Quadcopter Zala 421-24. A useful novelty for the Russian army
General view of the UAV Zala 421-24. Photo Concern "Kalashnikov"
To date, a wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles of domestic production has appeared at the disposal of the Russian army. In addition, new complexes of different classes are regularly accepted for supply. One of the latest innovations was the small reconnaissance UAV Zala 421-24. It is intended for reconnaissance at the tactical level and adapted to the specific conditions of the battlefield.
UAV in the troops
The Moscow company Zala Aero (part of the Kalashnikov concern) is developing Drones aircraft and helicopter type, designed to solve various problems. She regularly demonstrates her new developments, and also talks about the successes in the production and delivery of equipment to customers.
So, on September 23, the TASS agency reported that Zala UAVs are being received by the Russian army and are being actively used. The agency learned about this from the president of Kalashnikov, Alan Lushnikov. The head of the concern noted that the devices from Zala are new for our army, but they are successfully mastered and used.
On November 2, A. Lushnikov revealed new details of production and supplies. According to him, the concern has already begun to supply helicopter-type drones to the armed forces. A whole line of devices for various purposes is being produced, and in addition, new samples are being developed that will go into series as early as next year.
As an example of products manufactured for the army, the head of the concern cited the Zala 421-24 quadrocopter. This product is intended for surveillance and reconnaissance, and is also adapted to the specific conditions of the combat zone.
The first display of the product "421-24" - the case and the UAV are at the bottom. The quadcopter is demonstrated with other novelties, April 15, 2021. Photo by the Kalashnikov Concern
It should be noted that Zala Aero UAVs have attracted a lot of public attention in recent weeks. So, our Ministry of Defense published several interesting videos showing the use of Zala Lancet loitering ammunition. The footage shown was filmed directly by drones during the fall on the target. At the same time, the devices clearly showed the high accuracy of guidance and destruction.
From premiere to series
Promising unmanned aviation the complex with the Zala 421-24 small class quadrocopter was developed by Zala Aero in the recent past. The main design work was completed no later than the beginning of 2021, and in April last year, the finished UAV was shown to the public for the first time. At the same time, the main technical features and capabilities of the product were revealed.
In the summer of 2021, the new drone, along with other Zala Aero developments, hit the MAKS and Army exhibitions. In parallel with this, the device was fine-tuned, which eventually gave the desired result. A few months ago, the development company launched the production of 421-24 products. At the recent Army-2022 forum, this UAV was already demonstrated as a serial model.
According to the latest reports, the Zala 421-24 drone has entered production and is being supplied to the armed forces. The units have mastered this technique and are now using it for its intended purpose. The principles of using such UAVs and the effect of their work are quite clear and even obvious. However, details of this kind have not yet been reported.
However, it cannot be ruled out that the results of the work of Zala 421-24 could already be seen by everyone. The Ministry of Defense regularly publishes aerial footage of the battlefield, and some of these shots could well have been filmed with new small quadrocopters.
In the small class
Zala 421-24 is a small class light quadcopter designed for surveillance and reconnaissance in daylight and at night. Outwardly and in its design, it is similar to other UAVs of its class, but differs in a specially designed control and communication system with special features that ensure use in war zones.
The first "exhibition", a view from a different angle. Photo Jane's
The drone has an elongated body that contains the battery and control systems. On it, four rods of propeller groups are mounted on hinges; for transportation, they fold along the body. In the working position, the UAV has a length and width of 530 x 550 mm with a height of 190 mm. Takeoff weight - only 3,5 kg. Of these, the target load accounts for 400 g.
The power plant includes four electric motors of an unspecified model with two-bladed propellers. The device develops a speed of up to 30 km / h and rises to a height of 1500 m. The battery lasts for 30-40 minutes of flight. A flying UAV produces minimal noise.
The control system on board the UAV includes an autopilot, satellite and inertial navigation, as well as a two-way communication system. The main mode of operation of the drone is flight according to the operator's commands. At the same time, satellite navigation is used and a constant exchange of data is ensured.
The UAV can operate when the enemy uses electronic warfare equipment that suppresses control channels and signals from navigation satellites. In this case, the device receives a flight task and independently performs it in radio silence mode. Navigation is carried out according to the so-called. point cloud on the ground. This navigation method is also used to return the drone to the operator in case of loss of communication or suppression of navigation signals. In addition, navigation can be carried out by ground-based "beacons" of individual positioning.
A suspension system with three-plane stabilization is installed in the nose of the quadrocopter. It is proposed to mount a television camera or a thermal imager with optics on it. There is a tracking mode for the selected object, regardless of the device's maneuvers. The video signal is transmitted to a distance of at least 3,5 km. Recording is also carried out on the memory card on board the device.
The Zala 421-24 drone comes with a manual control panel. It has the necessary joysticks and keys, as well as a monitor for video output and telemetry. The remote control is used both for direct flight control and for entering a flight task before an autonomous flight.
Zala 421-24 close-up. Photo Bastion-karpenko.ru
The UAV, remote control and necessary accessories are stored and transported in a small protected case. It can be carried by one person or carried by any vehicle. The deployment of the complex and preparation for the flight take no more than a couple of minutes, after which takeoff is possible. It is reported that "421-24" can work both from small sites and from mobile platforms.
Important news
Recent ones news on the supply of UAVs to parts of the Russian army show the presence of a number of positive trends that can significantly affect the capabilities of units and formations. One of the real implementations of such processes is now the Zala 421-24 small drone. As it became known, products of this type have recently also helped to solve common problems.
First of all, recent news points to the expansion of the production of domestic UAVs and the emergence of new serial models of different classes. This solves the problem of retrofitting parts, as well as reducing dependence on imported products, which can be difficult to obtain.
Zala 421-24 and other Russian drones entered the supply, and from this it follows that they were able to pass the necessary tests. The unmanned systems showed their characteristics, and also confirmed their compliance with the tactical and technical requirements of the Ministry of Defense. Such requirements should take into account the specifics of hostilities, incl. development of RTR and electronic warfare, anti-aircraft systems, etc.
From this point of view, the Zala 421-24 project is of great interest. The Russian industry has managed to create not just a UAV of a certain class, useful for the troops, but also to fully adapt it for future operation over the battlefield. In this regard, the new drone compares favorably with common commercial systems that are subject to negative external influences. With similar or better technical and performance characteristics, the new Russian model should outperform such competitors in terms of reliability and overall efficiency.
Interim results
Thus, the leading domestic manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems, without much advertising, launched the production of various equipment and began to supply it to the troops. In this case, we are talking about UAVs, originally designed to work in a combat zone in the presence of various threats.
However, not only the very fact of the availability of new UAVs or the launch of a series is important, but also the volume of production, the pace of deliveries to the customer, etc. How successfully such tasks are being solved has not yet been reported. However, it can be expected that Zala Aero will cope with them and in the foreseeable future will provide the army with the required number of quadrocopters, loitering ammunition and other equipment.
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