Simonov Design Bureau from Russia to develop heavy unmanned aerial vehicles for Arctic Region TASS 10806161

Posted On
Defence & Security Industry News - Simonov Design Bureau
 
Simonov Design Bureau from Russia to develop heavy unmanned aerial vehicles for Arctic Region.
The Simonov Design Bureau, Russia’s sole developer of heavy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for Arctic applications, will organize its own production of engines in 2017, design bureau spokesman Niyaz Tagirov told TASS.
     
The Simonov Design Bureau, Russia’s sole developer of heavy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for Arctic applications, will organize its own production of engines in 2017, design bureau spokesman Niyaz Tagirov told TASS. Russian Soldier with a Takhion drone deployed in the Russian Arctic. Image: Russian Military archives.
     
Engines that will be manufactured by the Simonov Design Bureau (formerly known as the Sokol Design Bureau) will be mounted on aircraft designed for the Russian Defense Ministry, the spokesman added.

"We have already completed the building’s construction, purchased equipment and are currently adjusting production facilities," Tagirov said.

"We are organizing the local production of engines for our needs to mount them on military unmanned aerial vehicles," the spokesman said."Prototype engines are planned to be manufactured in 2017," he added.

As Tagirov said, a prototype heavy unmanned aerial vehicle with a foreign-made engine is currently undergoing design trials.

"The serial production of the military unmanned aerial vehicle is planned to start in 2020. By that time, we will have the sufficient level of engine local production ," the spokesman said.

According to Tagirov, the work to develop the unmanned aerial vehicle for the Russian Defense Ministry is on schedule.

At the same time, the Simonov Design Bureau is developing a civil unmanned aerial vehicle for Arctic applications on its own initiative.

"The unmanned aerial vehicle can be used for civil applications to monitor ice conditions, map the sea bottom and ensure communications in the extreme North," Tagirov said.

According to him, the unmanned aerial vehicle can be also used to transport cargo as its cargo-carrying capacity equals two tons.

"The Simonov Design Bureau started developing a heavy unmanned aerial vehicle in 2014. The unmanned aerial vehicle is designed to accomplish combat missions in the Arctic," the spokesman said.

"According to the technical specifications, the unmanned aerial vehicle with a weight of five tons should have an unrefueled range of 10,000 kilometers [6,214 miles], loiter for no less than 48 hours and climb to an altitude of up to 12,000 meters," he added.
     
© Copyright 2016 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.