MAKS 2011: Zala Aero unveils new UAV
Russian unmanned systems manufacturer Zala Aero Group used the MAKS 2011 airshow in Moscow to unveil a new UAS, which it says has already been purchased by a Russian security agency.
Under development for the past 14 months, the ZALA 421-16E tactical UAS is a 2.8m flying wing in a pusher propeller configuration and is equipped with a colour PAL camera with ‘HD quality’ resolution.
A company spokesman said after demonstrating the system to various government departments, the security agency expressed its interest and four systems have now been signed for.
He said interest was also being generated in the company’s range of UAS platforms due to the security requirements of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi on the Black Sea coast. The 421-16E was also providing overwatch during MAKS itself.
The 10kg UAS incorporates a specially-developed payload stabilisation and independent inertial system, which reduces camera shake and digital noise, and has already undergone 120 hours of flight tests.
With a range of 45km, a three to four hour endurance and an operational ceiling of 3500m, the UAS is launched by catapult and recovered by parachute. The electric engine provides a speed range of 60-110 km/h and the platform can optionally be fitted with a TAU 640 thermal imaging camera.
The company has also released the gyrostablised payload as a separate product range for small to medium UAS. The ZALA-G3 payload features a colour PAL block camera with a 10x optical zoom in combination with optional 2x digital and provides NTSC video stream at 30 frames per second with resolution 640x480.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet]()
US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
-
![Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems]()
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
![Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences]()
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
![Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way]()
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
![AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems]()
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.
