From reconnaissance to strikes. Refinement of the UAV in the interests of the Russian army

Serial UAV "Orlan-10" with devices for dropping grenades. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

During the current Special Operation, the Russian army makes extensive use of unmanned aerial vehicles of various classes with strike capabilities. Similar equipment, often of the same models, is available to the enemy. It is curious that the bulk of the used strike UAVs could not initially carry a combat load and received such capabilities only after a rework. In general, this approach paid off, thanks to which the army's strike capabilities improved.

Additional features

In the past 10-12 years, the Russian army has paid great attention to the development of unmanned aviation. Various types of UAVs were developed and adopted. Basically, it was about tactical air reconnaissance systems, such as Orlan-10. In addition, the development of new reconnaissance and strike systems was underway, and a similar refinement of finished products was also carried out.

A good example of modernizing an existing UAV with expanding its capabilities is the Forpost-RU project, which was brought to trials in 2021. The Forpost family of vehicles entered service a long time ago, but could only conduct reconnaissance. Modification "RU" got the opportunity to carry and use specially designed small-caliber adjustable bombs KAB20S.

Preparation of reset devices for "Orlan". Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

To date, "Outpost-RU" has reached the point of operation in the army, and the Ministry of Defense has repeatedly shown the combat work of such drones. With the help of standard optics, such UAVs detect ground targets and attack them with bombs. Semi-active or satellite guidance provides high accuracy of engagement with minimal collateral damage.

In the spring of 2022, the strike version of the Orlan-10 UAV was demonstrated for the first time. It differs from the basic reconnaissance aircraft by the presence of two drop devices under the wing. Each contains a pair of "bombs" made on the basis of the VOG-25 grenade. For the use of such weapons, the control system was finalized.

A set of devices for one UAV. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

At the time of the first demonstration, Orlan-10 products with grenades were already present in the combat zone and were tested in real conditions. Ease of operation, complete unification with the mass reconnaissance UAV and other advantages were noted.

Ultralight bombers

The widest distribution in the combat zone received small UAVs. First of all, copters of popular commercial models get into the troops. Deliveries are carried out by enthusiasts and public organizations, and purchases are provided by public donations. At first, this technique used only regular functions and conducted visual reconnaissance, but almost immediately the processes of expanding its capabilities began.

Depending on the model, a small drone can carry a payload of tens or hundreds of grams. Larger multicopters are capable of lifting and carrying kilograms. This is enough to make a kind of ultralight bomber out of the UAV. In this configuration, using a standard video camera, you can monitor, search for a target and aim at it, and a special reset device ensures its defeat.

"Forpost-RU" with KAB20S bombs. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

To equip UAVs of popular models, various options for reset devices are offered. Depending on the parameters of the device, these are single or multiple holders with remote control. At the same time, the low mass of the load sharply reduces the requirements for such a device.

Improvised bombers use a wide range of different munitions. They can carry and drop hand or anti-tank grenades, rounds for automatic grenade launchers, and even mortar rounds. Such ammunition can be used in its original form or after minor modifications. So, to increase the accuracy of mines or grenades, they are equipped with a shank with a stabilizer. These devices are often made by XNUMXD printing, which gives the best balance of technical characteristics, cost and production volumes.

The advent of light strike UAVs based on commercial systems has given the troops a number of important advantages. First of all, it became possible to increase the number of strike systems in the troops, and without a long wait or significant costs. The copters are able to drop the load from the hover, which improves accuracy and compensates for the small mass of the “bomb”.

Dropping an impromptu aerial bomb (on the right side of the frame) on enemy fighters. Photo Telegram / Dambiev

loitering ammunition

Long before the beginning of the Special Operation, the direction of loitering ammunition was developed. By the beginning of the current decade, the first samples of this kind, developed by the defense industry, were presented and tested. They managed to be tested in Syria, and since last year such equipment has been actively used as part of the Special Operation.

According to known data, the defense industry, represented by large enterprises, has reached high rates of BB production. Release of products "Lancet", etc. allows you to cover at least most of the needs of the troops. In addition, there is “initiative from below”. By the forces of small enterprises, various workshops, etc. similar UAVs with other features and characteristics are being developed and assembled.

