Russian armed forces to get first home-made drone in 2014 June 28, 2012 - 17:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The first domestically-developed strike unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will be put in service with the Russian armed forces by the end of 2014, a defense industry source said on Thursday, June 28, RIA Novosti reported. In early April, Russia’s Defense Ministry issued a technical specification for the development of the drone. The new aircraft is expected to have a modular structure and be able to carry various types of equipment and armament. “St. Petersburg-based Tranzas company has been ordered to start flight tests of the strike drone in the beginning of 2014 in order to put it in service by the end of the same year,” the source told RIA Novosti at the engineering technology forum in Zhukovsky. The source did not reveal the details of the weapons load as they are classified, but said the drone will weigh about a ton. President Vladimir Putin said on June 14 that Russia must develop a range of military UAVs, including strike and reconnaissance types as soon as possible. Russia plans to spend around 400 billion rubles ($13 billion) on UAV development in the next eight years. Moscow has so far bought two Bird Eye-400, eight I-View Mk150 and two Searcher Mk.2 UAVs, totaling $53 million, from Israel.   Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot".   Partner news |  Latest news U.S., Armenia sign customs deal  According to Armenian customs data, U.S.-Armenian trade reached $670 million last year.Glendale mayor to visit Yerevan Asatryan last visited Armenia in December 2022-January 2023 as she helped establish a partnership between Armenia’s Opera House and Los Angeles Opera.Ucom’s fixed network launches in Nor Hachn City residents will be able to use fixed-line Internet, mobile communications and television in one package at more affordable prices.Ambassador summoned to Russia returns to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin has returned to Yerevan more than two weeks after being recalled to Moscow for consultations. |
