Spektr Design Bureau, a russian defense contractor, is working on a heavylift multirotor UAV, designed primarily for evacuation of wounded from the battlefield. To that end, the drone will use special containers made of composite materials, equipped with life support systems.
Prototypes are being prepared for tests on Ukrainian war fronts, said the company's director Andrey Bratenkov in an interview with local media.
Read more: russia Announces Serial Production of MiS-35: What Kind of Weapon is This?
The lift capacity, however, is only 100 kg. Considering the passenger's individual weight and the weight of life support equipment, its application will be significantly limited: the operator will have to know in advance whether the vehicle is able to lift the wounded off the ground before departing for the mission.
What also raises questions is the idea to create a new platform from square one for this specific purpose instead of adapting a proven solution with similar load capacity.
For example, in 2024, russians showed a dual-purpose drone named Perun. Capable of carrying up to 200 kilograms of weight, it can be used both for warhead delivery and transporting cargo or people.
The defense ministry of russia even demonstrated its performance in a promo video:
Перун, дрон pic.twitter.com/WLO56iRVt5— S L (@SergueiLev35148) June 18, 2024
Back to the Ilya Muromets drone, the creators say it will incorporate stealth technologies. Namely, coated in a special polymeric composite to reduce radar visibility.
Earlier, Defense Express reported on another russian new drone project, the MiS-35. Designed for both reconnaissance and strike missions, this hexacopter was inspired by Ukrainian Vampire UAV, a night operation drone infamous among russians under the nickname Baba Yaga.
Read more: Sky Wars: Watch Ukrainian Vampire Drone Outmaneuver Enemy Recon UAV