In such cases, APs are built by equipping an available UAV with a warhead of one sort or another - without a drop device. The target is hit with a direct hit. In this role, any available drones with sufficient payload and flight characteristics, both existing and specially developed, can be used.

Kamikaze drone "Ghoul" developed by enthusiasts from the "Turned in War" team. Photo Telegram / "Turned in the war"

Recently, a kind of subclass of loitering ammunition has taken shape - FPV drones. These are light copters with high flight and maneuvering characteristics, a video camera with a first-person view and a warhead. Yielding to "ordinary" warheads in the main characteristics, such products are distinguished by improved maneuverability and simplify the search for and defeat of small targets, up to individual enemy militants. In addition, they are able to solve combat missions even in confined spaces with a minimum of free space for flight and maneuver.

Obvious Trends

Unmanned aerial vehicles have long mastered the shock function and have repeatedly demonstrated their potential of this kind. The development of such ideas continues and leads to the emergence of new concepts and many samples. Russian industry and enthusiasts strive to follow these trends, and also try to be ahead of the curve.

To date, the defense industry, represented by large enterprises, has given the army several types of "ordinary" reconnaissance and strike UAVs of the medium and heavy class. Also, projects have been created to refine cash devices with a shock capability. In addition, the industry has launched a mass production of loitering light-class ammunition.

Details for "Ghouls". Photo Telegram / "Turned in the war"

In parallel, small organizations and groups of enthusiasts play their role. They help the army with the supply of the necessary commercial drones, both in their original form and in shock configuration. Moreover, small teams are developing new designs.

In all these processes, the refinement of existing samples with the expansion of their functions is of great interest. Such projects show the potential of various UAVs as platforms for solving various problems. In addition, they demonstrate the ability of large and small enterprises to improve existing equipment or create new ones.

As a result of all these processes, the Russian army received a fairly wide range of reconnaissance and strike UAVs of various classes and types with certain features and advantages. At the same time, it can be expected that the development of this area will continue - and new models of unmanned vehicles will appear at the disposal of operators. What they will turn out to be, how they will differ from the current technology and how they will affect the conduct of the Special Operation, time will tell.

Comments

[Lech from Android.]

It would be nice to attach the Kornets ATGM to the UAV ... then you can hunt for the armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO ... and not wait for their columns to attack our positions.
There will be no need to spend expensive high-precision missiles on small targets.
Oh dreams, dreams.

[KCA]

5kg of warheads at the Lancet-3 will not be enough for a tank, will it?

[Civil]

This handicraft is only a reaction to the use of UAVs by the enemy. And it is necessary in anticipation - to create a swarm of UAVs. Minefields from the UAV. UAV fighters.

[keleg]

Well, already. The X-UAV, which last fall from the Orion even fired at a helicopter, is precisely the Kornet with a converted guidance system, from the laser path to the semi-active. But they are heavy, they are substituted for air defense.

[Toucan]

After reading this article, I immediately remembered: black, thick eyebrows, long empty speeches ...
The essence of this publication can be summarized in three sentences. But an amazingly talented author manages to spread it over several Word documents.

[Vladimir_2U]

I don’t quite understand why tape stabilizers are not used for such heights, speeds and weights of ammunition? Synthetics are both durable and not tenacious, i.e. easily deployed in flight. At times, even cast, not to mention printed, stabilizers are much simpler and cheaper.

[Polite Moose]

Quote: Vladimir_2U

Synthetics are both durable and not tenacious, i.e. easily deployed in flight. At times, even cast, not to mention printed, stabilizers are much simpler and cheaper.

Also, the total weight of the ammunition will decrease.

[Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov]

I don’t quite understand why tape stabilizers are not used for such heights, speeds and weights of ammunition? Synthetics are both durable and not tenacious, i.e. easily deployed in flight. At times, even cast, not to mention printed, stabilizers are much simpler and cheaper.

The tapes strongly slow down the fall, and this is not necessary at all. And for a folded tape, some kind of container is needed - in general - there are more problems, less sense.

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote: Ivan Ivanych Ivanov

The tapes strongly slow down the fall, and this is not necessary at all. And for a folded tape, some kind of container is needed - in general - there are more problems, less sense.

