MOSCOW, May 10 (AVN) - The Yakovlev design bureau has started the development of a new Expert fifth-generation drone, Yuri Yankevich deputy head of the programme told the Military News Agency.
Expert is expected to replace the Pchela unmanned aerial vehicle currently employed in the Stroi-P system, Yankevich said. The new drone is fitted with a Russian-made camera with combined television and IR device and will be used for 24-hours aerial reconnaissance.
According to Yankevich, the sketch projecting and the construction of the first test model will take six to seven months. A new reconnaissance system with 10 Expert drones can be adopted already in 1.5 years from now.
The take-off weight of the drone is 40 kilos, it is powered by one 10h/p engine and develops a cruise-speed of 65-110km/h. The aircraft can climb a maximum of 4,500m, stay in air for six hours and has a range of 50-100km from the base point.