In the view of the majority of people not related to aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles are more sophisticated version of the radio-controlled model airplanes.In a sense, the way it is.However, the function of these devices have recently become so diverse that it be limited to a look at them any longer.
Home unmanned era
If we talk about automatic aerial and space remote-controlled systems, the theme is not new.Another thing is that in the last decade they appeared certain fashion.At its core, the Soviet shuttle "Buran" made a space flight without the crew and landed safely in the now distant 1988 - also a drone.Photos of Venus' surface and many of the scientific data on this planet (1965) also received automatic and telemetry mode.And the rovers are consistent with notions of unmanned technology.And many other achievements of Soviet science in the space sector.Whence came the said fashion?Apparently, it was the result of the experience of combat use of such equipment, and he was rich.
Originally drones often used either as a training target, or as flying bombs.It was in the first third of the XX century, and the position is maintained until the end of the century (not counting the spacecraft).Loss of aircraft in the Vietnam War forced the Pentagon to think about ways to reduce casualties.The same considerations prompted to start developing managed to land aviation means designers Israeli firms.
Classification UAV
At the initial stage of development of this class Aerotechnica drones were unmanageable.The technological revolution and the development of software have given rise to the creation of flying robots, working with the given algorithm.In other words, this device should run after a flight on a given route at the correct height, to fix on built-in electronic recording equipment information on the ground under the wing of the situation, to come back to the starting point and landing.The variant data transmission in real time on the monitor is receiving over the air, but during the raid in the management of personnel in the item tracking, does not interfere.For all the merits of this approach, it has a significant flaw.Create a program that would take into account all possible situations, it is impossible.Then there was a third way of solving managerial functions - telemetry.The pilot is on the ground, watching the situation through the built-in cameras, is recording the right information and take decisions in the same way as a pilot conventional aircraft.This method is called remotely piloted.Incidentally, he also used in toys, radio control models, however, is quite expensive (they cost hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars).
experience of using the new technology has received the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the 1973 war.Unmanned aerial vehicles used for operational intelligence, but the large size and weight of video equipment at the time limited the possibilities of this tool.Nevertheless, it is in the Middle Eastern country before anyone realized the prospect of remote-controlled aircraft that affected the continued success of Israeli designers.
amazing variety
Intelligence field of application is not limited.Engineers of the American military-industrial complex went on.Malorazmernikov In addition, they found a logical solution creating shock robotic systems, and even fighters.Of course, these machines have to be big to carry weapons weighing hundreds of kilograms.The range of sizes and extended in the opposite direction.UAV with camera surveillance can be disguised as a bird or insect, work in this direction is already underway, and the main obstacle to success - the imperfection of modern power supply, which should enable the three-dimensional movement of the sample within a few days.In the meantime, "bugs" (in the literal sense) flying over time, measured in hours.
When solving problems peaceful
was in demand not only military but also civilians drones.Prices are quite high (depending on the configuration and capabilities of UAVs tehnichsekih can cost anywhere from one to tens of thousands of dollars), but their use is economically advantageous.Exploration meteorological conditions, the search for victims and lost in the mountain climbers, assessment of ice conditions, the direction of propagation of fire in forest fires, movement of lava during volcanic eruptions and many other tasks are always performed by means of aircraft.Pilots and appliances were at risk of performing dangerous missions, and taking into account the cost of fuel and depreciation of helicopters and airplanes, it becomes quite clear desire to use remotely operated or robotic aerosistemy.
for protection of borders and control migration today also often used drones.The United States has a long border with Mexico, where the country are trying to enter illegally into the best workers illegals, and at worst - with a load of drug smugglers.Similar problems also have Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and many other countries.Invaluable assistance in the fight against poaching may also have unmanned aerial vehicles.But their advantages such as low noise, low degree of visibility, small size, yet increasingly attracted to countries' defense departments worldwide.
Properties unmanned military drones
find in the sky harder than normal planes, or helicopters.Firstly, they can be made small, and secondly, all the technologies that provide low visibility on the radar screen are also applicable to this tactic.But that is not all.If necessary, such an aircraft may have very serious dimensions.The main advantage of the interceptor operating in robotic mode is the ability to perform any maneuvers without fear that the pilot will lose consciousness because of the enormous congestion.This circumstance prompted the leadership of the US Air Force to bet on drones.US invested in the development of this kind of weapons a lot of money, commensurate with the GDP of some countries.Today it is difficult to judge the results of the efforts in the field of fighter aircraft, information about them is very small, of which there are two possible conclusions: either the test so successful that they should be kept secret, or they are so poorly.This second option is more likely.O victories own Pentagon says eagerly, and even their usually exaggerates.
unmanned attack aircraft "Predator"
But the center of attention - the impact drone.This type of weapon was used during the operation against Libya (2011).We used the most common type, Predator, has quite good performance.The ability to carry missiles for firing at ground targets or guided bombs, high (more than 7 thousand. M) ceiling compensate for relatively low speed.Management made with ground stations, and more recently even worked out the possibility of remote piloting from bases in the territory of the United States, through satellite links.This information zavyazannost sometimes does not always play into the hands of the interests of the countries with impressive technological advances.During a reconnaissance mission over Iraq in 2008, one of the "Predator" supplied information not only its armed forces, but also rebel groups.It was found this by accident, after the capture of one of the militants, who had found a laptop computer with the video.To read the video stream used software developed in Russia.
