The smallest aircraft for humans. Personal aircraft: Jetpacks are on sale. Airplane with a steam engine

Humans have been obsessed with taking to the air for centuries. In the myths of almost all peoples there are legends about flying animals and people with wings. The earliest known aircraft were wings that mimic birds. With them, people jumped from towers or tried to soar, falling off a cliff. And although such attempts ended, as a rule, tragically, people came up with more and more complex designs of aircraft. The iconic aircraft will be discussed in our today's review.

1. Bamboo helicopter

One of the world's oldest flying machines, the bamboo helicopter (also known as the bamboo dragonfly or Chinese spinner) is a toy that flies upward when its main shaft is quickly twisted. Invented in China around 400 BC, the bamboo helicopter consisted of feather blades attached to the end of a bamboo stick.

2. Flying flashlight

A flying flashlight is a small balloon made of paper and a wooden frame with a hole in the bottom, under which a small fire is kindled. It is believed that the Chinese experimented with flying lanterns as early as the 3rd century BC, but traditionally, their invention is attributed to the sage and military leader Zhuge Liang (181-234 AD).

3. Balloon

The balloon is the first successful technology for manned flight on a supporting structure. The first manned flight was conducted by Pilatre de Rozier and the Marquis d'Arland in 1783 in Paris in a hot air balloon (on a leash) created by the Montgolfier brothers. Modern balloons can fly thousands of kilometers (the longest hot air balloon flight is 7672 km from Japan to North Canada).

4. Solar balloon

Technically, this type of balloon flies by heating the air in it with solar radiation. Typically, these balloons are made of black or dark material. Although they are primarily used in the toy market, some solar balls are large enough to lift a person into the air.

5. Ornithopter

The ornithopter, which was inspired by the flight of birds, bats and insects, is an airplane that flaps its wings. Most ornithopters are unmanned, but several manned ornithopters have also been built. One of the earliest concepts for such an aircraft was developed by Leonardo da Vinci back in the 15th century. In 1894, Otto Lilienthal, a German aviation pioneer, made the first manned flight in history with an ornithopter.

6. Parachute

Made of lightweight and durable fabric (like nylon), a parachute is a device used to slow an object through the atmosphere. A description of the oldest parachute was found in an anonymous Italian manuscript dating from 1470. In modern days, parachutes are used to launch a variety of cargo, including people, food, equipment, space capsules, and even bombs.

7. Kite

Originally built by stretching silk over a split bamboo frame, the kite was invented in China in the 5th century BC. For a long time, many other cultures adopted this device, and some of them even continued to further improve this simple aircraft. For example, human-carrying kites are believed to have existed in ancient China and Japan.

8. Airship

The airship became the first aircraft capable of controlled takeoff and landing. Initially, airships used hydrogen, but because of the high explosiveness of this gas, most airships built after the 1960s began to use helium. The airship can also be powered by engines, and the crew and / or payload in it are located in one or more "nacelles" suspended under a gas cylinder.

9. Glider

A glider is an aircraft heavier than air, which is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of air to its bearing surfaces, i.e. it is independent of the engine. Thus, most gliders do not have an engine, although some gliders can be equipped with one to extend the flight if necessary.

10. Biplane

A biplane is an airplane with two fixed wings that are located one above the other. Biplanes have a number of advantages over conventional wing designs (monoplanes): they allow for more wing area and lift with a smaller wing span. The Wright brothers' biplane in 1903 became the first aircraft to successfully take off.

11. Helicopter

A helicopter is a rotary-wing aircraft that can take off and land vertically, hover and fly in any direction. Over the past centuries, there have been many concepts similar to modern helicopters, but it was not until 1936 that the first operational Focke-Wulf Fw 61 helicopter was built.

12. Aerocycle

In the 1950s, Lackner Helicopters came up with an unusual flying machine. The HZ-1 Aerocycle was intended for use by inexperienced pilots as the standard reconnaissance vehicle in the US Army. While early testing indicated that the unit could provide ample mobility on the battlefield, more extensive evaluations indicated that it was too difficult to control for untrained marines. As a result, after a couple of accidents, the project was frozen.

13. Kaitun

Kaitun is a hybrid of a kite and a balloon. Its main advantage is that the kaitun can remain in a fairly stable position over the anchor point of the cable, regardless of the strength of the wind, while conventional balloons and kites are less stable.

14. Hang glider

A hang-glider is a non-motorized aircraft heavier than air, in which there is no tail. Modern hang gliders are made of aluminum alloy or composite materials, and the wing is made of synthetic canvas. These vehicles have a high lift ratio, which allows pilots to fly for several hours at an altitude of thousands of meters above sea level in warm air currents and perform aerobatics.

15. Hybrid airship

A hybrid airship is an aircraft that combines the characteristics of a lighter-than-air vehicle (i.e., airship technology) with heavier-than-air aircraft technology (either a fixed wing or a rotor). Such designs were never mass-produced, but several manned and unmanned prototypes were born, including the Lockheed Martin P-791, an experimental hybrid airship developed by Lockheed Martin.

