Russia's Knyaz Veshchy Oleg reconnaissance drone has increased the operational effectiveness of Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky strike drones by 2.5 times, news agency TASS reported.
Aleksey Chadaev, director general of the Scientific and Production Center Ushkuynik, said that deploying the reconnaissance aircraft alongside the fiber-optic strike units delivers a major boost in performance.
Chadaev explained that the efficiency gain occurs when the reconnaissance drone hovers directly above the strike craft during operations. The reconnaissance operator monitors the area from above and informs the strike drone operator where to fly, rather than leaving the strike drone to operate on a free hunt.
The radio-controlled Knyaz Veshchy Oleg is cheaper to produce than all competing analogues in its class, according to Chadaev. He added that the reconnaissance drone is currently being deployed on a massive scale.
Drone Operations and Communications
The Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky, also known as the KVN, belongs to a specialized class of strike drones guided by fiber-optic tethering. Physical fiber-optic lines transmit control signals and high-definition video feeds directly between the operator and the aircraft, rendering the platform immune to radio-frequency electronic warfare and signal jamming.
In aerial warfare, pairing spotter aircraft with strike platforms solves the targeting limitations of low-altitude attack drones. Overhead reconnaissance units provide continuous situational awareness, allowing strike operators to navigate complex terrain and hit targets accurately without spending flight time searching for positions.
Production and Flight Specifications
Serial production of the Knyaz Veshchy Oleg launched in January following initial flight evaluations. Ushkuynik conducted testing on sample units of the airplane-type drone, demonstrating a continuous flight duration of 3.5 hours.
Fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles use rigid wings to generate aerodynamic lift, enabling longer flight endurance and greater range compared to rotary multi-rotor quadcopters. The Ushkuynik center, based in Russia, designs and manufactures specialized unmanned aerial systems, while TASS is Russia's principal state news agency.
