It is already difficult to surprise with a variety of types and models of modern mini-drones - the number of models offered is measured in tens or even hundreds. Do not get lost in the crowd, you can withstand the competition only by offering something new and original. As, for example, did the Izhevsk company ZALA AERO, which is part of the Kalashnikov concern, which launched a series of noiseless unmanned aerial vehicle ZALA 421-16E2 aircraft type with a hybrid power plant.

The basic model of the device, the ZALA 421-16 mini-UAV, was created taking into account the operating experience of previous ZALA systems (including those also made according to the “flying wing” scheme: ZALA 421-04M and ZALA 421-08) and the generalized needs of the Ministry of Defense, border service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as well as civil organizations fuel and energy complex.

An enlarged version of the UAV of the ZALA 421-16 family. According to some reports, this aircraft is already used in combat operations in Syria.

Therefore, the emphasis during its development was placed on a long flight duration, which is necessary, for example, when patrolling borders or monitoring the condition of pipelines. In particular, on July 10, 2009, the UAV achieved a record flight time of 12 hours and 21 minutes. In addition, when designing the ZALA 421-16, low visibility technologies were used, which makes it especially suitable for tasks solved in the interests of the Russian Defense Ministry.

It is a direct competitor to the Eleron-10D mini-UAV of the Kazan CJSC ENIKS (2008, the Valdai complex for the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation). The release of the ZALA 421-16 was a major step forward in the development of miniature drones, as its capabilities made this lightweight UAV almost question the need for heavier airfield-based drones.

This UAV served as the basis for a number of subsequent options:

ZALA 421-16E5- operational-tactical complex aerial reconnaissance with an increased range of up to 150 km and an expanded set of payloads, equipped with an engine internal combustion;

ZALA 421-16E- version with a pusher engine (the place in front, which was previously occupied by the engine, was taken by a unified payload unit compatible with other types of UAVs, including helicopter type);

ZALA 421-16EM- lightweight version up to 6.5 kg with a launch using an elastic catapult.

"Younger brother" - a lightweight version of the ZALA 421-16EM Concern "Kalashnikov"

The latest modification of this series was the ZALA 421-16E2 mini-UAV, which retained the overall dimensions and technical components of the ZALA 421-16E model, but with an additional one hour flight duration and the ability to transmit data over a distance of up to 70 km. In addition, the composition of the former equipment (photo and video cameras, thermal imagers, gamma radiation detectors, loudspeakers for voice notification of the population) was replenished with an infrared video camera with optical zoom, which makes it possible to obtain high-quality images at night: for example, to see car license plates or detect burning peat bogs and etc.

For the navigation of the device, the use of satellite navigation systems is not required, since it itself can navigate in space using onboard sensors. In addition, ZALA 421-16E2 is controlled by a special controller via an encrypted data channel, which excludes the possibility of signal interception.

But the most impressive feature of the ZALA 421-16E2 was the unique hybrid power point, which made it possible to significantly increase the flight range. It has two modes of operation: normal and silent, which is especially important for law enforcement and environmental protection agencies. The essence of the hybrid installation is that the electricity to power the electric motor and the target load does not come from batteries, but from a generator.

The generator, in turn, is connected to an internal combustion engine. Thus, the electric motor and the internal combustion engine can work both independently and together, or the latter can be connected as needed (for example, on takeoff).

Projections of UAV ZALA 421-16E Concern "Kalashnikov"

This device was first presented at the IDEX-2017 exhibition in Abu Dhabi and launched in early January in mass production, the very first deliveries to customers are expected at the end of the current quarter. The complex was developed in strict secrecy for two years, after which at the end of 2016 it passed factory tests and trial operation in the interests of the fuel and energy complex, having made more than 1000 sorties. Ahead - state tests and tests by foreign customers. The presentation of ZALA 421-16E2 for the general public will be held at the MAKS-2017 exhibition in Zhukovsky near Moscow and at the Army-2017 forum in Kubinka.


