July 25,
2008: Russian aviation firms are taking
advantage of cheaper and more reliable new technology to create mini-UAVs for
their police and special operations (commando) forces. One such device was
recently demonstrated. It was a miniature helicopter, weighing less than 30
pounds, and capable of staying aloft for two hours at a time. Day and night
video cameras were carried, and zoom capability was demonstrated. The Unmanned
Systems UAV used a laptop based controller. The mini-chopper had a cruising
speed of 50 kilometers an hour and a max altitude of 2,000 meters (out of range
of most rifles and machine-guns). The
helicopter can operate up to 40 kilometers from its base station.
Last year Unmanned
Systems demonstrated a 12 ounce "flying wing" micro-UAV, that stayed aloft for
30 minutes. Apparently, most of Unmanned Systems work is for intelligence
organizations, because much of their stuff is never offered for public, or
export, sale.
