RuAviation

Ural Drone Plant (Uraldronzavod) has begun operational deployment of its Berdysh heavy-lift multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles with Russian military units in the area of the special military operation, according to the company’s CEO Vladimir Tkachuk. The information was reported by TASS.

Tkachuk stated that the initial pilot batch consists of approximately 100 aircraft. The decision to transfer the systems to operational units followed the completion of proving-ground trials, during which the UAVs conducted around 100 daytime sorties without recorded failures or system malfunctions.

The Berdysh program was first disclosed in autumn 2024, when the platform was reported to be undergoing final ground and flight qualification tests. In the combat zone, the UAV’s primary role is logistics support. The use of wheeled and lightly armored vehicles on several axes is constrained by persistent threats from FPV drones and loitering munitions. Under these conditions, vertical takeoff unmanned systems are increasingly viewed as a viable solution for delivering medium-weight payloads to isolated forward units.

From a design standpoint, Berdysh belongs to the class of heavy multirotor UAVs. Its four-motor propulsion system, combined with high-capacity lithium‑polymer batteries, enables missions with a payload of up to 20 kg (44 lb). The extensive use of composite materials in the airframe reduces structural mass and directly improves hover stability and maneuvering performance.

With maximum payload, the UAV’s operational radius is stated at approximately 15 km (9.3 mi). In an ISR configuration—without cargo and equipped with a stabilized electro‑optical payload—the range increases to up to 25 km (15.5 mi). This modular architecture allows the platform to support missions ranging from resupply to continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

The electro‑optical suite includes a three‑axis stabilized multispectral turret with both daylight and infrared channels. The infrared sensor, featuring a 640×512 focal plane array and a 50‑mm lens, provides detection of thermally contrasted targets at ranges of several kilometers, depending on target characteristics.

The payload also incorporates a laser rangefinder with an effective range of up to 5 km (3.1 mi). The daylight channel is based on a long‑focal‑length optical module with a Sony Exmor R CMOS sensor in the 1/2.8‑inch format, offering optical zoom of up to 30×.

Onboard software supports the integration of add‑on modules incorporating machine‑vision algorithms. These functions enable autonomous detection and classification of stationary and moving objects, as well as target tracking in support of reconnaissance‑strike kill chains. Command and telemetry links operate across multiple frequency bands and are designed to maintain control in contested electromagnetic environments and complex terrain.

An additional mission set involves communications relay. Berdysh can function as an airborne relay node to extend control of light FPV drones in areas where direct line‑of‑sight radio links between operators and UAVs are degraded. This capability increases the value of heavy multirotor platforms within distributed unmanned teams.

The manufacturer also acknowledges the potential integration of disposable rocket‑propelled anti‑tank launchers. Such a configuration would shift the platform from a purely auxiliary role into the category of short‑range strike assets. Implementation of this option would require further testing to address stability, mass balance, and weapon employment safety.

The handover of the first Berdysh batch positions the program as a representative example of an accelerated “test–refine–deploy” cycle, increasingly characteristic of modern unmanned systems development. Further progress will depend on operational feedback, propulsion system endurance, and the resilience of command-and-control links under active countermeasures.