"Archiactual direction": what is the uniqueness of the heavy Russian UAV "Helios-RLD"

The first flight of the heavy UAV of the Helios-RLD radar patrol should be carried out in 2024.

This was reported to the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu by the General Director of JSC "Kronstadt" Sergei Bogatikov, the press service of the military department reports.

“Our task this year is to hand over the outline design.

We are ready next year to fully release the design documentation (working design documentation), start pre-production and ensure the first flight of this aircraft in 2024,” Bogatikov said.

The meeting of the general director of Kronstadt with the head of the military department took place at a recently built plant for the production of large-sized drones in Dubna near Moscow.

This is the only such assembly complex in Russia.

During the inspection of the shops, Shoigu gave a positive assessment of the work of the enterprise.

“Here, electroplating, engines, service, life cycle contracts, there should be an enterprise that will provide expeditionary services, meaning field services, where we deploy military units armed with a large number of drones.

They (plant specialists. -

) should arrive there, serve, ”said the Minister of Defense.

The enterprise in Dubna is part of Kronstadt, a leading Russian developer of heavy large-sized drones.

In October 2021, in an interview with RT, Bogatikov said that this enterprise would produce "our entire line of drones", including Orion, the Sirius reconnaissance and strike apparatus, the promising high-speed strike UAV Thunder and Helios-RLD ".

"Hi-tech"

Helios-RLD is a further development of the Orion UAV platform, the first domestic UAV belonging to the elite class MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance).

This device is able to stay in the air for more than a day, conduct reconnaissance and strike at ground and air targets.

According to the general director of Kronstadt, Orion has become a universal platform that is used "to develop advanced technologies and create new devices."

• Assembly of heavy UAVs at the plant in Dubna

• © Ministry of Defense of Russia

The main purpose of the Helios-RLD is to maintain a radar patrol.

The encyclopedia of the RF Ministry of Defense says that this function is necessary to build up (create) a radar field in the direction of the most probable flight of enemy air forces.

Thus, the fixation of threats to the actions of aviation, ships and ground forces is ensured.

According to the developer, "Helios-RLD" is capable of performing the tasks of radar patrol and surveillance due to its high flight performance, large radius of application and the presence of a satellite communication system.

The maximum takeoff weight of the Helios-RLD is 4 tons, the maximum payload weight is 800 kg, the wingspan is 30 m, the height is 3.6 m, the length is 12.6 m, and the cruising speed is 350-450 km/h.

The drone is capable of climbing to a height of 9-11 thousand meters and stay in the air for 24-30 hours.

The apparatus is controlled from a ground station.

In August last year, in an interview with TASS, the general designer of Kronstadt, Nikolai Dolzhenkov, called the development of a radar patrol drone an “archaic direction” for Russia “in the interests of creating a continuous radar field in the necessary directions.”

“(Unmanned. -

) Helios-RLD aircraft should be combined into a network that interacts within the air defense system with an automated control system, and harmoniously combined with the operation of manned RLDN aircraft (radar patrol and guidance. -

) type A-50 or A-100,” Dolzhenkov said.

Recall that at present Russia is carrying out the modernization of the fleet of A-50 aircraft.

Along with this, the appearance of the "flying radar" A-100 "Premier" is expected.

As stated on the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the A-100 is being designed "in connection with the emergence of new classes of targets and the creation of a new generation of fighter aircraft."

The capabilities of the "flying radar" should significantly surpass both domestic and foreign counterparts.

According to experts, these aircraft are designed to detect and recognize a large number of air objects, determine their coordinates and movement parameters.

They can also carry out target designation.

To maintain a radar patrol, Helios-RLD will use an airborne radar system (BRLS).

In 2020, in a commentary to RIA Novosti, Dolzhenkov said that, most likely, a fragment of the Premiere radar station would be installed as a radar on the brainchild of Kronstadt.

• Prototype aircraft A-100

• © Rostec

Little is known about the electronics of this aircraft.

According to Rostec, a variety of digital systems and an active phased array are placed on board the A-100, which effectively captures and accompanies targets.

According to Dolzhenkov, the use of unmanned radar patrol vehicles will become a more economical way to create a continuous radar field.

In addition, "Helios-RLD" will receive advantages in terms of duration of stay on combat duty, range and flight altitude.

Multifunctional device

In addition to the radar patrol, "Helios-RLD" can carry out air and sea patrols, provide troops with radio communications in case of emergencies, and deliver cargo to hard-to-reach areas.  

Specialists of "Kronstadt" adapted their offspring for the use of strike weapons.

To do this, instead of radar equipment, a special suspension for ammunition can be installed on the drone.

• UAV "Helios-RLD"

• © Ministry of Defense of Russia

It also provides for the civil use of "Helios-RLD" as a means of conducting ice reconnaissance along the Northern Sea Route and monitoring forest areas for fire fighting purposes.

In an interview with RT, Honored Pilot of Russia Major General Vladimir Popov explained the versatility of Helios-RLD with the so-called modular architecture, which allows equipment to be installed on board the aircraft for specific tasks. 

From the entire list of functions, the most relevant for the Russian army, from the point of view of an expert, is the relaying of radio signals.

“The specifics of the use of ground stations is that the radio signal is unstable, often interrupted, primarily due to natural and artificial barriers.

"Helios-RLD" will be able to pick up a radio signal from the ground and transmit, rebroadcast it further, significantly increasing the range and stability of communication," Popov explained.

According to the expert, in certain situations, Helios-RLD may well replace manned aircraft, including patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.

The expert believes that the brainchild of Kronstadt is of great importance for the military and economic development of the Arctic.

“Today, aircraft have to be raised in the Arctic to relay radio signals, survey certain areas of the terrain, and monitor ice conditions.

This requires the maintenance of appropriate infrastructure, staff costs, fuel, anti-icing measures.

This is very expensive, and the appearance of the Helios-RLD park will simplify the fulfillment of these tasks for both the military and ships passing the Northern Sea Route, ”explained Popov.

Military expert Alexei Leonkov has a slightly different view on the future use of Helios-RLD.

According to the analyst, the Kronstadt drone will not be able to fully replace the fleet of patrol and reconnaissance aircraft due to its modest cruising speed and relatively small payload.

“Airplanes are generally much faster than drones and lift a much larger payload into the air.

Compared to UAVs, reconnaissance aircraft collect much more information and transmit it more quickly.

If hostilities are underway against a serious enemy, then there is no point in using such drones on the front line, ”Leonkov explained in a comment to RT.

However, for duty in a peaceful environment, the Helios-RLD will be a very useful aircraft, the expert is sure.

According to Leonkov's forecast, this UAV should become part of the Russian air defense system, providing information to command posts, ground-based radar stations and aircraft.

"Helios-RLD" will work on all objects that are in the air and on the ground, using the radio frequency range.

In addition, such a device will be useful in the Arctic.

With the installation of a special radar, the drone will be able to monitor the earth's surface and track the ice situation," Leonkov concluded.