The Russian Defense Ministry and the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA) have signed a contract to create the Altius-RU drone. About this during a visit to the enterprise, Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko told reporters.

“ In December last year, we concluded a state contract for the development of Altius-RU to create a reconnaissance-strike complex with a new generation long-range unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a satellite communications system and artificial intelligence elements capable of interacting with manned aircraft devices ", - said the deputy minister.

Krivoruchko visited UZGA as part of checking the progress of the state defense order 2020 by enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Russia.

As military expert Viktor Litovkin noted in an interview with RT, new orders for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will benefit both the military department and the aircraft building company.

“New UAV contracts for the Russian Ministry of Defense are undoubtedly a good decision, since this plant has extensive experience in the production of such drones and will be able to fulfill them on time. It will also positively affect the operation of the Ural Civil Aviation Plant, which will be able to profit from military orders, ”the expert explained.

Heavy Altius

Altius-RU is the final version of the UAV, which has been created as part of the Altair project since 2011. At the final stage of development, the device was called Altius-U. Work on this latest Russian long-range turboprop drones was transferred from the Design Bureau to them. Simonova at the UZGA in 2019. The Altius-RU complex is the final version of the device, which was approved after testing a number of prototypes.

  • Unmanned aerial vehicle "Altius-U"
  • RIA News
  • © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

One of the main features of this UAV is the presence of a satellite communication channel, which makes the radius of its application "virtually unlimited."

The device is equipped with an inertial navigation system SP-2, which reduces the possibility of its detection in flight and provides additional resistance to induced interference. Altius-RU is capable of carrying up to a ton of payload - this allows the use of UAVs as an attack drone.

According to Viktor Litovkin, a modern theater of operations cannot be imagined without the wide and integrated use of various UAVs in the operation of military units.

“UAVs conduct reconnaissance, find important targets that need to be hit, including command posts, radar stations, and bases. Shock reconnaissance drones allow you to save human lives, protect them from risk. Undoubtedly, with the help of them, the Russian army will be able to more effectively carry out reconnaissance, surveillance, and hit targets, ”the expert noted.

Updated Outpost

During a visit to the UZGA plant, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksey Krivoruchko also announced that the enterprise will supply 10 reconnaissance systems with updated Forpost-R drones to the Russian Armed Forces.

  • UAV "Outpost-R"
  • RIA News
  • © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

“In December last year, we entered into a contract for the supply of 10 systems with the Forpost-R UAV,” Krivoruchko recalled.

The deputy minister noted that in 2020 the Ministry of Defense plans to sign a contract for the supply of another 18 such complexes. In the summer of 2019, the Russian defense department reported that the drone will begin to enter the army in 2020.

“The complex has gained new opportunities thanks to advanced domestic developments that allow reconnaissance around the clock using not only optical, but also radio-technical and radar means,” the RF Ministry of Defense notes.

The new Outpost-R interference-free radio line has increased the radius of use of the drone by 100 km. The device is equipped with increased protection against foreign electronic warfare. Also, “Outpost-R” is equipped with a modern domestic APD-85 engine. The mass of one device is 500 kg with a payload of 100 kg and a fuel supply of 99 kg. The drone can reach a maximum speed of up to 200 km per hour and conduct reconnaissance from a height of 6 thousand meters for 18 hours.

It is worth noting that the Forpost reconnaissance complex itself includes three UAVs and a ground control station for them.

To date, the Forpost complex has positively established itself in the field and has been successfully used during the military operation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria for covert surveillance and control of attacks on terrorist positions.

Currently, Outposts are used to patrol the Black Sea coast.

Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine Dmitry Drozdenko, in a conversation with RT, noted that medium and heavy drones, such as Outposts, can be modified and can perform shock functions if desired.

“UAVs are classified by their flying mass - among them light, ultra-light, medium and heavy are distinguished. Light and ultra-light, such as quadrocopters, perform only reconnaissance functions. Shock functions can be performed by both medium and heavy vehicles. A drone can have a dual function: to carry both reconnaissance equipment and strike weapons in the form of guided bombs and missiles. However, this should be allowed by its flying mass, ”the military expert explained.

According to Dmitry Drozdenko, the use of these machines expands the range of not only reconnaissance, but also shock functions at all levels of modern military interaction.

“The use of drones is an important element of not only operational, but also a strategic theater of operations. The Russian Altius and Outpost are now able to compete with American cars in a number of ways, ”concluded the expert.