Attack UAV AQ 400 Scythe – new hope of the Kyiv regime
The first batch of AQ 400 UAV. Photo Telegram / "Military Informant"
More than a year ago, after the first massive strikes drones “Geranium-2”, the Kiev regime promised to create a similar product and use it to launch retaliatory attacks. Over the past time, several samples of this kind have been shown and even tried to use them - and did not achieve the desired results. However, attempts to create a long-range attack UAV have not been abandoned. Now we are threatened with the new AQ 400 Scythe device, which has a specific appearance and dubious prospects.
First batch
Ukrainian propaganda spoke about another “success” of its industry a few days ago. They revealed the existence of a new attack UAV, talked about its characteristics and prospects, and also showed a short video from flight tests. What is shown and told as a whole allows us to draw the first conclusions – not the most pleasant ones for the Kyiv regime.
According to the disclosures, the AQ 400 Scythe UAV ("Scythe" - again using an image associated with the folklore image of death) was developed by a small company Terminal Autonomy, formerly known as One Way Aerospace. To date, it has completed the design, and also manufactured and tested prototype equipment. How exactly the tests were carried out and with what result they ended is not specified. However, the project was continued, which may indicate positive results from test flights.
Using existing facilities, the development company recently assembled the first batch of UAVs to be sent to the armed forces of Ukraine. The transfer of finished equipment took place the other day and was covered by the Ukrainian media. The number of transferred drones is not reported, but up to eight vehicles are simultaneously present in the frame. Probably one of them was shown during the take-off run.
It is claimed that the development company can already produce up to hundreds of AQ 400 products per month. In the future, with appropriate expansion of capacity and additional financing, production can reach the level of 500 products per month. How realistic such plans and forecasts are is a big question.
The drone is larger. Assembly flaws are visible. Photo Telegram / "Military informant"
With the help of new equipment, Ukrainian formations are going to attack Russian targets at a great depth of defense. Various maps and diagrams are presented with the declared combat radius superimposed, and from this they make the notorious “victory”. It is unknown how soon they will try to use the Scythe. However, we can expect that this will once again be sensationalized.
Technical features
The new Ukrainian product AQ 400 is an aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicle designed to fly to a given target and deliver a warhead to it. The UAVs shown are built according to an unusual design and have a specific appearance. All this points to attempts to simplify the design and reduce the cost of its production in the hope of maximum production rates.
The Scythe drone is built according to the “duck” design. It received a fuselage of a simple rectangular cross-section, on which two straight wings were installed. One is located directly behind the nose cone and is moved upward. The second plane has a larger span and is located in front of the tapering tail of the fuselage and is located at its bottom. Both wings have ailerons/elevons at the trailing edge. Heading stabilization is provided by the front wing tips, as well as by a straight fin and ventral ridge of a similar design. There is a rudder on the keel.
The dimensions of the product are not specified, but the published photos allow us to roughly estimate them. Judging by the people present in the pictures, the UAV is 2 m long or a little more. Wingspan - no more than 2-2,5 m. Take-off weight should not exceed 150-200 kg.
The propulsion system is located in the tail. It uses a piston engine of unknown model and power with a two-blade pusher propeller. Such a propeller-engine group must provide horizontal takeoff or launch from a guide. The maximum flight speed is stated at 144 km/h. Range – no more than 750 km, depending on the payload.
Scythe on the launcher. Photo Telegram / "Military informant"
It is reported that in the basic configuration the AQ 400 UAV carries a warhead weighing 32 kg; charge type is unknown. The possibility of installing a 70-kg warhead is also stated, but this significantly reduces the achievable range. It is unknown to what level flight performance drops with a heavy warhead.
The developers do not specify what control and guidance system is used on their UAV. At the same time, the mentioned goals and objectives hint at the use of an autopilot operating according to inertial and/or satellite navigation data. It is possible that remote control is also present, at least during takeoff and the initial phase of the flight - this is indicated by antennas of unknown purpose on the fuselage.
