Russian weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov Group, maker of the ubiquitous AK-47 assault rifle has unveiled an unmanned combat aerial system KYB (Cube) UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). Kalashnikov Group and ZALA AERO Group introduced new smart weapon – unmanned combat aerial system KYB (Cube) at IDEX 2019. The new system precisely hits ground targets, delivering a specific payload to target coordinates. The target coordinates are specified manually or acquired from payload targeting image.
KYB-UAV is designed to destroy remote ground targets from a distance of up to 40 miles (64 km) away by blowing itself up like a suicide aircraft. The unmanned aerial vehicle delivers special load to the manually set target coordinates or to the image from the guidance target load. The Russian kamikaze drone flies at speeds of up to 80mph (130kph), stay in the air for up to 30 minutes and can carry a payload of explosives up to 3kg (7lbs), Kalashnikov claims. The small aircraft measures 48″x37″x6.5″ and can be sent to its target by putting in the coordinates manually, or via a payload targeting image.
“This is an extremely precise and very effective weapon, incredibly hard to fight by traditional air defense systems,” said Sergey Chemezov, head of Russia’s Rostec, which owns the Kalashnikov Group. “The explosive can be delivered to target regardless of how well hidden it is. It operates ‘regardless of hidden terrains, at both high and low altitude,” he added. Russia’s Kalashnikov drone is about to be rolled-out across the military after “successfully completing” trials.
ZALA AERO (also called A-Level Aerosystems) is a leading Russian developer and manufacturer of unmanned airborne systems, located in Izhevsk, Russia. ZALA Aero has provided UAV systems for several sectors of the Russian government, including the Ministry of Defence, and has also won contracts to supply UAVs to foreign countries. Currently a large-scale project for UAVs is being developed for tender to the Russian government. Originally, twelve Russian companies submitting 22 different types of unmanned aircraft were involved in the competition. Since January 2015, ZALA AERO is part of JSC Kalashnikov Concern.