ZALA AERO GROUP

28.01.2014
The ZALA AERO group of companies won the tender for the supply of six multi-purpose complexes with unmanned aerial vehicles in structural units Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. According to the state defense order, the delivery of the complexes is scheduled for September 1, 2014, but the manufacturing plant intends to fulfill all the terms of the contract in the first half of this year.
All supplied complexes with UAVs will operate on the basis of vehicles specially re-equipped in a certified ZALA AERO auto repair center. Four of them - on all-wheel drive Ford Transit, two more complexes - on three-axle onboard cargo KamAZ trucks. The latter will go to the regions of Siberia for work in difficult terrain.
The supplied unmanned aircraft - ZALA 421-16E, ZALA 421-16EM, ZALA 421-08M and helicopter-type UAVs ZALA 421-21 and ZALA 421-22 will be equipped with a target hold and automatic tracking module (ZALA AC Module), as well as modern video and infrared cameras - Z-16ВКHD (HD video camera), Z-16IK35/Vkl (thermal imager combined with a video camera), Z-21ВКHD (HD video camera with photography capability) and many others.
In addition to the above-mentioned target loads, each complex will be equipped with a unique development of the company - the Alert-1 warning system, which, in the event of an emergency, will allow the air squadrons of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to warn the population about imminent danger using UAVs.
In accordance with the contract, in the departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Southern Siberia, Transbaikalia and the North-West region, 6 new squadrons will be created. The cops will pass free education in a licensed training center ZALA AERO GROUP and will receive the qualification of an operator of ground controls for an unmanned aerial vehicle.

26.03.2014


The ZALA AERO group of companies plans to supply customers with at least 20 unmanned aerial vehicles in 2014 aircraft(UAV) ZALA 421-22 vertical takeoff and landing helicopter type, Deputy CEO ZALA AERO Nikita Zakharov.
He noted that in 2013 the first 10 ZALA 421-22 drones were sold out very quickly, and this year it is planned to almost double the production. Currently, ZALA AERO has contracts and agreements for the supply of complexes to both law enforcement agencies and commercial customers.
In particular, there are orders from power engineers, interregional network companies for monitoring the state of power lines (TL), to determine the state of insulators. Only in these structures it is planned to purchase three complexes with ZALA 421-22 this year. In addition, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as well as a number of potential customers who are already successfully operating UAVs of the ZALA 421-16E / EM type, are showing great interest in the complex with the UAV ZALA 421-22, as they have unified payloads with the ZALA 421-22, said N. Zakharov.

The ZALA AERO group of companies is a leading domestic developer and manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles. Since 2004, a team of qualified ZALA AERO specialists has developed and supplied mass production a wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles of aircraft and helicopter type.

In addition to UAVs based unique system automatic control, the company develops target loads, software, pneumatic and elastic catapults, lighthouses, ground control stations in various modifications(personal computer/laptop, tablet or mobile phone) based on cars, ships or containers.

Developments of the company in the field of robotics

1. Aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles

UAV ZALA 421-16E
The complex is designed for conducting aerial surveillance at any time of the day at a distance of up to 50 km with real-time video transmission. The UAV successfully solves the tasks of ensuring the security and control of strategically important objects, allows you to determine the coordinates of the target and quickly make decisions to correct the actions of ground services. The UAV has the best tactical and technical characteristics in its class.

UAV ZALA 421-16EM
The main advantage of the aircraft is the preservation of high performance characteristics with a significant reduction in size. Reliability of start of the device is increased thanks to the handles integrated into its body. The UAV is designed to carry out high-quality and effective monitoring of the area at any time of the day, ensure the safety of objects, search and detect acts of unauthorized activity in the area of ​​responsibility.

UAV ZALA 421-08M
The UAV compares favorably with its ultra-reliability, ease of use, low acoustic and visual visibility, and the best payloads in its class. It does not require a specially prepared runway, it carries out aerial reconnaissance under various weather conditions at any time of the day. The lightness of the device allows (with appropriate training) to launch "by hand", without the use of a catapult, which makes it indispensable for solving tasks that require covert presence. The built-in AC module allows the unmanned aircraft to automatically monitor static and moving objects both on land and on water.

2. Unmanned aerial vehicles of helicopter type:

UAV ZALA 421-22
The design of the apparatus is foldable, made of composite materials, which ensures the convenience of delivery of the complex to the place of operation by any vehicle. It does not require a specially prepared runway, which makes it indispensable for aerial reconnaissance in hard-to-reach areas. ZALA 421-22 is successfully used to perform operations at any time of the day. The built-in AC module allows the UAV to automatically monitor static and moving objects.