There are two start options. In the first case, the drone uses a chassis in the form of a separate three-wheeled cart. After the takeoff run and liftoff, it resets. A launcher with inclined guides is also shown - in this case, the “Scythe” does without a chassis. Regardless of the launch method, a soft landing is not provided.
Simplification course
The published photographs clearly show that the new Ukrainian AQ 400 UAVs are not distinguished by their perfect design and production culture. There are noticeable gaps between parts, poor-quality installation of some units, paint flaws, etc. Moreover, each of the first batch of drones shown has its own shortcomings. All of this speaks poorly of Terminal Autonomy and its products and their overall potential.
Apparently, when creating the Scythe product, the goals of maximizing the simplification of the design and reducing the cost of production were pursued. This explains the specific contours of the manufactured airframes and the low quality of their assembly. The propulsion system and electronics had to be selected from commercially available products that fit the project budget.
The Beaver UAV that was advertised in the past. Photo Focus.ua
Completion of the first batch of eight or more UAVs indicates a low level of production. In this regard, doubts arise about the ability of Otonomi Terminal to produce the promised 100 devices per month with a subsequent fivefold increase in production. However, the stated production rates are quite possible - but in this case you will have to forget about any quality.
Quite high tactical and technical characteristics are declared for the "Scythe". However, the possibility of achieving them raises reasonable doubts. First of all, the technical potential of products is negatively affected by the build quality. Any gap or other defect will reduce the possible speed and range of flight. The feasibility of using a characteristic aerodynamic design raises questions. It allows you to sum up the lifting force of two planes, but imperfect assembly can lead to deterioration in flight performance.
Plans to use the AQ 400 against targets on Russian territory look overly bold. Such devices, if used in combat, will have to face the developed multi-component air defense of the western regions of Russia. Radar and anti-aircraft systems and complexes, as well as their crews, regularly demonstrate their ability to detect, suppress and destroy various types of air targets, incl. complex.
The presented Ukrainian drone does not have any features or features that will help it break through air defense. The airframe was built without the use of stealth technologies, a piston engine with a propeller adds visibility, etc. It is likely that this UAV, like other Ukrainian models, is susceptible to electronic warfare. If interference does not interfere with its flight, anti-aircraft missiles will do their job - their guidance will also not be associated with difficulties.
However, the Kiev regime is not counting on the parameters and quality of each of the drones, but on their mass use. It is assumed that the launch of a large number of UAVs will be able to overload Russian air defense. It will successfully intercept some of such equipment, but will use up its ammunition, and the remaining vehicles will reach their targets. However, such an action requires a large unmanned "flotilla", the creation of which is in question.
Australian UAV made from Corvo PPDS foam board. Photo by SYPAQ
Predictable outcome
Thus, the Kiev regime does not abandon attempts to create attack UAVs capable of reaching remote targets on our territory. Another project of this kind has been developed, but its potential and capabilities are predictable and limited. Reasons for doubt are given by the specific appearance of the product, low characteristics and the impossibility of mass production with the required quality.
It should be recalled that this is not the first time that Ukraine has shown its “analog” of the Russian “Gerani-2” and made a sensation out of it. Previously, the Beaver project was actively advertised, and this model even reached combat use. However, several launches against Russian targets ended in failure, and damage was caused only to civilian targets.
Attempts to create the simplest possible UAVs were also unsuccessful. Thus, the Australian company SYPAQ supplied devices with a foam board airframe to Ukraine. This was presented almost as a revolution in materials for ultralight aviation, but such UAVs did not influence the course of events in any way.
It is unlikely that the new Ukrainian project AQ 400 Scythe will have different results. This UAV, despite all the assurances and advertising, is not perfect in itself, and launching production at the desired pace is virtually impossible. Therefore, we can expect that the Kiev regime will try to use its new “Scythes”, but will quickly become disillusioned with them. And then the Russian army will identify and destroy the production of such UAVs and put an end to this project.
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