Braking and uselessness of the container are decided by the size and length of the tape, and the length depends on the weight of the speed and the height of the ammunition drop. Very small.

[Vadim S]

The war forced the idea to work, to find money and go into production faster. And so, for a long time we would still mark time with exhibition samples.

[bk0010]

Quote: Vadim S

The war made the idea work, find money and go into production faster

This is unlikely: a significant part of the drones are not from the military-industrial complex. And even a lot of money will not help here: for the production of the military-industrial complex, all the prescribed rituals must be completed, and this is very slow. One certification - six months to a year.

[Maks1995]

Yes, how to develop your own auto industry - so plugging.
And how to kill Ukrainians, both Nazis and non-Nazis, so progress is going faster.
Previously, experts gave up to 500 thousand, now I wonder how much ...

[vovochkarzhevsky]

Again the sect of witnesses of shock UAVs revived? It's time to splash a tub of ice water.
So, what was the author saying there? Oh yes, oh ultralight bombers. Why didn’t he mention then that the impact on the target in this case would be ultralight.
And no increase in numbers to increase the impact will help. With the same success, you can fire a certain number of pistol bullets at the tank, which will block the weight of one RPG shot several times.
One can object to me that there are also heavier attack UAVs, for example, Forpost-RU.
And here everything is much sadder, this pepelats is quite large, but with very poor performance characteristics. 120 km / h speed and a ceiling of 6000 meters leave him no chance against air defense. But it cannot fly in WWI.
The objection is that this is what the UAV is for, it’s not a pity, we don’t lose the pilot, it doesn’t roll. For the priority is the fulfillment of a combat mission, the defeat of a target, and not the designation of intentions.
And massaging won't work either. The price of "Forpost-RU" with a control center, according to the Internet, is up to 7,5 million dollars. (Just for the price of one Yak-130). This is not enough budget.
After all, it is much more effective from the point of view of military affairs to drain these flying lawn mowers to hell and direct the withdrawn funds to something that can really be fought. For ultra-light and ultra-cheap UAVs for reconnaissance and guidance, and for guided missiles that these same UAVs will direct. At the same cost, the impact on the enemy will be many times higher. The effectiveness of such a bundle has already been proven in the CBO, unfortunately, not on our part.
Meanwhile, the modern development of electronics makes it possible, at relatively low cost, for the Grad MLRS instead of NAR to produce self-guided missiles by means of laser illumination.
But these are only dreams, it will not happen. We live under capitalism. And since the army buys weapons, someone makes good money on this.
Therefore, the priority will be for weapons, where the difference between price and costs is maximum, that is, for flying lawn mowers.

[Alexey RA]

Quote: vovochkarzhevsky

Again the sect of witnesses of shock UAVs revived?

Duc ... what tricks people don’t go for - just not to debug the statutory interaction of military branches and communications.

Quote: vovochkarzhevsky

Meanwhile, the modern development of electronics makes it possible, at relatively low cost, for the Grad MLRS instead of NAR to produce self-guided missiles by means of laser illumination.

Or simpler PCs with trajectory correction according to data from a satellite navigation system - so as not to bother with target illumination. Yes, such a system only works on stationary and inactive targets - but there are enough of them at the front.

[vovochkarzhevsky]

Duc ... what tricks people don’t go for - just not to debug the statutory interaction of military branches and communications.

Let's just add that we are talking about combat regulations, otherwise they will think that we are talking about combat, internal and guard.

Or simpler PCs with trajectory correction according to data from a satellite navigation system - so as not to bother with target illumination. Yes, such a system only works on stationary and inactive targets - but there are enough of them at the front.

Yes, there are a lot of options, at a relatively low cost, you can even make aircraft C-8s controllable, or homing, which will significantly increase the efficiency of the more than once discussed pitch-up firing.

[Alexey RA]

Quote: vovochkarzhevsky

Yes, there are a lot of options, at a relatively low cost, you can even make aviation C-8s manageable, or homing

Well, yes - Hydra 70, which turned into APKWS, is an example of this.

[bk0010]

Quote: vovochkarzhevsky

Yes, there are a lot of options, at a relatively low cost, you can even make aircraft C-8s controllable, or homing, which will significantly increase the efficiency of the more than once discussed pitch-up firing.

