Local-made Burevestnik-MB armed drone in service with Belarus army


July 3, 2018, during the military parade marking the Belarus Independence day, Belarusian armed forces have unveiled new types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which are now in service, including armed drone Burevestnik-MB and Busel-MB reconnaissance drone.


Local made Burevestnik MB armed drone in service with Belarus army 925 001
Burevestnik-MB armed drone on MAZ-6317 6x6 military truck at Belarus military parade, July 3, 2018. (Picture source ShutterStock)


Belarus armed forces showed two Burevestnik-MB fixed-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), that were carried on MAZ-6317-family trucks. This UAV features twin-boom design and has a range of flight of up to 290 km, a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 400 kg, and an endurance of up to 10 hours.

The Burevestnik-MB is powered by a piston engine, which produces a cruise speed of 120-150 km/h and a maximum speed of 220 km/h. The Burevestnik-MB can fly at a maximum altitude of 3,200 m and has a ceiling of 5,000 m. It can carry a payload of 60 kg.

The Burevestnik-MB is fitted with two loitering munitions, each of which is powered by a piston engine. The smaller munition carries a payload of 10 kg, including a guidance system and a warhead, and has a range of flight of 30-40 km and a maximum speed of 200 km/h. It can be replaced by S-8-family 80 mm unguided rockets.


Busel MB on MAZ 5316 4x4 military truck at Belarus military parade July 3 2018 925 001
Busel-MB reconnaissance drone on MAZ-5316 4x4 military truck at Belarus military parade, July 3, 2018. (Picture source Gruzovikpress Russia)


The Busel-MB is another new UAV showed at the Belarus military parade of July, 2018, it used to perform reconnaissance missions. The Busel-MB has a MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight) of 10 kg and an endurance of up to two hours and is fitted with a TV/infrared camera.

The Busel-MB is powered by two electric engines, which produce a speed of 60-120 km/h and a range of 50 km. The Busel-MB flies at a height of up to 5,000 m. It is fitted with a combined GPS/GLONASS navigation system coupled to an autopilot. The UAV is launched by a catapult.

Both unmanned vehicles have been developed by Scientific-Manufacturing Centre of Multipurpose Unmanned Systems (NPTs MBK) of Belarus` Academy of Sciences (NANB).

Belarus largely invests in the development of UAVs. The country`s military now operates a large fleet of tactical reconnaissance UAVs.

The Burevestnik-MB is reported to be the first UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle ) in service with the Belarus armed forces. In September 2017, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said the Belarusian troops would get more UCAVs in the next few months.