16. Airliner

Also known as a jet airliner, a jet passenger aircraft is a type of aircraft designed to carry passengers and goods by air, powered by jet engines. These engines allow the aircraft to reach high speeds and generate enough thrust to move a heavy aircraft. The A380 Airbus is currently the world's largest jet passenger airliner with a seating capacity of 853 people.

17. Rocket plane

A rocket plane is an aircraft that uses a rocket engine. Rocket planes can reach much higher speeds than jet aircraft similar sizes. As a rule, their engine runs for no more than a few minutes, after which the plane plans. The rocket plane is suitable for flying at very high altitudes, and it is also capable of developing much higher acceleration and a shorter take-off run.

18. Float seaplane

It is a type of fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. The buoyancy of the seaplane is provided by pontoons or floats, which are installed instead of the landing gear under the fuselage. Float-type seaplanes were widely used until World War II, but then they were supplanted by helicopters and aircraft used from aircraft carriers.

19. Flying boat

Another type of seaplane, the flying boat, is an airplane with a fixed wing and a hull shaped so that it can land on water. It differs from a float seaplane in that it uses a specially designed fuselage that can float. Flying boats were very common in the first half of the 20th century. Similar to floatplane seaplanes, they were subsequently discontinued after World War II.

Also known by other names (eg, cargo aircraft, cargo ship, transport aircraft, or cargo aircraft), a cargo aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft that is designed or converted to carry goods rather than passengers. At the moment, the An-225, built in 1988, is the largest and most cargo-carrying in the world.

21. Bomber

A bomber is a combat aircraft designed to attack land and sea targets by dropping bombs, launching torpedoes, or launching air-to-surface cruise missiles. There are two types of bombers. Strategic bombers primarily intended for long-range bombing missions - that is, for attacking strategic targets such as supply bases, bridges, factories, shipyards, etc. Tactical bombers are aimed at countering enemy military activities and supporting offensive operations.

22. Spaceplane

A cosmoplane is an aerospace vehicle that is used in the Earth's atmosphere. They can use both rockets and auxiliary conventional jet engines. Today, there are five such vehicles that have been successfully used: X-15, Space Shuttle, Buran, SpaceShipOne and Boeing X-37.

23. Spaceship

A spacecraft is a vehicle designed to fly in outer space. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, Earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, planetary exploration, and the transport of people and goods.

The space capsule is a special type spacecraft which has been used in most manned space programs. A manned space capsule must have everything needed for daily life, including air, water and food. The space capsule also protects astronauts from cold and space radiation.

25. Drone

Officially known as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the drone is often used for missions that are too "dangerous" or simply impossible for humans. Initially, they were used mainly for military purposes, but today they can be found literally everywhere.

Over the past hundred years, mankind has come up with a lot of various aircraft. We saw both planes and helicopters, aircraft with both propeller and jet thrust, capable of taking off from land and from the sea, taking off and landing with a running start and vertically. We saw aircraft of different shapes - no fuselage, no tail and wings, variable geometry, disk, cylinder or cone shapes. We saw unusual hybrids - flying cars and motorcycles, flying boats and even submarines, flying backpacks and a hybrid of an airplane with a spaceship. Unfortunately, it is simply impossible to give an overview of all the unusual aircraft, so we will try to tell you about the most unusual and truly unique ones.

Aircraft on solar powered

Can an airplane fly without fuel and almost indefinitely? Maybe modern technologies allow you to build such aircraft.

The photo shows the plane "Solar Impulse" ("Solar impulse"), built in 2014 in Switzerland. To lighten the weight, the aircraft is made of composite materials, while its weight is 2300 kg with a wingspan of 72 meters. The aircraft is equipped with solar panels located on the wings and powerful batteries capable of storing energy during the day and supporting flight at night. In 2015-2016, the plane made a round-the-world flight, while the flight on the longest section from Japan to Hawaii took more than four days.

Solar Impulse is a manned aircraft, so it still cannot fly for too long. Unmanned aircraft of a similar design do not have such restrictions. Back in 2010, the Zephyr solar-powered unmanned aircraft was able to spend 2 weeks in the air, flying at an altitude of more than 20 kilometers. This success has led to the development of even more ambitious projects in different countries oh, including in Russia. Such aircraft, potentially capable of spending months or even years in the air, will be able to perform many of the tasks currently assigned to satellites - observing the weather, conducting research, providing communications and wireless internet in remote areas.

Tests of the Russian solar-powered drone "Sova"

Musclebirds

Since ancient times, people have thought about flying like birds. There were myths in which people, attaching their wings, rose into the air. True, in practice, all such attempts ended in failure or simply tragically. But after a person had mastered flying with the help of airplanes with powerful engines, people continued to wonder - but still, can a person fly only with the help of his muscular strength, using aircraft without engines? There were doubts on this score, because the largest flying birds weigh only 15-20 kg.

