft PSQR compliance document sent to Air Hq. PSQR is finalized by Air Hq on 10 June, 2016.

A lead-in project for “Design of GHATAK and Development of Critical Advanced Technologies for GHATAK and AMCA” is sanctioned for Rs.231.00 crores on 13th May 2016.

Major technologies to be developed under this lead-in project are broadly classified under five technology areas viz.,

• Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
• Autonomous flight control technologies
• Aerodynamics and Propulsion technologies
• Stealth computations, measurements, structures & materials
• Technologies for GHATAK systems

Focused advanced design tools for MultiDisciplinary Optimization (MDO) using a HPC computing infrastructure will be developed for flying wing configuration improvement studies. Levels of flight autonomy will be increased through testing of ATOL and FADS on LCA and scaled autonomous flight demonstration of GHATAK. Through 1/6 scaled flight model of GHATAK, technologies like control law for flying wing, fluidic thrust vectoring and stealth materials will be tested and evaluated in a cost effective way. TRLs of critical advanced technologies like conformal antenna, SAR, EO/IR, FADS shall be improved and adapted for GHATAK. Full scale GHATAK RCS model will be tested at ORANGE facility to evaluate RCS hot spots and to enable RCS reduction. Weapon release studies and deployment mechanism would be studied using high fidelity unsteady CFD modeling of URANS. Effective ejector based cooling mechanism for embedded high aspect ratio nozzle will be combined with ECS cooling requirements along with compact heat exchangers.

Financial Aspect:
a. Commitments for 2016-17: Rs.43.00 Cr.
b. Cash Out Flow for 2016-17: Rs.30.00 Cr.
c. Planned Commitments for 2017-18: Rs.82.00 Cr.

Several Advanced Technology proposals for GHATAK and AMCA from DRDO Labs is received and reviewed. First Review meeting for 16 Advanced Technology proposals received from DRDO is completed on 12 and 13 of July, 2016. Based on this review, suggestion for modifications of these proposals has been made.

Preliminary cost has been estimated by an ADA internal cost committee and a preliminary draft CCS proposal report is prepared based on this cost estimates for possible submission later.

Status of Power plant & “In-principle” of GHATAK Project:
GTRE had submitted a draft CCS proposal for a Dry engine for the GHATAK along with “In-principle” approval of GHATAK Program to ADA. After clearance from MoD and MoF, draft was submitted by GTRE to the PMO. A High Level Committee was set up under the Chairmanship of Dr.R Chidambaram (PSA to GoI), with Dr. V K Saraswat (Member, Niti Aayog) and Dr. K Radhakrishnan (Former Chairman ISRO) as members. The committee has submitted its report to the PMO.

Confidence in development of GHATAK aircraft by ADA:
The committee endorsed the confidence in the GHATAK aircraft development by ADA based on the design capability assimilated in ADA in developing the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) being utilized for configuration finalization for “GHATAK” aircraft.

Recommendations of the committee:
The UCAV aircraft and engine technology is highly classified and is unlikely that any country would share this technology with India. Hence it is inescapable requirement to develop an Indian UCAV and its engine considering the future combat warfare scenario. The development of an unmanned combat aircraft is a “national imperative” toward self reliance in aerospace technologies. The committee strongly recommended the sanction of the project at the earliest to be at par with other developed countries.

Work share allocations for the program:
The committee also submitted the work share allocation of for executing the GHATAK aircraft program with program office and prime responsibility with ADA, and indicated responsibility to DRDO, HAL & other labs.

Way Forward:
At the moment no GHATAK aircraft program has been sanctioned to ADA and only funds for developing advanced Technologies have been sanctioned. Using these funds some of the critical technologies will be developed within the country through sponsored projects.

 

[kunal1123]

idrw.org
Official Update of India's Ghatak UCAV Project - Indian Defence Research Wing
SOURCE: IDRW NEWS NETWORK

As per official information sourced from Annual report of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) compiled together by idrw.org on India’s Ghatak UCAV project, Preliminary Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) by Indian Air Force Head Quarters was finalised on 10th June 2016.