UAV ZALA 421-21
This small-sized, easy-to-handle unmanned helicopter is launched "by hand". Designed for conducting special operations in hard-to-reach areas at any time of the day: to search and detect objects and people, to detect acts of unauthorized activity in the area of ​​responsibility, to ensure the security of perimeters within a radius of up to 2 km. If necessary, this unit is used for LED lighting, sound effects transmission and signal relaying.

Zala Aero is a subsidiary of the Kalashnikov concern, producing more than 12 types of unmanned aerial vehicles for the needs of the army, navy, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service, as well as for civilian needs. The enterprise was founded in 2004, the company operates on the domestic market, but there are also plans to enter foreign markets.

What are the main types of devices produced by the company?

All devices are made using the “flying wing” technology. The company produces unmanned systems of heavy, medium and light classes. Aircraft and helicopter type. Also in the future, unmanned balloons with a flight time of 3 days and more are being developed. Zala Aero produces models that you can drive from cars, trucks, sea transport, railway transport.

In what areas is ZALA AERO technology already used?

Aero Hall devices are adapted to weather conditions of Russia and are capable of operating with wind gusts up to 15 m / s, development is underway to increase the speed and flight time of drones. The devices are used to help rescuers with emergency situations and incidents, to monitor extended objects, to search for missing people, to protect persons, buildings, objects. The company has already completed the development of unmanned helicopters, the next step is the development and implementation of unmanned convertiplanes. The potential of the company is huge, in 3-4 years the company will be able to develop distant foreign markets. Liked the article? Was our site helpful to you? Do you want to follow our news? Bookmark our site now! Planning to buy an unmanned vehicle? Need advice?

The Izhevsk group of companies ZALA AERO supplies the market with a wide range of unmanned vehicles (airplanes, helicopters and balloons) designed for various purposes. Among her clients are commercial companies and law enforcement agencies, such as the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

One of the company's most sought-after products is the ZALA 421-08 tactical-range unmanned aircraft already described above. There are quite large devices among the company's products - for example, a 200-kilogram ZALA 421-20 (Fig. 3.29), capable of maintaining radio communication at a distance of up to 120 km, carrying a payload of up to 50 kg and being in the air for up to 8 hours, time about 400 km.

Rice. 3.29. UAV "ZALA 421‑20"

ZALA 421-20 is designed primarily for long-term surveillance, it can be used for border protection, pipeline monitoring, marine reconnaissance, fire monitoring, etc. tanks.

The device can be operated in the temperature range -35..+40 °C. The payload can be easily replaced, in particular, it can include a gyro-stabilized camera with a smooth change in the 360° field of view. UAV ZALA 421‑20 can perform a fully autonomous flight using GPS/GLONASS satellite systems. Takeoff: manual or from the runway. Landing: runway, parachute or net.

UAV "Eleron"

The Eleron series of UAVs, produced by CJSC Enix (Kazan), includes two modifications - Eleron‑10SV (medium range) and Eleron‑3 SV (short range). The Ministry of Defense has planned to purchase 17 Eleron-3SV complexes with 34 reconnaissance drones, the delivery of which should begin as early as 2014.

The takeoff weight of Eleron‑ZSV is 4.3 kg, the wingspan is 1.47 m. It can be equipped with interchangeable surveillance equipment, such as optical or IR video cameras, an IR emitter, a weather balloon, a drop container, a relay and jamming system, and a camera.

Rice. 3.30. UAV "Eleron-ZSV"

UAV "Grusha"

One of the simplest and most accessible unmanned systems that are at the disposal of the Armed Forces is the complex based on the Grusha UAV (Fig. 3.31) manufactured by Izhmash LLC - Unmanned Systems, which has several types of UAVs that differ in the composition of payloads and radius combat use- 10, 15, 25 and 100 km.

"Pear" is capable of conducting video surveillance while in the air for up to 75 minutes. Its "ceiling" is 3000 m above sea level, the takeoff weight is 2.4 kg, and the maximum radio communication range is 10 km. The cruising speed of the UAV is 80 km/h, the maximum is 120 km/h. On board the UAV are two cameras with a maximum resolution of 720x576 px and an aerial camera with a resolution of 10 Mpx and a fourfold optical zoom.

