RuAviation

The Sky-Truck helicopter-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), powered by the new Russian VK-650V turboshaft engine, was showcased at the MILEX-2025 International Defence and Military Equipment Exhibition in Minsk in May 2025. The UAV was developed by the Belarusian design bureau Unmanned Helicopters (UAVHELI). Under a contract signed at the exhibition with the Raskat Design Bureau, part of the Vnukovo Aircraft Repair Plant holding company, 20 units will be produced for the Russian market.

According to Vladimir Chudakov, Chief Designer at UAVHELI, factory testing of the Sky-Truck is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The aircraft has already undergone most of its bench and flight tests with payloads of 1,100–1,300 lbs. As the VK-650V engine is still in the process of being fully certified for use in specific helicopters, flight trials of the Sky-Truck are currently performed using Rolls-Royce powerplants, Chudakov told TASS news agency.

“UAVHELI is currently manufacturing 22 Sky-Truck rotorcraft UAVs, 20 of which are destined for the Russian customer. The aircraft was originally designed for operations along the Northern Sea Route. The company plans to complete factory acceptance tests by year-end,” the design bureau reported.

The Sky-Truck family features a coaxial rotor configuration with a maximum take-off weight of 5,500 lbs (2,500 kg) and a payload capacity of up to 1,300 lbs (600 kg). The system can carry standard Air Box containers and is equipped with a ground control station, mobile trailer, and advanced communications suite. It offers a flight endurance of 4–5 hours, a range of up to 300 miles (480 km), and a cruising speed of 86 knots (160 km/h).

Designed for dual-use applications, the Sky-Truck can perform transport and logistics missions in the civilian sector, deliver cargo to remote areas, support mining and energy infrastructure, and participate in search-and-rescue operations. For security and defense agencies, the platform can be used for patrol, reconnaissance, supply, and transport of specialized equipment. The UAV is engineered for operation across diverse climates, including northern and coastal regions.

A key feature of the project is the integration of the new Russian VK-650V turboshaft engine, certified in February 2025. The engine is currently undergoing validation for installation on both the Ansat helicopter and the Sky-Truck system. Adoption of the VK-650V eliminates dependence on foreign powerplants. According to Chudakov, “the main component — the gearbox — is manufactured in Russia but designed in Belarus.” The avionics, software, and flight control system were developed domestically in Belarus.

The Sky-Truck exemplifies close Russia–Belarus industrial cooperation, combining expertise in aircraft manufacturing and engine design. Within the Union State market — the integrated Russia–Belarus economic and defense space — emphasis is placed on technological self-reliance and the joint development of key subsystems such as transmissions, avionics, and autonomous control systems. For export promotion, Western engines such as the Rolls-Royce 250-C20/C30/C47 may be offered, but the domestic VK-650V remains the priority for internal use.

Alongside the Sukhoi Design Bureau S-76 unmanned system, which passed its mock-up review on October 21, the Sky-Truck project marks the industry’s shift from prototype demonstrators to full-scale, serial production of heavy unmanned aerial systems. Upon successful certification and production launch, the Sky-Truck could become the first heavy unmanned helicopter jointly developed by Russia and Belarus, capable of carrying out a wide range of missions — from cargo delivery to military logistics support.

“The development of Sky-Truck reflects Belarus’s systematic effort to build advanced unmanned aviation systems,” noted Andrey Velichko, Editor-in-Chief of Aviation of Russia. “The Republic demonstrates a high level of engineering culture and technological maturity, forming its own line of UAV products demanded in both civilian and defense markets.”

He added that Belarusian technologies expand the production base and enhance the technological independence of the Union State.

“In parallel, projects such as the LMS-192 Osvey light aircraft are being implemented, combining the scientific and design capabilities of both Russia and Belarus. Such initiatives strengthen the aerospace sector of both countries and create a foundation for deeper industrial integration and the transition to serial production of next-generation aviation systems,” Velichko concluded.