UAV "Aist" test in the stratosphere

The manufacturer of all Russian interplanetary and scientific space vehicles — the Lavochkin Scientific Production Association — has completed preparations for testing in the stratosphere of the atmospheric pseudo-satellite “Aist” LA-252, according to News.

The UAV, made according to the traditional aircraft scheme with a bearing wing, is capable of making a year-round non-stop flight, recharging from sunlight. The entire upper surface of the "Stork" wing is covered with solar panels - they set in motion two electric motors that rotate the screws. At night, the device flies due to rechargeable day batteries.

The tests carried out in July-September 2017 basically confirmed the calculated characteristics of the device, with the exception of the flight altitude. This is due to the fact that for a flight into the stratosphere, a special registration of the aircraft and an official permission for such a flight from regional aviation authorities,

said NPO director general Sergey Lemeshevsky.

Currently, the company is preparing to submit an application to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for a certificate of validity drone to flight. The flight is planned for November-December.

"LA-252" Aist "refers to the class of atmospheric satellites (pseudo-spacecraft). He, like satellites, operates at the expense of solar energy and operates at altitudes inaccessible to civil aviation - from 15 to 22 km. For flights in a discharged atmosphere, the apparatus is as light as possible - it is made of modern composite materials and has high aerodynamic characteristics. The average weight of one square meter "Stork" is less than 3 kg. The wing span of the drone is 23 m, take-off weight is 125 kg. The LA-252 is capable of carrying a total weight of up to 25 kg. For example, it could be a surveillance or communication equipment, ”the article says.

Unmanned systems expert Denis Fedutinov:

It is assumed that unmanned aerial vehicles patrolling over a given area at high altitudes can provide communication. This may be relevant in areas with no relevant infrastructure or in areas where this infrastructure is disabled, for example, as a result of natural or man-made emergencies.

The first prototype of the "Stork" - LA-251 was tested in 2013 year. Then the possibility of a non-stop multi-hour flight was confirmed, a second version of the device, the LA-252, was created for further experiments.

Comments

[3 Gorynych]

they drive two electric motors that rotate the screws

and four engines in the photo?

[SRC P-15]

Quote: 3

and four engines in the photo?

Have you been buzzing all night? It is written two!

[cniza]

Painfully easy prey for enemies ...

[SRC P-15]

Quote: cniza

Painfully easy prey for enemies ...

And with strong gusts of wind, I think flying into the stratosphere will be problematic.

[cniza]

So it’s still necessary to fly there, but the specialists know better, we don’t know much.

[Jedi]

Quote: cniza

we don’t know much.

That's it. It is unlikely that they would spend time and money on a dubious project.

[cniza]

I think (I'm sure) there is a military version of this unit.

[Jedi]

I also have no doubt. It may well turn out that this UAV was originally conceived as a dual-purpose vehicle.

[cniza]

Yes, at least a scout.

[Yarhann]

U-2 is also easy prey because it is not in vain that they are still in the service of the Americans.
Although it is more doubtful about the surveillance equipment that they can get there.
Although perhaps modern photo cameras are very tiny.
As for communication, I got it there - as a signal repeater - well, there, too, the power should be measured in watts per hour - what can these solar cells provide.
Although probably such crap are promising as a means of providing communications (repeaters to control the same drones)

[NEXUS]

Quote: cniza

Painfully easy prey for enemies ...

You think? At altitudes of 20 km, while a slow-moving target made of composites on electric engines that do not emit heat ... what interceptor will climb to this height? And the big question is whether it will be visible on radar.

[Yarhann]

nice person, this target moves and reflects the radio signal that is enough to be noticed by the radar all-round view. and a thermal trace is generally unnecessary in this case.
composites is certainly cool, but if we are talking about technology for reducing radio stealth, then this is most likely also not about this pepelats. Even if you can’t put a rocket at him, they will send hawks and that’s all - more precisely, hawks will be sent in any case for interception (for landing) if you refuse then they will be knocked down.
In general, I think that in the near future it will be a similar technique that will be involved in the field of telecommunications - that is, relaying a signal. Vsezh such technology is cheaper to launch than communication satellites.

[NIKNN]

Quote: cniza

Painfully easy prey for enemies ...