The government of India has sanctioned Rs.231.00 crores on 13th May 2016 to carry out “Design of GHATAK and Development of Critical Advanced Technologies for GHATAK and AMCA”. Major technologies to be developed under this lead-in project are broadly classified under five technology areas are defined below.

a) Model-Based Systems Engineering
(MBSE)
(b) Autonomous flight control
technologies
(c) Aerodynamics and Propulsion
technologies
(d) Stealth computations,
measurements, structures &
materials
(e) Technologies for GHATAK systems

Scale Models and RCS Reductions Trials

ADA plans to develop 1/6th scaled flight model of GHATAK, to test technologies like control law for flying wing, fluidic thrust vectoring and stealth materials.TRLs of critical advanced technologies like a conformal antenna, SAR, EO/IR, FADS to be tested and to be improved and adapted for GHATAK.

Full-scale GHATAK RCS model will also be developed to evaluate RCS hot spots and also to enable RCS reduction at ORANGE facility in Dundigal near Hyderabad.

The orange facility is an open (outdoor) configuration with a range that’s capable of addressing the requirements of a full-scale vehicle. The Pylon system is capable of lifting payloads up to 35 tonnes by a height of 10 meters above ground, necessary for aerial targets.

Power Plant

GTRE had submitted a draft CCS proposal for the development of a Dry engine for the GHATAK along with “In-principle” approval of GHATAK Program to ADA. After getting clearance from MoD and MoF, the draft was submitted by GTRE to the PMO.

Official Clearance Pending

At the moment no GHATAK aircraft program has been sanctioned to ADA and only funds for developing advanced Technologies have been sanctioned. Using these funds some of the critical technologies will be developed within the country through sponsored projects.

NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form .

 

[tsunami]

This is 1:7 scale model. Can someone figure out the actual size of the UAV based on pixel size .

 

[lcafanboy]

IDN TAKE: UPDATE On ADA GHATAK UCAV Program

1:11 Scale GHATAK WT Model At HAL

Program Sanction

A Draft PSQR compliance document sent to Air Hq. PSQR is finalized by Air Hq on 10th June, 2016. A lead-in project for “Design of GHATAK and Development of Critical Advanced Technologies for GHATAK and AMCA” is sanctioned for Rs.231.00 crores on 13th May 2016.

Major technologies to be developed under this lead-in project are broadly classified under five technological categories:

(a) Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
(b) Autonomous flight control technologies
(c) Aerodynamics and Propulsion technologies
(d) Stealth computations, measurements, structures & materials
(e) Technologies for GHATAK systems

Focused advanced design tools for Multi-Disciplinary Optimization (MDO) using a HPC computing infrastructure will be developed for flying wing configuration improvement studies. Levels of flight autonomy will be increased through testing of ATOL and FADS on LCA and scaled autonomous flight demonstration of GHATAK. Through 1/6th scaled flight model of GHATAK, technologies like control law for flying wing, fluidic thrust vectoring and stealth materials will be tested and evaluated in a cost effective way.

TRLs of critical advanced technologies like conformal antenna, SAR, EO/IR, FADS shall be improved and adapted for GHATAK. Full scale GHATAK RCS model will be tested at ORANGE facility to evaluate RCS hot spots and to enable RCS reduction. Weapon release studies and deployment mechanism would be studied using high fidelity unsteady CFD modeling of URANS. Effective ejector based cooling mechanism for embedded high aspect ratio nozzle will be combined with ECS cooling requirements along with compact heat exchangers.

Several Advanced Technology proposals for GHATAK and AMCA from DRDO Labs is received and reviewed. First Review meeting for 16 Advanced Technology proposals received from DRDO is completed on 12th and 13th of July, 2016. Based on this review, suggestion for modifications of these proposals has been made. Preliminary cost has been estimated by an ADA internal cost committee and a preliminary draft CCS proposal report is prepared based on this cost estimates for possible submission later.

Work on latest GHATAK configuration 2.3

Status of Power Plant

GTRE had submitted a draft CCS proposal for a Dry engine for the GHATAK along with “In-principle” approval of GHATAK Program to ADA. After clearance from MoD and MoF, draft was submitted by GTRE to the PMO. A High Level Committee was set up under Chairmanship of Dr. R Chidambaram (PSA to GoI), with Dr. V K Saraswat (Member, Niti Aayog) and Dr. K Radhakrishnan (Former Chairman ISRO) as members. The committee has submitted its report to the PMO.

Confidence In Development of GHATAK UCAV by ADA

The committee endorsed the confidence in the GHATAK aircraft development by ADA based on the design capability assimilated in ADA in developing the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) being

utilized for configuration finalization for “GHATAK” aircraft. 12.4 Recommendations of the committee. The UCAV aircraft and engine technology is highly classified and is unlikely that any country would share this technology with India. Hence it is inescapable requirement to develop an Indian UCAV and its engine considering the future combat warfare scenario. The development of an unmanned combat aircraft is a “national imperative” toward self reliance in aerospace technologies.