But the enthusiasts took up the task and nevertheless achieved success. Using the lightest materials possible, it was possible to create a musculolet weighing only 30 kg. For the first time, a sufficiently long successful flight on such an aircraft in 1979 was made by cyclist Brian Allen, who flew over the English Channel on it. He covered the distance of 35 km in 2 hours 49 minutes.

Flight across the English Channel

In 1988, enthusiasts decided to go even further and reproduce in reality the ancient Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus. According to the myth, the talented inventor Daedalus fled Crete, from the evil ruler Minos, making wings for himself and flying from the island to Greece. A muscle plane was built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Greek cyclist, Greek cycling champion Kanellos Kanellopoulos flew. Despite the doubts of skeptics, the flight was successful, 116 km Kanellos covered in less than 4 hours, developing a speed of about 30 km / h. True, during the landing approach, a gust of wind broke its wing and the muscle plane fell into the water near the shore. This flight is still a record one.

Muscleplane "Daedalus"

Video - flight of "Daedalus":

Airplane with steam engine

And here is another example showing that if many people, after many attempts, do not succeed, this does not mean that it is impossible. The industry began to use the steam engine as early as the 18th century and at the same time the first attempts were made to adapt it for vehicles. Steam locomotives appeared, and at the beginning of the 19th century. From the very beginning of the 19th century, attempts were made in different countries to build an aircraft with a steam engine. But nothing worked, the steam planes barely got off the ground and fell, flying no more than fifty meters.

The first aircraft that could actually fly, the Wright brothers built using a light engine internal combustion working on kerosene. After that, the belief was formed that it was generally impossible to build an airplane with a steam engine, since it was too heavy. Indeed, in addition to the engine itself, a boiler, a furnace, fuel supplies, and also water were needed.

But in 1933, the Bessler brothers from the United States refuted this belief by building a steam-powered aircraft that flew quite successfully.

Airspeed 2000 - a plane with a steam engine

Moreover, this aircraft even had certain advantages over conventional ones, for example, the engine power did not drop with height, the aircraft was more reliable and easier to maintain, and the engine was very quiet. But the lower efficiency and range of flight led to the fact that the steam aircraft remained built in a single copy.

Video - Bessler steam plane:

Airplane, helicopter and airship hybrid

Airlander 10 is a unique aircraft, built in 2012 in the UK, which combines the features of three main types of aircraft at once - an airplane, a helicopter and an airship.

The huge hybrid airship is 92 meters long (the largest aircraft in the world) and has a payload of 10 tons. The helium-filled housing provides lift and saves fuel by keeping the craft in the air. 4 engines allow speeds up to 150 km / h. And this aircraft can stay in the air for up to three weeks continuously.

Video - Airlander 10:

Ornithopters

Balloons, airplanes, helicopters, rockets - almost all human-built aircraft have no analogues in nature. Yet flying creatures, from insects to birds to bats, fly because they flap their wings. It is not surprising that people, at least just out of interest, began to try to reproduce the principle of flight, which dominates in nature. Aircraft of this type came to be called flies or ornithopters.

Oddly enough, creating ornithopters turned out to be much more difficult than airplanes and helicopters. Today, all ornithopters are unmanned and are relatively small in size.

Here is a video of some ornithopters.

Bird-like ornithopters:

Heavy ornithopter weighing about 30 kg, created by Russian inventors:

Man strives uncontrollably into the air. Public transport- planes and helicopters - people are no longer satisfied ...

Everyone wants to own their own aircraft, which will allow them not to be tied to the flight schedule and not to idle for hours in traffic jams.

So vehicle could become a Flike tricopter.

Flike: Taking off the ground.

Hungarian inventors from Bay Zoltan Nonprofit Ltd, a drone and individual aircraft company, have finally unveiled the first working prototype of their tricopter. The innovative aircraft is called - Flike. While the tricopter cannot do much, however, the beginning is encouraging.

Aircraft powered by a V8 gasoline engine.

The device runs on a V8 gasoline engine. The fuel supply is sufficient, at its current consumption level, for 15-20 minutes of flight.

However, while Flike cannot make a full flight. During the last tests, the tricopter was lifted into the air and lifted from the ground by 5 meters.

At the same time, the transport simply hovered above the ground. The team of engineers from Bay Zoltan Nonprofit Ltd has not yet decided to carry out a horizontal flight, because the device is under development.

Flike: vertical takeoff and landing.

The developers promise to complete work on the first functional Flike model already in 2016. Until that time, it is planned to transfer vehicles from a gasoline engine to an electric one powered by batteries.

This is expected to make the Flike less cleaner, more economical and safer. The tricopter is designed for just one pilot.

Unfortunately, nothing is known about the speed of its movement. Transport has the ability to make vertical take-off and landing.

With the current technological progress, you will not surprise anyone with such a phenomenon as an aircraft. But not every man in the street knows how the era of conquering the sky began and what level modern technologies have reached. Therefore, there is every reason to pay more attention to technology that moves in the atmosphere.

