RuAviation

The Siberian Aviation Research Institute named after Chaplygin is assembling the second flight model of an unmanned aerial vehicle. Chaplygin is assembling the second flight model of the Partizan unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Dmitry Smirnov, deputy director for scientific work of SibNIA, told about it during the press conference.

According to him, the construction of the aircraft is almost complete, only the propulsion system is still missing. “We are now co-operating with domestic developers, including those involved in hybrid propulsion systems. And we plan to put a domestic engine on it already,” Smirnov said.

A hybrid propulsion system (HPS) based on the VK-650V turboshaft engine may be considered as a power plant for the Partizan UAV. In the summer of 2023 at the Technoprom forum, a demonstrator of such a hybrid propulsion system with a capacity of 500 kW was presented, the development of which is jointly carried out by ODK and Baranov Central Institute of Aviation and Mechanical Engineering.

The use of a turboshaft engine as part of the GDS is explained by the need to use all the useful power to rotate the electric generator. Therefore, from the point of view of efficient conversion of mechanical power into electrical power, the turboshaft engine is the best choice for use in hybrid propulsion systems.

In parallel, work is underway to ensure the possibility of using the first copy of the Partizan in unmanned mode, since a manned aircraft is an optional option. In the near future, SibNIA will start flight tests of the automatic control system that is installed on the aircraft.

“In the near future we should move to the phase of flight tests, during which we will work it out, bring it to a normal operational state,” added the deputy director of the institute.

Partizan is a transport aircraft of ultra-short takeoff and landing with a hybrid propulsion system. Its characteristics include the ability to take off and land on an area of 50 by 50 metres with the height of obstacles at the boundary up to 15 metres. It has a range of up to 1,000 km, a maximum speed of more than 300 km/h, and a payload weight of up to 1,000 kilograms. The development has been underway since 2019 under the order of the Foundation for Advanced Research.

Partizan performed its first flight on 16 February 2024. The aircraft was piloted by test pilot, director of SibNIA Vladimir Barsuk. The flight lasted 20 minutes and took place at an altitude of 200 metres at a speed of 50 to 200 km/h. It is planned that the first serial copies of the Partizan unmanned aeroplane will be produced for Russian Post.