Moscow-based Sukhoi aircraft design bureau has started flight tests of their new so-called "vertical take-off unmanned transport platform," named S-76. Until recently, the russian manufacturer had only shown a prototype-in-the-making, without skin. During the Armiya-2024 expo this August, Sukhoi and partners demonstrated a fully-made model for flight trials for the first time.
In russia, this platform is called a combination of an airplane and a multicopter: it has electric motors for vertical takeoff but also a piston engine running on AI-95 gasoline and kerosene.
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The main purpose of the platform is the transportation of goods, and the russian aircraft maker positions it primarily for commercial freight deliveries. Sukhoi says utilizing the S-76 for cargo flights will be one-third cheaper compared to using manned aircraft.
Nonetheless, this platform also has potential as a military asset as well. Especially considering that the developers emphasize that their S-76 does not need specially prepared takeoff/landing sites or any additional infrastructure to depart.
According to declared capabilities, the S-76 can work completely autonomously via a pre-programmed route, though the type of guidance is not specified. The maximum take-off weight is 1,500 kg, including the maximum cargo weight of 300 kg. The length of the fuselage reaches 7.2 m, and wingspan is 11 m. The drone's cruising speed is 180 km/h, the operational ceiling is 4 km.
Fully loaded, S-76 has a flight range of 1,000 km but it needs to be refueled at the destination. Otherwise, it is halved down to 500 km.
The S-76 has already completed a few tests: as of today, vertical takeoff, hovering, and landing have been practiced.
Earlier, Defense Express reported on the start of serial production of the MiS-35 announced in russia. It's an unmanned combat hexacopter with both reconnaissance and attack functions, positioned as a "mini-copy" of the Ukrainian Vampire night vision drone bomber, colloquially known as Baba Yaga.
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