The committee strongly recommended the sanction of the project at the earliest to be at par with other developed countries.

Work Share Allocations For The Program

The committee also submitted the work share allocation of for executing the GHATAK aircraft program with program office and prime responsibility with ADA, and indicated responsibility with ADA, and indicated responsibility to DRDO, HAL & other labs.

Way Forward

At the moment no GHATAK aircraft program has been sanctioned to ADA and only funds for developing advanced Technologies have been sanctioned. Using these funds some of the critical technologies will be developed within the country through sponsored projects.

Sourced from ADA Annual Report 2017

Source>>

IIT Kanpur involved from start, good decision.

 

[vinuzap]

EXCLUSIVE: India’s Ghatak Stealth UCAV Moves Forward, Likely With Dassault
Shiv AroorFeb 17 2017 2 58 pm

Last Updated: 7 March 2017 @ 1409HRS – Scroll down for updates

In a major step forward for what is by far India’s most ambitious aviation exercise, the first budgetary funds have begun to flow into Project Ghatak. The classified effort to build a stealthy unmanned combat air vehicle formally received sanction as a ‘Lead-in Project’ last May, with the first funds released earlier this year. A project that has direct oversight from the Prime Minister’s Office and the National Security Advisor, Ghatak (which began as the DRDO’s Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft – AURA) has remained steadily out of view. Unheard of in public until it was scooped right here on Livefist seven years ago, precious little is known about the project beyond the very basics. Livefist spoke to a range of persons either associated with the programme or aware of developments, allowing us to put together what is the first comprehensive update in years:

What we know so far for certain is that the Ghatak will be powered by a modified dry thrust version of the Kaveri engine (read on for more details of this modification), will sport a flying wing planform with internal weapons (as revealed in the first official images here on Livefist in 2012) and will sport stealth characteristics developed wholly in-house. Let’s now get into what hasn’t ever been reported before about the Ghatak/AURA programme.

While the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is overseeing the programme along with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), the real R&D is being frontfooted by two academic institutions: IIT Bombay and IIT Kanpur. Since 2013, low speed experiemental studies have been carried out on the Ghatak’s serpentine intake by a team at IIT Bombay. This team has been made a kind of mini ‘Skunk Works’ towards proving computational fluid dynamics on the Ghatak, with no limits on resources and access to facilities.

Two, two specialised research teams at IIT Kanpur were roped in in 2015 for wind tunnel testing of a low RCS intake (work began in mid-2016). The second was even more significant — in November 2015, a team from IIT Kanpur was brought on board to conduct and study the autonomous flight of a low RCS aircraft configuration with a ducted fan for multiple flight modes. Scientists shared the following image with Livefist, never seen before, that provides the first official schematic of the power/thrust configuration on the Ghatak.

Over the last three-four years, the Aeronautical Development Agency has been made aware by several foreign airframers, including stealth pioneer Lockheed-Martin, Dassault, Boeing, BAE Systems,and even MiG Corp that they’d be willing to assist the Ghatak programme in a possible variety of ways — either as offsets, or a commercial consultancy arrangement. Livefist can however confirm that the Narendra Modi government has decided that the stealth component of the Ghatak programme will be entirely in-house, and will be limited to academic institutions and private industry in country. Decisions of this kind have changed in the past (notably with the LCA Tejas programme), but the highest levels in government are clear at this time that programme ought to develop its own core technologies without external help.

Things won’t be strictly in-house on the engine though. We do know that the modified Kaveri engine for the Ghatak/AURA is to be the second big part of the project. Reported first by Livefist and confirmed years later by Defence Minister Parrikar, we now know that an initial sum of about $35 million has begun to flow into the the pre-project part of the programme since early 2016. A total of approximately $450 million will be spent from the Indian side in bringing the Kaveri engine to satisfactory operating standards through a tech partnership with France’s Snecma as part of committed offsets from the Indian Rafale contract. Top sources confirm that the technology infusion from France intends to make the Kaveri a standard engine for the LCA Tejas, to assist its modification for the Ghatak and for twin-configuration on the AMCA.