What can be defined as a device capable of flying?

Before moving on to more detailed information, it is worth finding out the meaning of key terms. An aircraft is a device designed to fly in the atmosphere of our planet and even in space. This technique is usually divided into three main types: models that are lighter than air, heavier and space.

In order for each type of apparatus to be able to fly successfully, the aerodynamic, aerostatic and gas-dynamic principle of lift is used. For example, an airship rises into the air due to the difference in the density of the gas inside it and the atmosphere itself.

The aircraft is controlled by the use of thrust and lift. This principle is clearly implemented in aircraft with jet engine and modern helicopters.

How did it all begin?

Humanity began to take bold steps to overcome attraction a long time ago. But the world saw the first aircraft only after 1647. It was then that an airplane with a motor took off and made a full flight. In order for this device to be able to move, the Italian developer Titu Livio Burattini equipped his creation with two pairs of fixed wings, and equipped the other four (in the front and rear of the hull) with springs that made it possible to use the principle of an ornithopter for flight.

Englishman Robert Hooke was also able to assemble a similar mechanism. His ornithopter successfully took off 7 years after the success of the Italian inventor.

In 1763, Melchior Bauer presented to the public a project according to which his apparatus had fixed wings and moved with the help of a propeller.

Significant is the fact that it was the Russian scientist M.V. Lomonosov who was the first to develop and build a model that was heavier than air and worked on the principle of a helicopter equipped with coaxial propellers.

Almost a hundred years later, in 1857, the airplane of the Frenchman Felix du Temple made a full flight. This apparatus was set in motion thanks to an electric motor and a twelve-blade propeller.

Types of aircraft

As mentioned above, there are several types of devices that can overcome gravity: those that are lighter and heavier than air, as well as models that are designed to fly into space.

The devices that are considered to be heavy include such equipment as helicopters, airplanes, rotorcraft, ekranoplanes, gyroplanes, gliders and others. In this case, the lift required for flight is provided mainly by fixed wings and only partially by the tail assembly, as well as by the fuselage. Since the body of such devices is heavy, in order for the lift to exceed the mass of an aircraft or glider, it is necessary to develop a certain speed. It is for this reason that runways are needed.

In the case of helicopters, gyroplanes and rotorcraft, lift is generated by the rotation of the rotor blades. In this regard, such devices do not need a runway for lifting into the air, as well as for landing.

It is worth noting that, unlike helicopters, rotorcraft are lifted into the atmosphere by rotating both the main rotor and the propellers. Now there are many models of various designs. For example, some vehicles use a jet engine.

Light aviation

The desire to conquer the air space led to the development of technologies that allowed everyone to take off into the air. We are talking about ultralight aircraft (ultralight aircraft). This type of equipment differs in that its maximum take-off weight does not exceed 495 kg.

Moreover, such devices are divided into two main types:

Motor (gyroplanes, airshutes, ultralight helicopters, motor hang-gliders, parolet, amphibious-SLA, hydro-ultralight aircraft, motor-paragliders, hang-gliders and micro-planes);
- non-motorized (paragliders, hang gliders).

It is important to understand that balloons, balloons and parachutes do not fall into the category of "ultralight aircraft".

Such a direction of aviation as the ALS is very popular, in connection with which new models and types of this technology are constantly being developed.

Amateur projects

The passion of many inhabitants for free movement in the air is so strong that many enthusiasts independently assemble devices that can fly.

Of course, if anyone makes details of equipment designed for daring flights in a garage, then it is extremely rare. The overwhelming majority of ordinary people, focused on home-made aircraft, order components from reliable manufacturers and, following the instructions, assemble their own heavenly brainchild.

If you carefully follow all the instructions, and besides, consult a live instructor, then there is every chance of getting a high-quality structure on which you can safely climb into the sky.

Homemade aircraft usually look like a glider. Moreover, there are models with and without a motor. In order to use the glider, in principle, no documentation is needed. But in the event that there is a motor, control of the device is possible only with the appropriate permission.

Process automation

Progress does not stand still, and with the development of the scientific and technical base, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) appeared.

For the first time, such devices began to be used in Israel (1973) to collect intelligence. Nowadays, such technologies are used in various spheres of life of modern society, and their popularity is constantly growing.

It is not difficult to explain the increased demand for UAVs: they eliminate the need for the presence of a crew and are quite economical both in production and in operation. Moreover, they can easily perform those maneuvers that are inaccessible to conventional aircraft due to the strong physical overload of the pilots. In addition, such a factor as crew fatigue becomes irrelevant, which significantly increases the potential duration of the flight.

At the moment, there are more than 50 manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles. The number of UAV types they produce exceeds 150 models.

Basically, such aircraft are used for military purposes (reconnaissance, destruction of ground elements).

Aerial video filming

Because the different ways capturing beautiful views has long been a hobby of thousands of people all over the planet, flying vehicles did not have to wait long for such an upgrade as a digital video camera. Now there are a lot of multicopters and quadrocopters (they are also drones), which are actively used to obtain original video and not only.

