“Ukroboronprom has proposed that we should consider restarting our private venture project to develop a heavy HALE unmanned combat aerial vehicle”, UAV program director at Antonov, Mykola Vorobyov told ArmyInform in an interview.
The initiative to domestically develop a heavy HALE UCAV was endorsed by senior executives at the state-run companies Antonov and Ivchenko-Progress (that are both affiliated with Ukroboronprom defense industries group), as well as PAT Motor-Sich (member company of the Ukrainian League of Defense Industries) that is supposed to provide its AI-450 engine for the planned UAV platform.
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“The venture project would develop a heavy UAV with a three-ton take-off weight and a payload capacity of some 800 kg,” Mr Vorobyov said.
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That said, the cost of R&D and technology demonstrator is supposed to be funded privately by the project stakeholder companies with no government funding involved.
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In this project, Antonov would commit to providing an UAV platform, inclusive of an engine and landing gear.
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It is envisaged that the project technology demonstrator would be introduced to potential customers and investors in order to secure the requisite funding to kick-start production.
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