Well, I would not say ... 22km height, it’s not for everyone to shoot down ...

[IS-80_RVGK2]

Quote: cniza

Painfully easy prey for enemies ...

Right No armor. At least 700 millimeters would have been another conversation.

[Proton]

there are four propellers, two per engine

[Vladimir16]

Or the journalist in the photo noticed two devices standing side by side. Wing to wing

[pvv113]

Two engines twist four screws

[bald]

And they work shift 2/2 for 12 hours. Rest not only people need. But in general, "Stork" LA-252 is huge - the width of the wing is 23m. - Impressed, it seems because of the solar panels.

[Umnichka]

Something is not believed in 23 m, the author forgot a comma - 2,3 m wingspan. Whatever the composite - 125 kg per 23 m ??? Made of fluff?
Do not turn off the head.

[bald]

Here - here, I also almost fooled. At AN - 2, the total wingspan of the upper wing is 18.17 m., And here is such a monster!

[NIKNN]

Quote: Umnichka

Do not turn off the head.

We turn to the primary sources of 2016. :

NPO named after Lavochkin announced the start of tests in October 2016 of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) LA-252 "Aist" with solar batteries, capable of being on combat duty for up to 100 days with 25 kilograms of load at an altitude of 25 kilometers!
The legendary NGO named after Lavochkin presented one of the best Russian UAVs of the beginning of the 21st century - LA-252 "Stork". A machine with a 25 meter wing works at altitudes from 18 to 25 km. During the day, on solar batteries, at night - due to the battery. In mass production, the developers promise to reduce the cost of UAVs to “several million rubles”

[Starover_Z]

Quote: 3

they drive two electric motors that rotate the screws

and four engines in the photo?

Speaking of engines! Whose production, what parameters? Not written anywhere?

[venik]

Quote: 3

they drive two electric motors that rotate the screws

and four engines in the photo?

========
Everything is simple! The number of screws - DOES NOT MATCH the number of engines !!!

[Yoshi]

Are the other two - ICE ?!
:)

[Monarchist]

During the Second World War, Lavochkin's fighters were reliable vehicles. God willing and the Stork will turn out reliable

[Proton]

It’s more like a fence on a fence, not a pseudo-satellite , well, if it flies year-round, it will once again prove that we are invincible, even we can fly aircraft from a picket fence and let NASA and Boeing strangle themselves with powerlessness and envy.

[Iskander Sh]

Quote: Proton

let NASA and Boeing strangle themselves from powerlessness and envy.

It's sarcasm? For NASA and Boeing, as well as for the entire US UAV industry, these UAVs are yesterday.

You can familiarize yourself and compare the developments:
http://robotrends.ru/pub/1730/kto-lidiruet-na-ryn
ke-bla-na-solnechnoy-energii

[thinker]

Thanks for the link. Impressive -

The company is developing a Boeing SolarEagle (Vulture II). A unique feature of this UAV is ability to stay in the air for 5 years. In theory, for now.

[askort154]

Hello "Stork", we finally waited for you ....
Let our meeting take place ... (snippets from the song).

[Alex_K]

Well, it certainly looks clumsy, ala 1915 (TB Ilya Muromets), is it really impossible to bring in at least a lot of design thought .. well, it would only if it didn’t fall.

[stayer]

In fact, if the device does not have air somersaults, then the shape of a simple wing is the most optimal. Propellers create a small thrust, and the lifting effect of the wing provides an infinitely (conditionally) long flight. No design refinements are needed here.

[Stas Snezhin]

An interesting option, you can use it as a scout, and to organize communication over a theater of war ...

[Orionvit]

possible and as a scout

He thought about it, all this talk about supposedly civilian use is just idle talk. For civil engineering, in our time, no one will give money.

[Vasya Vassin]

Do they live these batteries this year under such conditions? There, how much, minus thirty - forty degrees will be?

[Vlad.by]

They still didn’t give the guys a nuclear battery, otherwise ...
At these heights for -60, but relax - everything works.

[Galleon]

It’s a pity, it’s not written how much average free power these solar panels have. At 25 kg load this is a very important indicator. But definitely - the guys keep the Lavochkin brand! Bravo!
Well, it’s possible to cover our entire North and East by cellular communication ...