Project of the shock-reconnaissance unmanned aerial complex "Sokol" (Ukraine / Poland)
The active development of unmanned aerial vehicles and complexes based on them continues. There are more and more new projects in this area, and some of them are being developed by states that have not been previously seen among the industry leaders. By applying these or other ideas in new projects it is proposed to solve various tasks, primarily related to conducting reconnaissance and striking. Not so long ago it became known about the new project of the reconnaissance-strike complex called the “Falcon”.
Information about the creation of a new complex "Falcon" just recently published the head of the Ukrainian information and consulting company Defense Express Sergey Zgurets. On his page on the social network Facebook, he posted a material in which there was a fairly detailed description of the promising project, the main characteristics of the technology and a number of images showing the different elements of the new system. It should be noted that the new project involves the use of some existing components, the data about which have already become public. Thanks to this, it is possible to make a fairly detailed picture
Scheme of the armored carrier drum UAV. Figure Facebook.com/szgurets
The purpose of the new project "Falcon" is the creation of a self-propelled reconnaissance and shock complex, equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles of several types and different purposes. It is assumed that the proposed architecture will allow the complex to arrive in a given area and carry out reconnaissance from the air. When a target is detected as a specific object of the enemy, the operator of the complex will be able to attack it using standard means. Techniques with similar capabilities can be used in various combat operations.
As reported, the development of a new project is carried out by several organizations, both Ukrainian and foreign. Most of the work is carried out by companies belonging to the League of Defense Enterprises of Ukraine. Thus, part of the elements of the complex was created by the Chernigov factory of radio equipment, and the armored vehicles of the complex should be built at the Praktika factory. In addition, the Polish company WB Electronics SA, which developed the unmanned vehicles proposed for use, should play a major role in the project.
As a basis for a promising strike and reconnaissance complex, it is proposed to use Kozak-2M armored vehicles manufactured by Praktika. In the cargo compartment of such an armored car, all the main elements of unmanned systems should be placed. At the same time, the Sokol complex, apparently, should contain at least two base machines. One in this case is the carrier of reconnaissance equipment, while on board the other are transported strike Drones and related equipment.
UAV Fly Eye. Photo WB Electronics SA / Wb.com.pl
The scheme was published armored "Kozak-2M", equipped with a shock UAV. In this configuration, the machine must be equipped with a remotely controlled combat module with machine-gun armament. The module control panel is located in the front of the habitable compartment. All other volumes of the machine are given under the elements of the unmanned complex. At the left side it is proposed to place racks for transportation of 20 UAV and 40 combat units for them. To the right of the racks should be a remote control drones. Also inside the armored car should be transported an additional gasoline generator, devices for launching UAVs, etc. Data exchange with the devices in flight is proposed to be carried out using an antenna placed on a telescopic mast. The latter should be installed on the stern sheet of the armored car. Control of the armored vehicle and the UAV is assigned to a crew of four.
Similarly, the second armored car, which is the carrier of the reconnaissance unmanned vehicle, should probably look the same. At the same time, there may be certain differences in the design of the internal and external equipment of the machines.
To monitor the specified areas and search for targets, the Sokol complex should use the Fly Eye light unmanned aerial vehicle developed by the Polish company WB Electronics SA. At the end of April last year, this technique was demonstrated to the military and political leadership of Ukraine. At the same time, representatives of the Chernigov factory of radio devices claimed that in the foreseeable future the enterprise could master the production of Polish UAVs. It was also mentioned that drones of Polish production had already been tested during the fighting in the Donbas, where they were used for conducting reconnaissance in the interests of artillery formations.
Fly Eye at the exhibition in April 2016. Photo by Facebook.com/zbroya.ua
Fly Eye UAV is not particularly complex design. This unit has a straight wing spanning 3,6 m, which is attached to the fuselage characteristic shape. The nasal and central parts of the latter differ in a relatively large cross-section, which is connected with the need to install various equipment. The T-shaped tail unit is attached to the tapered tail boom. The device is equipped with an electric motor connected to a pulling propeller. The equipment necessary for reconnaissance is placed in the central compartment of the fuselage.
The device Fly Eye has a length of 1,9 m and a take-off weight of 11 kg. The payload is 4 kg. The power plant allows the device to reach speeds from 50 to 170 km / h and rise to altitudes up to 4 km. The duration of the flight, depending on various factors, is within 2-3 hours. Communication equipment allows UAVs to operate at a distance of 30 km from the operator’s console. If necessary, this distance can increase to 50 km. Data transfer is carried out in real time.
With the help of Fly Eye UAV, the Falcon project is proposed to monitor the terrain, and also to search for targets for the subsequent strike. Destruction of detected targets should be performed using the second drone from the complex. As a high precision controlled weapons It is proposed to use the device Warmate, also created by the Polish company WB Electronics SA.
The product Warmate belongs to the relatively recently appeared category of disposable UAVs intended for self-detection and destruction of a target using an existing warhead. The existing design allows a similar apparatus to patrol in the required area for a certain time, and then strike at the indicated target. In the existing configuration, the Warmate system can hit manpower, unprotected equipment or some enemy installations. There is also a warhead for the destruction of armored vehicles.
One-time impact drone does not need some of the capabilities needed for the reconnaissance vehicle, which affected its design. Warmate UAV differs from the Fly Eye in its smaller size and less complex design. It has a straight wing and a variable diameter fuselage. The tail plumage is built on a V-shaped pattern. On the straightened nose of the fuselage there are attachments for the warhead, made in the form of a fairing. The central compartment is given under the equipment, and on the tail section of the fuselage provides for the installation of a pushing propeller.