During his military career, "Predator" suffered losses.They bring them down over Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan.Several pieces of broken due piloting errors and technical problems.Currently, the design of this type of UAV is not a secret.Anyone can even purchase these drones.The prices depend on the configuration, however, and the most modest version of "toys" will cost seven-figure dollar amount (about five million).
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drones all countries
US leadership is committed to the military and technological superiority, believing that the more complex military equipment, so it is more efficient.This is not always the case, but when assessing the potential of a technical sample should take into account the interests of the manufacturers.Today, many military analysts, it became clear that the role of UAVs in real military situation is great, but crucially it is difficult to call, even with the big stretch.They, of course, help ground forces, but totally can not ensure success, which is indirectly confirmed by the not very victorious outcome of the US Army's campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.Nevertheless, many countries have joined the race, the aim of which was to create the most perfect of a flying robot.Features drones differ depending on the tasks they will face.
greatest success in the field of mechanical engineering has made Israel.Here, of course, are important features of the Middle East war theater.Distances small exploration work have nearly real time.Initially high demands TTD drones set the pace of development of this class of weapons, and now all countries are at risk of local conflicts, try to apply the experience of Israel, purchasing equipment or making his own development.These include Turkey, India, Britain, almost all European NATO member states and, of course, Russia.
Adventure drones in Russia
It is sad to say that the proper assessment of the possibilities of this class of weapons in our country do not immediately received.Most of the impressive achievements of our military-industrial complex at its core is still the Soviet development that for all its virtues are doomed, like any other technology, to obsolescence.In the days of the Ministry of Defense Serdyukov leadership on Russian drones it had spent an impressive amount - five billion rubles (about $ 170 million), but the effect has been very modest.In the words of the minister, any comparison with foreign examples of domestic developments did not go.However, the presence of imperfect drones better than their absence.At the same time (2009) it was decided to purchase a first in Israel and then the joint production of these devices reconnaissance purposes.
total amount of the contract with the company Aeronautics Defense Systems has made more than fifty million dollars (12 pieces).The next five UAVs "Orbiter" different from the previous expanded configuration, so were more expensive, at 600 thousand. Each.
What can be done taking into account the experience of the most successful countries, should not be confused with other problems solved solely by domestic means.Intelligence apparatus dual-SP produced, can only give an initial impetus to Russian-made.It took over the firm "Tupolev", which seeks to create a percussive drone complex Tu-300.There are other developments, the decisions are taken on the purchase of which the Ministry of Defence on a competitive basis.
volume allocated to the program budget and the technological level of domestic defense industry allow us to hope that soon the Russian drones will become the best in the world.Or, at least, will not concede anything to foreign analogues.Of particular interest are machines designed for electronic warfare.
How to use it?
Management UAV is as special as usual pilot profession.Expensive and complex machine can be easily broken down to the ground, making a clumsy landing.It is possible to lose as a result of a failed maneuver, or shelling by the enemy.As usual plane or helicopter, UAV should try to save and withdraw from the danger zone.The risk, of course, not the same as in the case with "live" by the crew, but also throw expensive equipment is not necessary.Today, in most countries, and instructor training activities conducted by experienced pilots who have acquired control of the UAV.They usually are not professional educators and specialists in computer technology, so this approach is unlikely to continue for long.Requirements for "virtual pilots" are different from those that apply to the future cadet for admission to flight school.We can assume that the competition among the applicants on a specialty "UAV operator" will be considerable.
Ukrainian bitter experience
Without going into the political background of the armed conflict in the eastern regions of Ukraine, it is possible to note the extremely unsuccessful attempts to conduct aerial reconnaissance aircraft An-30 and An-26.If the first of these has been designed specially for aerial photography (mainly peaceful), the second - only a modification of passenger transport An-24.Both aircraft were shot down by the militia fire.But what about the drones in Ukraine?Why they are not used to obtain information on the location of the rebel forces?The answer is simple.They are not here.
Against the background of permanent financial crisis in the country the means necessary for the creation of modern weapons, was not found.Ukraine drones stay at the stage of preliminary designs, or simple homemade devices.Some of them collected from radio-controlled model aircraft, purchased in the store "Pilotage".Similarly, the act and the militia.Not so long ago on the Ukrainian television it was shown allegedly downed Russian drone.Photo, which shows a small and not the most expensive model (no damage) to the artisanal way attached video camera, can hardly serve as an illustration of an aggressive military power "northern neighbor."