In fact, an aircraft with a camera, which is controlled remotely, can be used for any private purposes or professional tasks (aerial photography of the area, aerial surveillance, the creation of documentary films, etc.). For this reason, this technique is very popular. In addition, the purchase of a multicopter does not require large expenses.

The civilian population often uses drones to survey hard-to-reach areas and shoot copyright videos.

Aircraft control systems

In order to activate various mechanisms of the aircraft during flight, signals are transmitted directly from the controls themselves, which are located in the cockpit, to various drives of the aerodynamic surfaces.

Such a system is called fly-by-wire (EDSU). It uses electrical signals to transmit control commands.

In this case, the fly-by-wire control system can be divided into two main types: with a mechanical reserve and full responsibility... Mechanical wiring is used if the EDSU fails.

Moreover, in modern models Crewed aircraft use an autopilot that collects information about angular movements and corrects the aircraft's position as well as its course.

In the case of helicopters automatic system piloting partially facilitates the pilot's work. For example, it removes the need to monitor angular movements.

As for remote control, say, drones, in this case, a special remote control can be used. Often, such an aircraft is controlled using smartphones.

Outcomes

Based on the above information, it can be concluded that airplanes, helicopters, drones and different kinds drones have taken a firm place both in the private life of ordinary citizens and in the military industry of many countries. Therefore, there is every reason to expect that the future level of everyday comfort and tactical superiority of states will invariably be associated with the technological development of the main areas of aviation.

Miniature tactical drone HUGINN X1. Sky-Watch Labs, in collaboration with the Danish Technical University, is currently developing the MUNINN VX1 UAV UAV with partial government funding through the Innovation Fund. UAV MUNINN VX1 is able to take off and land vertically in tight and confined spaces, fly horizontally at high speed, overcoming long distances and quickly reaching objects or areas of interest

Is the world of mini and micro UAVs becoming overpopulated? What is the landscape like there? Will there be a Darwinian selection that will allow the best to live and develop along with scientific progress?

In recent years, small UAVs (both mini and micro) have become a popular surveillance tool in defense and security, and constantly evolving technological advances are likely to provide a bright future for this technology. Particular attention is paid to the further improvement of these systems for military operations in urban conditions; in many countries of the world, continuous research and development work is being carried out in this direction.

However, in today's operational space, these technologies are also spreading among terrorist and rebel groups seeking to use UAVs to deliver dirty bombs, which forces the authorities to improve the security of their own systems, as well as to fundamentally change tactics and methods of combating UAVs.

The April 2015 landing of a small vertical take-off and landing vehicle with traces of radiation material on the roof of the Japanese Prime Minister's Tokyo residence is proof of this trend strengthening, and it has forced the more advanced military to consider how best to use these technologies for offensive purposes. and defense operations.

Mini UAV

Israel continues to maintain a strong position in the market due to intensive development of small-sized UAVs, which is primarily due to the fact that the Israeli army is constantly conducting counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations as part of broader internal security activities in built-up urban areas.

According to Baruch Bonen, General Manager of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Malat, the UAV market is witnessing a "steady" increase in the number of small UAVs (both micro and mini), especially when the miniaturization of the size and weight of the sensor equipment reduces the requirements for the carrying capacity of aircraft. In addition, he believes that this trend is also due to the fact that the use of small-sized platforms makes it possible to reduce the likelihood of their identification and falling into the hands of the enemy.

The IAI Malat family of small aircraft includes the BIRD-EYE 400 mini-UAV, designed to collect reconnaissance data for the lower echelons; micro-UAV MOSQUITO with a miniature video camera for urban operations; and the GHOST rotary-wing mini-UAV, deployable from two backpacks, also designed for urban operations and "silent" reconnaissance and surveillance.

However, in addition to traditional manufacturers of smaller UAVs in Europe, Israel and the United States, a number of companies have now appeared in the Asia-Pacific region, offering their advanced solutions to the world market.

Having gained much experience in the successful development of larger platforms, the Indian company Asteria Aerospace decided earlier this year to begin development of its first A400 mini-UAV. The A400 platform is a 4 kg quadcopter designed for reconnaissance missions in built-up areas. The operational speed of the vehicle is 25 km / h, it is capable of performing its tasks for 40 minutes within the line of sight at a maximum range of 4 km.

Asteria Aerospace reported that the A400 should be received by the military and security forces for evaluation by the end of 2015.

In Europe, the Polish Arms Inspectorate issued a request for proposals for mini-UAV systems as part of a broader strategy to increase the level of robotics for Poland's armed forces.

The Polish Ministry of Defense plans to purchase 12 large tactical UAVs under the designation ORLIK, but the Armaments Inspectorate also wants to purchase 15 WIZJER mini-UAVs for urban operations and reconnaissance and observation missions behind enemy lines. In addition, the Polish Ministry of Defense will undoubtedly purchase smaller micro-UAVs.