Scientists on the AURA/Ghatak programme confirm to Livefist that concept UCAV is tied in several ways to the fifth generation AMCA development (Livefist had a big update here this week on the AMCA), which itself could see technology infusions from a line-up of interested suitors, including Saab, Boeing and Dassault Aviation. The latter is keen to use its Rafale deal offset commitments to feed technologies into the Ghatak (and AMCA) programmes. The ‘Lead-in project’ sanction that the ADA obtained for the government was in fact a joint sanction for both programmes, given the huge number of common R&D elements, including shaping, materials, construction, intake geometry, data-links and avionics, weapons and of course the Kaveri engine. Top sources at ADA say that full project sanction for the modified Kaveri engine and the Ghatak will come likely late in 2018 once the design phase reaches a satisfactory stage.

An interesting development: the precision guided weapons for the Ghatak will see extensive private sector participation. Companies like Vem Technologies and handful more presented their wares at this year’s Aero India show, including laser-guided weapons. An executive at Vem Technologies said they had been sounded out about building specialised weapons for India’s unmanned programmes, and that there would be future activity to demonstrate capabilities.

UPDATE / 7 MARCH: Livefist can now confirm that a metal full-scale model of the Ghatak is currently under fabrication by a private firm in Bengaluru in coordination with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The exercise was ordered late last year by DRDO chief Dr S. Christopher. The full-scale model will look to serve two preliminary purposes: gauge detection range and ‘dry’ radar cross section, i.e., prior to the application of in-development advanced low-observability/RCS reduction features and/or special coatings. Livefist has also learnt that the DRDO and Dassault Aviation are in detailed discussions on the utilisation of part of the latter’s offset commitments from the Rafale deal to bring advanced technologies and software (some of it from the nEUROn programme) to the Ghatak project and help speed things up till the full-scale engineering & design (FSED) phase. Teams from Dassault and ADA have met twice, with a third engagement likely in May this year. A team from ADA has also been invited to France to get a closer look at Dassault’s work in the UCAV space centred around the nEUROn programme.

 

[Akshay_Fenix]

This is 1:7 scale model. Can someone figure out the actual size of the UAV based on pixel size .

~10 meters. theres a 24 inch metal ruler next to the 1:14 size model.

 

[vinuzap]

till that time pakistan will be balkanized or chinese colony ?

• DRDO Abhyas
• DRDO AURA
• DRDO Fluffy
• DRDO Imperial Eagle
• DRDO Kapothaka
• DRDO Lakshya
• DRDO Netra
• DRDO Nishant
• DRDO Rustom
• DRDO Ulka
• Gagan UAV
• IAI-HAL NRUAV
• NAL Slybird
• NAL / ADE Black Kite
• NAL / ADE Golden Hawk
• NAL / ADE Pushpak
• Dhaksha
• Indian
• Samhams Technologies
• Pawan UAV
• ADE Nishant[citation needed]
• Maraal

what are these you know?

 

[SanjeevM]

India all set to get missile armed drones from Israel

NEW DELHI: India's first missile armed drones that will give it the capability to carry out stand off cross-border strikes are ready in Israel, ahead of the first ever visit to the nation by an Indian prime minister.

The Heron TP-armed drones, capable of detecting, tracking and taking down targets with air to ground missiles, have been on the armed forces wish list for years, before the programme was fast tracked in September 2015, as reported by ET.


Prime Minister Narender Modi is heading for a historic visit to Israel in July and is expected to discuss and take forward the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.

One of India's top weapons suppliers, Israel has been most enthusiastic on the 'Make in India' initiative and is keen to shift its production lines in partnership with the Indian private sector.

Sources have told ET that 10 Heron TP-armed drones, which were under the procurement process since 2015, are now ready for delivery. The drones could be brought into service by India at the earliest but the final milestone payment is still pending.

Israel had displayed the Heron TP drone at the AeroIndia show in Bengaluru in February. As reported by ET on September 11, 2015, the defence ministry had quietly approved the purchase of 10 missile-armed drones from Israel for $400 million under directions from the highest levels of government.

The armed forces had proposed buying the same armed drones in 2012. But that proposal did not get political backing in UPA-2.

Similar to the Predator unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Heron TPs are capable of reconnaissance, combat and support roles, carrying a payload of air -to-ground missiles to take down targets deep in enemy territory.

The Indian Air Force also has a fleet of Harpy UAVs from Israel but these are not equipped with missiles—they are self-destructing systems primarily tasked with taking out enemy radar positions. India also operates a fleet of unarmed Heron and Searcher UAVs for
surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Armed drones will give India the option of taking out large terrorist camps or individual targets in hostile territory with minimal risk. India is also pursuing an indigenous drone programme—Rustom 2—that is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...d-drones-from-israel/articleshow/57980098.cms

Though this is an old news, quoting it. When India is getting these armed drones from Israel, why do we need 22 unarmed drones at exorbitant price of 2-3 billion $$? There seems to be a deep state. It may be arm twisting by the U.S. My way or highway.

