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Ukraine's brand new combat UAV debuts at IDEX 2021

The production cost for the Sokil-300 project is far less expensive an option compared to similar drones manufactured elsewhere.
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Oleksandr Mamay / Facebook.com
Oleksandr Mamay / Facebook.com

Ukraine's military export agency, Ukrspecexport, which is part of the Ukroboronprom defense giant, has unveiled the Sokil-300 (Falcon-300) strike drone at the biennial International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in UAE.

The Sokil-300 surveillance and reconnaissance UAV with strike capabilities has been developed by the Kyiv-based LUCH Design Bureau for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Defence-Blog.com reports.

Sokil-300, Defense Express

The Sokil-300 is armed with four guided missiles with a range of up to 10 km. It is able to bear a payload of up to 300 kg, it has a maximum takeoff load of 1,225 kg, and boasts of a max speed of 335 kmh.

Read more: Ukrainian Navy Anticipating Delivery of State-of the-Art Weaponry by 2022

The drone is 8.57m-long, with a wingspan of 14m.

As noted by the LUCH designers, the UAV's baseline version includes the MC-500B engine manufactured by Zaporizhia-based Motor Sich, while an advanced version features the Austrian, turbo-charged Rotax 914 engine with a maximum flight time of 26 hours, a range of 3,300 kilometers (2,050 miles).

Earlier in November 2020, LUCH’s chief designer, Oleh Korostyliov, said the project's total development costs are expected to reach 40-45 million Ukrainian hryvnias ($1.4-1.6 million), a far less expensive option than for the similar drone systems produced elsewhere.

Memo

Ukrspecexport is an authorized state-owned intermediary dealing with exports and imports of military and special products and services.

IDEX is the only international defense exhibition and conference in the MENA region demonstrating the latest technology across land, sea, and air sectors of defense.

Read more: Ukraine Developing New UCAV to be known as Sokil-200