The Polish Ministry of Defense already has a number of FlyEye UAVs from WB Electronics, as well as about 45 ORBITER mini-UAVs from Aeronautics, which were delivered in 2005-2009. These electrically powered systems are capable of line-of-sight reconnaissance and surveillance operations with a practical ceiling of 600 meters, maximum speed 70 knots, with a flight duration of 4 hours and a payload of 1.5 kg.

Under the terms of the RFP, each of the 15 WIZJER mini-systems will consist of three aircraft with associated ground control and logistics stations, including spare parts. The Ministry of Defense has requested a mini-UAV with a maximum range of 30 km, designed for reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance at the company and battalion level. The contract is expected to be issued in 2016, and the aircraft themselves will be delivered in 2022.

The preferred options presented for the competition include an upgraded version of the FlyEye mini-UAV from WB Electronics, as well as a joint proposal of the E-310 UAV UAV from Pitradwar and Eurotech.

FlyEye is capable of hand-launching from “confined spaces” in urban areas; it has a unique parachute return system, with the help of which the device descends within a radius of 10 meters from the designated landing point.

The instrument cluster is installed at the bottom of the fuselage in order to optimize the sensor's field of view; FlyEye is capable of carrying two cameras in one instrument cluster. The device itself, which has anti-icing and anti-lock systems, is controlled using a light ground control station LGCS (Light Ground Control Station), while data and visual information from the instrument unit is transmitted to the video terminal in real time.

The device itself can fly directly to the target point along a predetermined route and is capable of loitering over the area of ​​interest. The LGCS station allows you to control the device also in manual mode.

The digital data transmission channel also provides the ability to transfer target data to mortar fire control systems or battle control systems in order to perform subsequent fire or other combat missions. The airborne communications system operates in the NATO frequency range 4.4-5.0 GHz. According to WB Electronics, the FlyEye UAV is operated by two people, the propeller is driven by a "silent" electric motor powered by a lithium-polymer battery.

The length of this mini-UAV is 1.9 meters, the wingspan is 3.6 meters, the maximum take-off weight is 11 kg. The flight speed of the device is 50-170 km / h, it can fly at altitudes up to 4 km for a maximum range of 50 km, the maximum flight duration is three hours.

According to Eurotech, the E-310 UAV can carry optoelectronic equipment or synthetic aperture radar, as well as other "specialized surveillance equipment." It has "high mobility and reduced operating costs", the device can take up to 20 kg of onboard equipment, while the maximum flight duration reaches 12 hours. The service ceiling of the E-310 is 5 km, it can reach a speed of 160 km / h and has a maximum range of 150 km. The device is also launched using a pneumatic installation and returned by parachute, or sits down in the traditional way on ski or wheel stands. Eurotech explains that the E-310 is transported on board a "small car" or in a trailer.

Elbit Systems' SKYLARK ILE mini-UAV took part in the hostilities.It was chosen by the Israeli army as a battalion-level unmanned aerial vehicle, and was also delivered to more than 20 customers from different countries. Soldiers of the unit, equipped with the SKYLARK I-LE UAV, spent a week in the Negev desert, learning how to work with the SKYLARK complex (pictured)

Micro UAV

Micro unmanned aerial vehicles are also very useful during operations in urban environments. The military wants small, hand-launched systems capable of covert surveillance in buildings, confined spaces and target areas. In Afghanistan, such tiny systems have already been used, such as the PD-100 BLACK HORNET UAV from Prox Dynamics, although operators have criticized it for its lack of reliability in operations in difficult wind conditions and in high dust conditions.

This specific "personal reconnaissance system" is actually an aircraft vertical takeoff and a nano-grade landing that is powered by a virtually silent electric motor. With a propeller diameter of only 120 mm, BLACK HORNET carries a camera weighing 18 grams, develops a speed of 5 m / s and has a flight duration of up to 25 minutes. The device with a remotely controlled optical reconnaissance station on a rotary support device is capable of operating in line of sight from the operator up to 1.5 km, it can fly along pre-programmed routes, and also hover in place.

However, current trends most likely indicate that the military is choosing slightly larger micro-UAVs to carry out reconnaissance tasks usually carried out before a combat operation.

The InstantEye UAV manufactured by Physical Science Incorporated (PSI) is currently in service with unnamed special units NATO countries and anti-drug groups operating in South America. This aircraft was also adopted by the US Department of Defense and was recently delivered to the British Army for testing. This manual start device weighs less than 400 grams, and the manufacturer claims a start-up time of just 30 seconds. The maximum flight time is 30 minutes, the InstantEye device has a maximum range of 1 km and can carry various sensors.

This UAV, imitating the movements of a hawk moth (a kind of butterfly) during flight, can be controlled in a "manual" mode, while developing a speed of up to 90 km / h. InstantEye is controlled from a ground station; its surveillance and reconnaissance kit consists of front, side and downward vision cameras, providing navigation, tracking and target designation. Visual reconnaissance capabilities can be expanded by installing a high-definition GoPro camera or an infrared camera that is capable of generating an image created by a built-in infrared LED illuminator capable of illuminating the ground from a height of 90 meters.