If US is genuinely interested in making India strategic defence partner, they should be giving this technology for free. If they charge exorbitant price for technology from Indians, forget Indians will partner the U.S. in any of their wishful thinking in SCS or IOR.

 

[FergisNahk]

Though this is an old news, quoting it. When India is getting these armed drones from Israel, why do we need 22 unarmed drones at exorbitant price of 2-3 billion $$? There seems to be a deep state. It may be arm twisting by the U.S. My way or highway.

Than any deep state theology, India is in need of high technology surveillance to break barriers of Borders' and IOR threats. These are good force multipliers, proven and tested fighting and surveillance for the interim purpose until our products reach maturity.
- IAI Heron & Heron TP (Israel) are primarily for high altitude reconnaissance and ground-attack, a technology US is still thinking through to sell us.
- Predator Guardian (US) is an Anti-submarine, Anti-ship, high-tech marine drone which works in conjunction with our other marine platforms such as P8i Neptune and Navy Ships etc.

If US is genuinely interested in making India strategic defence partner, they should be giving this technology for free. If they charge exorbitant price for technology from Indians, forget Indians will partner the U.S. in any of their wishful thinking in SCS or IOR.

Everything is fair in war? No one shares the know-how they invested, hard-worked, gives them supremacy over the years. Let's see how the current approach is shaping up. It's a hard-trading world out there. Talk about Billions (in Dollars).

 

[kunal1123]

India’s Ghatak Stealth UCAV competitor from Russia

look quite similar to our.?????????????????


idrw.org
Under PAK FA's Auspices: Russia Develops 'Flying-Wing' Strike Drone
3-4 minutes
SOURCE: SPUTNIK

A photo of an advanced Russian strike drone, which will be equipped with stealth technologies of Russia’s fifth-generation T-50 PAK FA fighter, has emerged on the internet.The Russian website paralay.iboards.ru published a photo of a heavy Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is being developed by the country’s Sukhoi company in accordance with the Okhotnik-B project. Sukhoi is a major Russian aircraft manufacturer, headquartered in Moscow.

With characteristics of the new strike drone yet to be disclosed, it was reported that the 20-ton UAV will be equipped with stealth technologies of the new Russian fifth-generation T-50 PAK FA fighter jet and will be capable of flying as a sixth-generation fighter.

Flight tests of the Okhotnik-B are due to begin already in 2018, and in 2020 it is expected to enter service with the Russian Armed Forces.

Judging by the Okhotnik-B photo, the drone is being developed in line with the “flying wing” scheme stipulating a three-column chassis. In the same way, the Skat drone was created by the Russian aircraft corporation MiG in the 1990s, something that prompted experts to suggest that some Skat technologies may be used in the Okhotnik-B.

According to unconfirmed reports, the range of the Russian heavy drone will stand at about 6,000 kilometers. It means that the UAV may be equipped with the turbojet two-circuit engine AL-31F, which is used in the Russian fighters of the Su-27 family.

In an interview with Sputnik, Russian military expert Denis Fedutinov, for his part, suggested that the Okhotnik-B’s silhouette may look like that of reconnaissance and strike drones developed by European and US companies.

“Judging by data on the Okhotnik-B’s takeoff weight, it is safe to assume that its characteristics will be similar to those of the US drone X-47B developed by Northrop Grumman. It can fly at high subsonic speeds, operating within a radius of up to 4,000 kilometers and carrying a diverse target load, including the strike one which weighs up to 2 tons,” Fedutinov said.Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told Sputnik that Russia had swiftly reduced, and is expected to completely eliminate, its lag behind the United States and Israel in the creation of UAVs.

“Concerning the UAVs I should only say that there is no point of speaking about some lagging behind. It has been rapidly reduced and will be completely eliminated soon,” Rogozin said in an interview.

He specified that he was speaking about both combat and reconnaissance drones.

 

[tharun]

We need something like a american switchblade or chinese CH-901.
It can be launched by two man crew can make damage to troops and infantry combat vehicles.
Picture of chinese ch-901

Warmate a polish one.
http://wb.com.pl/warmate-en/?lang=en

 

[tharun]

Here is the link for the chinese attack drone.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a20722/china-mini-drone/