The length of the Warmate machine is only 1,1 m with a wingspan of 1,4 m. Take-off weight - 4 kg. To launch these drones, the original project proposes a pneumatic system. It is possible to release both a single launcher and a package of guides capable of transporting and launching up to an 40 UAV. The maximum speed of the device - 80 km / h. Standard batteries allow you to fly up to 40 km, while in the air for up to half an hour. It is possible to increase the duration of the flight to 50 minutes. The device can reach the target at altitudes from 30 to 3000 m. In practice, it was possible to get confident operation of the equipment at distances up to 10 km from the operator, which is associated with the limitations imposed by the existing radio control equipment. To work at a greater distance, it is necessary to raise the antenna of the carrier vehicle to a considerable height above the ground.
Shock UAV Warmate. Photo Facebook.com/zbroya.ua
The Polish development company within the Warmate project proposed two combat units for various purposes. Manpower, unarmored vehicles, etc. The targets are proposed to attack with the high-explosive GO-1 charge, equipped with 300 grams of TNT. Also created a cumulative warhead GK-1, capable of penetrating up to 100-120 mm homogeneous armor. The Chernigov Radio Equipment Plant expressed its readiness to master the production of four new combat units. This lineup will include a high-explosive warhead with 1350 g of explosive, high-explosive fragmentation with 530 g of explosives and 524 ready-made attack elements, 1,1-kg cumulative, and incendiary with 530 g mixture.
According to reports, the Polish company has already managed to conclude several contracts for the supply of its unmanned aerial vehicles. Fly Eye's intelligence systems have already been delivered to several countries. Ukraine has not been officially announced about shipments, but it is known that the vehicles of the Ukrainian armed forces have been used in a real conflict since the late spring of 2015. Also some other countries received similar equipment. We know about several contracts for the supply of drums UAV Warmate some two countries in the Middle East.
During the exhibition, held in April last year, the Ukrainian industry expressed its willingness to launch mass production of two Polish UAVs in the interests of its armed forces. In particular, an agreement to acquire a license for the release of percussion systems was signed in mid-March. Expand production planned in the summer of the same year.
Recent ones news about the work of Ukrainian industry in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles do not clarify the current state of affairs with the licensed production of equipment. At the same time, the demonstration of finished samples of UAVs may hint at the real possibilities of Ukraine in the production of such systems.
Combat parts for the device Warmate, the production of which is planned to establish in Ukraine. Photo Facebook.com/szgurets
Very interesting is the fact that the Ukrainian enterprises decided not only to establish the production of equipment developed by foreign colleagues, but also wished to develop existing projects to a certain extent. With the use of two types of imported UAVs and an own-made armored car, an original reconnaissance-strike complex on a self-propelled chassis was created. It should be assumed that such a development can, at a minimum, attract the attention of potential customers.
One of the main advantages of the Sokol project is the used approach to the mobility of equipment. All command and control equipment, launch vehicles and drones should be transported on an armored vehicle with standard means for their transportation. In theory, light UAVs can be transported by almost any technique, but the creation of a specialized carrier has clear advantages. Flexibility is another positive feature. The calculation of the complex should conduct reconnaissance using the apparatus of the Fly Eye, and the data obtained can be used both for self-striking, and for targeting other fire weapons.
However, the project has certain disadvantages. According to reports, Polish drones are not of low cost, and are almost not protected from the enemy’s electronic warfare. In addition, the practical range is significantly lower than theoretically possible. All this seriously limits the range of the UAV, and in some situations also reduces the likelihood of successful solution of the problem, or completely eliminates the positive outcome of events.
The project of the Sokol shock-reconnaissance unmanned system was developed by enterprises of the Ukrainian defense industry on its own initiative and without an order from the military department. However, this development may have a definite future. According to S. Zgurets, the military does not exclude the possibility of adopting the Sokol into service in the event of successful testing. The deadlines for the completion of all necessary checks and the start of deliveries of serial equipment, however, have not yet been specified.
A poster with the characteristics of combat units. Photo Facebook.com/szgurets
Available information about the Sokol complex of a joint Ukrainian-Polish development is of particular interest. They show that this project has a number of important features that can give troops new opportunities. At the same time, even at the technical level, there are characteristic flaws in the project, which can be eliminated only through the most serious processing of individual elements of the complex. There is every reason to believe that these shortcomings will not be eliminated, since the solution of such problems requires the help of the original developer of the UAVs used. It is unlikely that he will remake the two finished projects for the needs of an individual customer.
Another problem of the Sokol project concerns the prospects for possible mass production. According to some reports, the Ukrainian industry has already managed to launch the production of licensed drones Fly Eye and Warmate. The possibility of deploying production of the remaining elements of the complex, however, is still in question. In recent years, the defense industry of Ukraine in connection with the well-known events is going through far from the best of times. Enterprises suffer losses, and the main customer is now its own Ministry of Defense with very limited financial resources. In such conditions, there is a high risk that the Falcon project will not advance beyond the stage of construction of a prototype. At the same time, the launch of mass production cannot be ruled out, but its volumes are unlikely to be large.
Just a few days ago it became known about the new foreign development in the field of complexes using unmanned aerial vehicles. Using foreign developments, Ukrainian enterprises were able to create a rather interesting project of the complex, capable of conducting reconnaissance and independently destroy the found targets. Nevertheless, the project is not without flaws, and also appeared in not the best time. Therefore, while his real prospects may be the subject of controversy. Given the current situation and some features of the project, it can be assumed that the most accurate will be pessimistic estimates.
Based on:
https://facebook.com/szgurets/
https://facebook.com/zbroya.ua/
http://wb.com.pl/
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/
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