However, in addition to the existing use for covert surveillance and reconnaissance in the rear, this aircraft will soon receive a WMD intelligence sensor kit in response to possible counter-terrorism operations in urban settings. In addition, in order to meet the needs of NATO special forces, it can be equipped with relay equipment for the transmission of voice and voice data.

Another system that is very popular with special units is the SKYRANGER unmanned aerial complex (UAS) by Aeryon Labs, which is promoted in the international market by Datron World Communications. According to executive director of Dave Croatch's Aeryon Labs, their LHC is a cost-effective alternative to other real-time situational information systems. He explained: “Vertical take-off and landing systems do not require any additional equipment launch and return. They are controlled by one operator and therefore other members of the group can focus on other tasks, that is, the LHC becomes a means of increasing combat effectiveness. Live video can be transmitted to the command center and to other devices on the network. "

The company recently unveiled its new Aeryon HDZoom30 imaging device for its SKYRANGER, which Croatch says provides “an unprecedented aerial reconnaissance capability that is critical to the success of the operation. We get a UAV system with stable and reliable flight characteristics, which can stay in the air for up to 50 minutes and has a reliable digital video channel in real time. "

Meanwhile, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is exploring technology that would help mini-UAVs and micro-UAVs fly in highly interfering space regardless of direct control man and without dependence on navigation on GPS coordinates. At the beginning of this year, the FLA (Fast Lightweight Autonomy) program was officially launched, which provides for the study of biomimetic information regarding the maneuverability of birds and flying insects. Although DARPA uses a small six-screw device weighing only 750 grams as a test platform, the program will still focus on developing algorithms and software that can be integrated into small UAVs of any type.

“The Office hopes that the developed software will allow the UAV to operate in a number of spaces to which access was usually prohibited, a vivid example of this is the interior. Small UAVs, for example, have proven useful for close reconnaissance with deployed patrols, but they are unable to provide information on the situation in the building, which is often the critical moment of the entire operation, ”explained a DARPA spokesman.

The program provides for the achievement of the following characteristics: operation at speeds up to 70 km / h, range of 1 km, duration of operation 10 minutes, operation without reliance on communications or GPS, computing power of 20 watts.

Initial demonstrations are scheduled for early 2016 in the form of “slalom tests on outdoors", After which in 2017 will be tested in the premises.

IAI's state-of-the-art BIRD-EYE-650 mini UAVs provide real-time video data, day and night, for urban operations and reconnaissance behind enemy lines.

With regard to the development of on-board sensors and systems, the general trend is to constantly reduce the size of sensors. Controp Precision Technologies showcased its Micro-STAMP optical reconnaissance station (stabilized miniature payload) at Aero India 2015. The station weighing less than 300 grams, which includes a daytime CCD color camera, an uncooled thermal imager and a laser pointer, is designed to be mounted on a mini-UAV.

The stabilized station was created for reconnaissance missions in depth and has a variety of functions, including observation, inertial target tracking, position hold, coordinate arrival, scan / aerial photography and pilot window mode.

The 10cm x 8cm station, specially reinforced for hard landings, can be installed in the nose or under the fuselage. Day camera is based on CMOS technology (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semi-conductor), and the thermal imager operates in the 8-14 nm range. According to the company Controp, the station has already been tested in the units of the Israeli army, in addition, in 2016 it is planned to develop a larger version weighing 600 grams.

A US Army soldier prepares an InstantEye II micro-UAV for surveillance across the hill during a combined-arms exercise at Fort Benning in May 2015.

Fight against small UAVs

One of the most important advantages of using mini and micro UAVs is that they are capable of performing reconnaissance tasks while remaining undetected, they cannot be detected by air defense radars and ground radars programmed to capture larger aircraft.

However, after the use of small-sized UAVs by militants of various kinds during military operations in Israel and Libya, the military and industry are now addressing this threat and have begun to develop special technology that will identify, track and neutralize mini- and micro-UAVs.

At the 2015 Paris Air Show, Controp Precision Technologies unveiled its lightweight, fast-scan Tornado thermal imager capable of detecting and tracking low-altitude mini-UAVs flying from different speeds... The matrix, operating in the mid-wave infrared region of the spectrum, provides a 360 ° all-round view, it is capable of detecting the slightest changes in space associated with flights of small UAVs, both aircraft and helicopter schemes. The company's vice president explained: “Drones are becoming more common and pose new threats to personal safety. Most radar-based air defense systems are unable to detect the threat of small drones flying below 300 meters. The Tornado panoramic scans a very large area at high speed, using sophisticated algorithms to detect very small changes in the environment. The Tornado was recently tested for its ability to detect and track even the smallest, low-flying drones. "

It is reported that the system is capable of detecting small-sized UAVs at distances "from several hundred meters" to "tens of kilometers", but it is worth noting that, given the general concept of operations, which provides for the use of platforms of this class in urban environments, such capabilities will be simply unclaimed.