Is it worth getting in touch? The S-8 carries not enough explosives for the price of a guided weapon. It's better to do something new.

[vovochkarzhevsky]

Is it worth getting in touch? The S-8 carries not enough explosives for the price of a guided weapon. It's better to do something new.

How much does the Lancet carry? Nevertheless, they got in touch.

[bk0010]

Quote: Alexey RA

Or simpler PCs with trajectory correction according to data from a satellite navigation system - so as not to bother with target illumination.

Obtaining target coordinates with the required accuracy is not an easy task. The enemy will not allow a topographic location, and if he made a mistake while working by eye (say, by 30-50 meters), then all high-precision missiles fired will not hit the target (say, KVO 10 m).

[Alexey RA]

Quote: bk0010

Obtaining target coordinates with the required accuracy is not an easy task. The enemy will not allow a topographic location, and if he made a mistake while working by eye (say, by 30-50 meters), then all high-precision missiles fired will not hit the target (say, KVO 10 m).

* looks thoughtfully at the Orlan-30, which is precisely designed to work in conjunction with the WTO with correction or homing.

[the same doctor]

the correct comment in terms of designating the problem. But if you do not see the possibility of topographic location easily, quickly and cheaply, then this does not mean that it does not exist. I would do.

[alexoff]

Quote: Alexey RA

Or simpler PCs with trajectory correction according to data from a satellite navigation system - so as not to bother with target illumination. Yes, such a system only works on stationary and inactive targets - but there are enough of them at the front.

Moreover, in 2019 they showed the OU-122, which is screwed to any hailstone and sends it to the exact coordinates. And just guided missiles for tornadoes are released and supposedly even delivered to the troops. For these and other missiles, a bunch of employees of the "alloy" received state awards in 2020

[alexoff]

The outpost-ru costs about 3-4 million dollars, but it is also, of course, expensive for a small pepelats. Because there is a solid import. But the same Krasnopol stands as a good car. Just for unknown reasons, the defense industry of all countries, with rare exceptions, hangs fabulous price tags on products, paying not at all fabulous salaries to those who do all this. The exception is probably Iran, where they learned how to quickly, cheaply, efficiently rivet a high-precision conveyor

[certero]

The very first paragraph causes nothing but irritation.
How is it that the Russian army paid attention to the development of drones if at the beginning of the main war in the history of Russia it was without them? Without strike drones, without reconnaissance ones, without small units needed for? And the enemy turned out to be much better equipped with them, especially at the initial stage.

[savage3000]

For the past 10-12 years, the Russian army has paid great attention to the development of unmanned aircraft.
---------------'

humor? humor is good.

[2sila]

Great article. Not a step away from writing professionalism, not a word off topic, not snot and cheap tantrums that everything was fucked up and everything is wrong. No crooked underfacts, leftist "patents" and challenges to the topic of all sorts of aeroballistics, sorcerers and other evil spirits. Not a zhovtoblakitny "torpedoing" of our "native" MO and the General Staff of the Black Sea Fleet from the very introduction and other hats. Again, the reaction of the contingent, "disturbed" by the insufficiently disclosed topic of their eternal "drank", pleases.
Author RESPECT!

[2sila]

This is what the site with domestic drones looked like at the permanent exhibition at the "Army" in 2019. Some 3-4 years have passed, but how the world has changed)

[Rumata]

Remember this post!
The next generation will be on the WFD with a cruising speed of 500 .... 800 km / h and a ceiling of at least 5000.
Stupid generals, when Russian aircraft modelers offered to make a military shock or kamikaze option, they sent the world champions by the forest.

[Blackgrifon]

Yeah ... Ten years ago, militants intercepted from army vehicles in a signal, and the Iranians captured the most modern drones, and now they are fighting in whole flocks.

[Sergei N 58912062]

Using VOG to drop from quadcopters like DJI Mavic - I can still understand this. But using VOG to drop from the Orlan-10 UAV is, of course, "brilliant". Is it really impossible for our military-industrial complex to create an analogue of the Hatchet small guided bomb, designed specifically for arming small UAVs of the RQ-7 Shadow type?

[the same doctor]

The use of large UAVs for dropping grenades is insanity and a dead end.