In Ukraine, the Sky Devil reconnaissance drone, which is capable of operating without satellite navigation even in electronic warfare conditions, has been codified and launched into mass production.
In Ukraine, the Sky Devil reconnaissance drone, which is capable of operating without satellite navigation even in electronic warfare conditions, has been codified and launched into mass production.
According to Military, the drone was developed by SkyAtom. After being approved for operation, it has already been placed on the Brave1 Market, where units can place orders.
Sky Devil is designed in the «flying wing» format with a take-off weight of 14 kg. It can stay in the air for up to 4 hours, has a communication range of up to 70 km and a total flight range of up to 300 km. The practical ceiling is 3000 meters, the cruising speed is about 70 km per hour, the maximum is up to 130 km per hour. Launch is from a catapult, landing is by parachute.
The main difference of the device is the navigation system without GPS. Orientation is carried out through a network of beacons, which allows you to perform tasks even when the signal is jammed. On board is a gyro-stabilized camera with day and thermal imaging modules. The optics provide surveillance at a distance of up to 4600 meters for video and up to 2500 meters for the thermal imager. The Next Vision Raptor system with an 80x zoom is used. Operation in winds up to 15 m/s is also claimed.
Previously, most reconnaissance UAVs in Ukraine relied on GPS as the primary method of navigation, but due to the active use of electronic warfare, the effectiveness of such solutions is decreasing. In response, developers have begun to integrate alternative orientation systems, in particular, based on beacons or inertial solutions. Sky Devil is one example of this approach, which is gradually becoming typical for new models.
As a reminder, dev.ua previously also wrote about how the Ukrainian-German company Quantum Frontline Industries sent the first batch of tactical drones «Linza 3.0» to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. These are Ukrainian-developed drones, which are currently being produced in Germany.