The Tornado thermal imaging system can be used as a stand-alone device or integrated into various air defense systems. It has an integrated automatic audible and visual warning system to alert the operator of any intrusion into the no-fly zone. However, in order to neutralize the threat, this system must transmit a signal either to the electronic countermeasures system or to the weapons system.

A similar solution is currently being offered by a consortium of British companies (Blighter Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems), which has developed a surveillance and radio frequency suppression system for UAVs.

The British consortium recently announced the development of an anti-UAV system called the Anti-UAV Defense System (AUDS). Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems (ECS) have specifically teamed up to jointly develop this anti-drone system.

Blighter Surveillance Systems CEO Mark Redford explained in an interview that the AUDS system operates in three stages: detection, tracking and localization. Blighter's A400 Series Air Security Radar is used to locate UAVs, Chess Dynamics' Hawkeye long-range surveillance and search system for tracking, and finally an ECS directional RF jammer works as a neutralizing component.

Company representatives said that the AUDS system is directly designed to combat small aircraft and helicopter-type drones, such as quadcopters, and even named some similar systems that you can simply buy in the store.

Redford said that this system has advantages over similar systems, since it includes components that have been tested in real conditions, for example, the radar is already in service with several armies in the form of a ground surveillance radar, which operates there in a very noisy environment.

Extensive trials of the AUDS system have been carried out in France and the UK, Dave Morris, head of business development at ECS, said. The system was tested against several aircraft in realistic scenarios; to date, a total of 80 hours of testing and 150 sorties have been carried out.

The French Ministry of Defense conducted the tests in March 2015, while the British Defense Science and Technology Laboratory conducted them in early May. AUDS is currently being deployed to the US, where it will be demonstrated to several potential US and Canadian operators. It is also planned to conduct tests in one of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

During testing, the system has demonstrated the ability to detect, track and neutralize targets in just 15 seconds. The neutralization range is 2.5 km with an almost instant impact on the target.

A key feature of the system is the ability of the RF jammer to tune to specific data channels with the exact level of exposure required. For example, the jammer can be used to jam the GPS signal received by the UAV, or the monitoring and control radio channel. There is also the potential to integrate the “interception” capability into the system, which will allow the AUDS operator to “practically” take over the control of the UAV. The work of the silencer is not only to "knock down" the device, it can be used simply to disrupt the functionality of the UAV in order to force its operator to take his device out of the zone.

Company representatives admitted that the most difficult problem for the AUDS system could be the fight against low-flying UAVs in urban space, since in this case there is a large amount of interference and a large number of reflective surfaces. The solution to this problem will be the goal of further development.

Although the system is highly automated in a number of aspects, especially in detection and tracking, human involvement is key to the operation of AUDS. The final decision to neutralize the target or not, and to what extent, rests entirely with the operator.

The technology for the radar is borrowed from ground surveillance radars in service with the British army and also South Korea, where they monitor the demilitarized zone with North Korea.

Frequency Modulated CW Doppler radar operates in electronic scanning mode and provides 180 ° azimuth and 10 ° or 20 ° elevation coverage, depending on configuration. It operates in the Ku-band and has a maximum range of 8 km, and can detect an effective reflection area of ​​up to 0.01 m2. The system can simultaneously capture several targets for tracking.

The Chess Dynamics Hawkeye surveillance and search system is installed in one unit with a radio frequency silencer and consists of an optoelectronic camera with high resolution and a cooled medium wave thermal imager. The first has a horizontal field of view from 0.22 ° to 58 °, and a thermal imager from 0.6 ° to 36 °. The system uses a digital tracking device Vision4ce, which provides continuous tracking in azimuth. The system is capable of continuously panning in azimuth and tilting from -20 ° to 60 ° at a speed of 30 ° per second, tracking targets at a distance of about 4 km.

The ECS Multiband RF Silencer features three integrated directional antennas that form a 20 ° beam. The company has gained extensive experience in the development of technologies for countering improvised explosive devices. A company representative told about this, noting that several of its systems were deployed by coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He added that ECS knows the vulnerabilities of data transmission channels and how to use it.

The heart of the AUDS system is the operator control station, through which all system components can be controlled. It includes a tracking display, a main control screen, and a video recording display.

In order to expand the surveillance area, these systems can be networked, whether it is several full-fledged AUDS systems or a network of radars connected to one "surveillance and search system / silencer" unit. Also, the AUDS system can potentially be part of a larger air defense system, although the companies do not intend to develop this direction yet.

The CEO of Enterprise Control Systems commented: “Almost every day, drone-related incidents and breaches of security perimeters occur with UAVs. In turn, the AUDS system is able to remove the heightened fears in the military, government and commercial structures associated with small UAVs. "

“While UAVs have many positive uses, it is expected that they will increasingly be used for villainous purposes. They can carry cameras