Sukhoi Design Bureau specialists tested a prototype of a vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerodrome-based transport system (UAS) at a complex flight test stand. During the tests, control algorithms and operation of takeoff, hover and landing systems were tested, the press service of the United Aircraft Corporation said.
“Sukhoi Design Bureau designers are working on the development of a fundamentally new unmanned transport system of off-airfield basing in a proactive manner. The civilian drone will make it possible to solve a wide range of transport and logistics tasks, delivering cargo to hard-to-reach settlements where the transport network is poorly developed or there are no airfields,” UAC said.
The BTS-VAB hybrid propulsion system combines the advantages of an aeroplane and a helicopter. “The hybrid propulsion system includes an electric lift propulsion system and a piston marching engine. Vertical takeoff and landing are performed by the lift engines located on the wing beams. After takeoff, a petrol engine comes into operation. The wing increases fuel efficiency, and due to the possibility of vertical takeoff, there is no need to build expensive aerodrome infrastructure and runways,” said Sukhoi Design Bureau’s BTS-VAB project manager Evgeny Rubtsov.
Take-off, flight and landing of the new transport system take place in automatic mode, without direct involvement of the operator, although the latter can intervene in case of an emergency situation. The UAS is designed to transport cargo within a radius of 500 kilometres from its home base, with the UAV’s payload capacity of up to 300 kg.
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