Rice. 3.31. Complex with UAV "Grusha"

Unmanned aviation complexes"Inspector"

CJSC "Aerocon" (Zhukovsky, Moscow region) by 2012 developed a whole line of UAVs for aerial reconnaissance, surveillance and monitoring systems:

- "Inspector-101" (take-off weight 0.25 kg, wingspan 0.3 m);

- "Inspector-201" (take-off weight 1.3 kg, wingspan 0.8 m);

- "Inspector-301" (take-off weight 7 kg, wingspan 1.5 m);

- "Inspector-402" (take-off weight 14 kg, wingspan 4.0 m);

- "Inspector‑601" (takeoff weight 120 kg, wingspan 5Dm).

All devices have a good aerodynamic layout, modern composite materials are widely used in the designs (Fig. 3.32).

Of course, the devices differ in their purpose and capabilities. Thus, the lightest of the presented devices ("Inspector-101") is designed for prompt and imperceptible observation of the surrounding space and individual objects in cramped conditions - in residential and industrial areas, in conditions of complex terrain, etc. The radius of its action is 1500 m, the flight time is 30-40 minutes.

Rice. 3.32. UAV "Inspector" (from left to right: models 201, 301, 101)

The UAV based on the UAV "Inspector-201" is designed for operational local monitoring of the battlefield, protection of the territory, search and rescue operations, control of forest and agricultural lands, etc. The radius of its action is at least 5 km, the flight time is 30-60 minutes. depending on the mode. Takeoff is carried out from a catapult, landing - by parachute.

LHC "Inspector‑301" is designed for the same tasks, but requiring longer duration flight. The radius of its action is up to 25 km, the flight time is up to 120 minutes.

"Inspector-402" is distinguished by an even greater range and flight duration and is designed to monitor extended areas, such as power lines, oil and gas pipelines, state border, forests, etc. The maximum flight range is 400 km.

"Inspector-601" is designed to solve reconnaissance, special, transport and strike tasks. Its flight duration is 6-7 hours. The maximum payload mass is 20 kg. Unlike all the types of vehicles listed above that use electric motors, the Inspector‑601 is equipped with a ZDZ‑210 (Czech Republic) internal combustion engine with a power of 20 hp.

By the end of 2012, the Aerocon company completed testing of the UAV Inspector-202 (take-off weight 3.5 kg, wingspan 1.2 m). It turned out to be more in demand among customers than others. It was designed as a multifunctional complex with the ability to quickly adapt to the needs of the customer. In 2013, Aerocon began deliveries of the Inspector-202 unmanned aerial vehicle to individual customers from the Russian law enforcement agencies. However, there is also a civilian version of the device for entering the market of complexes with UAVs with it. If a drone for law enforcement agencies has a mass of 3.5 kg, then its civilian version is about 1 kg heavier. This version of the drone is equipped with more advanced video and photo cameras with full software control and high resolution, with interchangeable optics and the ability to adjust exposure in flight, as well as with the ability to transmit high-quality photographs to the ground.

Developed for the Ministry of Defense special modification complex - LHC "Inspector‑2020" (Fig. 3.33).

Rice. 3.33. UAV "Inspector‑2020"

It is designed to work as part of a complex simulator for MANPADS anti-aircraft gunners as an aerial target simulator. The UAV used as an aerial target simulator flies along a predetermined route. Source infrared radiation, located on board, provides the ability to capture the simulator. Coordinates and other flight parameters of the simulator are transmitted to ground station real-time control using a ground communication station, to ensure the possibility of objective monitoring of the actions of training MANPADS operators, as well as to control the flight parameters of the simulator. Upon completion of the flight program, the UAV performs a landing using parachute system. The resource of the glider allows it to be used as a target simulator up to 100 times.

All complexes "Inspector" are unified in composition (Fig. 3.34). They usually include 2 UAVs (packed in a special backpack container), a ground control station with support tools (packed in a special case) and a catapult (optional). The deployment time of any complex of the model range 101-301 is 10 minutes. The ground complex operates on a PC-compatible laptop computer with a special external wireless communication module. operating system ground complex– MS Windows XP.

Rice. 3.34. Set "Inspector‑201"