A new barrage unmanned munition “Scalpel”, created in the design bureau “Vostok”, is undergoing flight tests, the launch of the product in serial production for the needs of special operations is planned from October 2023. This was reported to TASS in the design bureau.
“At the moment we have received applications for a multi-purpose single-use platform from several Russian units. We are in constant dialog with the military regarding the technical requirements for the aircraft,” a Vostok representative said.
The inner diameter of the drone’s fuselage is designed so that the combat part of the product fits most of the payloads available to the Russian Army. “We tried to make the most versatile platform possible. The payload compartment is made with a diameter of 125 mm and a length of 650 mm with the expectation that each unit will independently decide which payload to deploy, based on its capabilities,” the design bureau emphasized.
The payload mass of the platform is 5 kg, takeoff weight – 10.5 kg, cruising speed – 120 km/h, range – 40 km. “Some components of the apparatus are foreign-made, but to a high degree it is a Russian product. The platform features a compact size for such a payload weight, maximum energy efficiency, ease of manufacture and use,” the organization noted.
The aerodynamic layout of the “Scalpel” kamikaze drone is virtually identical to the “Lancet”, which has already become widely known and has shown high effectiveness in defeating armored vehicles, artillery, SAMs and radars on the Ukrainian front. “Scalpel”, as well as the “Lancet-3”, has a pair of the same size X-shaped plumage, but “Scalpel” is larger in size and more loadable than the “Lancet”.
Like the Lancet, the multi-purpose platform of single-use “Scalpel” is able to stay in the air in the target area for a long time in standby mode and promptly attack it after receiving the appropriate command from the operator or perform tasks provided by the algorithm. The Scalpel is transported disassembled in a special carrying case. Before use, the operator docks the plumage and installs the warhead in the drone’s body. A launch guide is used to launch the kamikaze drone. Once launched, an electric motor with a pusher propeller is engaged.
The cost of “Scalpel” is not disclosed, but it is known that the younger model of “Lancet” – “Lancet-3” costs about 35 thousand euros. On this basis, the cost of the “Scalpel” barrage munition may be about 40 thousand euros or about 4 million 200 thousand rubles.
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