Russia Delays Tests of UAE-Made Drone

The Russian military has postponed tests of a high-endurance drone until an unspecified future date.
The aircraft was debuted internationally at the MAKS air show outside Moscow last summer two months after Defense Ministersaid that the country’s drone projects were inferior to foreign offerings.
The Adcom Systems United 40 Block 5 is a long-range medium-altitude reconnaissance vehicle that can loiter above a single area for over four days, according to the company’s website.
The drone, powered by twin turboprops, features steerable cameras and radar for reconnaissance missions and is capable of carrying almost a half-ton of weapons mounted on hard points under the craft’s wings.
The United 40 would not be the first foreign drone purchase for the country. In 2009 Russia bought 12 drones from Israel Aerospace Industries.
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Russia to Test UAE-Made Drone Next Year

Russia’s armed forces will conduct test flights of a drone aircraft from the United Arab Emirates early next year, the manufacturer said.
The unmanned United 40 Block 5 long-range reconnaissance vehicle will be tested to assess whether it meets the military’s operational needs. The medium-altitude drone can stay airborne for more than 100 hours and can also be equipped with Namrod air-to-surface guided missiles.
The first drone would be delivered to Russia in February. A preliminary agreement had been reached to sell more test vehicles to the armed forces, depending on the results of the first flights.
The United 40 Block 5 is 11 meters (36.5 feet) long and has two sets of wings with a span of 17.53 meters (53ft). It can fly to a height of 8,000 meters (26,000ft) and has a cruising speed of 120-200 kilometers per hour.
The drone can carry a payload of up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) under each of its four wings.
Russia’s military began to seek out advanced reconnaissance systems following the brief conflict with neighboring Georgia in August 2008, when the effectiveness of ground operations was severely hampered by a lack of reliable intelligence.
Various experts have estimated that Russia’s armed forces need up to 100 unmanned drone aircraft and at least 10 guidance and control systems to ensure effective battlefield reconnaissance.
ria.ru

Russia Planning to Buy Aerial Drones in UAE

Russia is planning to purchase at least two United 40 Block 5 aerial drones in the United Arab Emirates,developed by ADCOM Systems.
United 40 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), designed to carry out near real-time combat assessment, special and reconnaissance operations and communications relays.
The vehicle can carry up to 10 air-to-ground missiles with a delivery range of 60 kilometers and fly for up to 120 hours and the United 40 Block 5 model was unveiled at IDEX arms show in Abu Dhabi in February,The vehicle was first tested in flight in March. Its estimated cost is $20-30 million.
The Russian military stressed a need for advanced reconnaissance systems in the wake of a brief military conflict with Georgia in August 2008, when the effectiveness of Russian military operations was severely hampered by a lack of reliable intelligence.
According to various estimates, the Russian military needs up to 100 UAVs and.
Aerial drones being developed in Russia for the military were inferior to similar foreign models.
Russia has reportedly signed two UAV contracts with Israel. Under the first contract, signed in April 2009, Israel delivered two Bird Eye 400 systems, eight I View MK150 tactical UAVs and two Searcher Mk.
The second contract was for the purchase of 36 UAVs, worth a total of $100 million, to be delivered in 2010. The shipment, however, has not been confirmed by Russia.
ADCOM Systems is a group of firms headquartered in Abu Dhabi, specializes in manufacturing UAVs, aerial targets, air traffic control radar systems, and advanced communication systems.
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