Russian Helicopters Demonstrates Rotary UAV for Airborne Forces

Russian Helicopters, the holding that produces rotorcraft in Russia, has shown a demonstrator future rotary-wing unmanned air vehicle system to the country’s Airborne Forces (VDV), the company said Thursday.

“The holding is developing future rotor-wing systems suitable for the airborne forces, infantry and other units,” Russian Helicopters’ general director Alexander Mikheyev said.

New rotary-wing UAVs will considerably increase the effectiveness of the forces’ unified information and intelligence gathering system on the battlefield, he said, but did not give any details of the new systems.

The VDV said earlier this month it was testing the new fixed-wing Iskatel (Searcher) T4 backpack-portable lightweight UAV system.

Several other nations are already developing or have fielded rotary-wing unmanned air vehicle systems, including the Black Hornet that the British forces say they have successfully used in Afghanistan. [via]