France secretly created Aarok battle drone: Why is he not afraid of aircraft of Russia (photo and video)

The new drone will be a dangerous competitor for the American MQ-9 Reaper and Turkish Bayraktar Akinci if manufacturers fulfill their promises. In France, the Aarok military drone, which is not afraid of Russian air defense systems, was secretly developed. The details of the project became known to The Drive. The little -known defensive company Turgis & Gaillard introduced the prototype of its drone Aarok on the eve of the Paris Airmazalone, which will take place next week.

The model is intended for flight at medium height and long distances, intelligence, tasks of shocks and relaying. The first drone flight is planned in 2023, and the commissioning - for 2025. Aarok stands out in its large size, the wingspan of its wings is 22 meters, and fuselage looks more cumbersome than American MQ-9a Reaper. The novelty also weighs more than its competitor with the United States: 2. 5 tons against 2. 2 tons. The maximum runoff is 5. 4 tons, and therefore Aarok can carry 2.

7 tons of useful load, including 1. 5 tons of weapons. The drone prototype is equipped with a turboprop engine Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 with a power of 1200 horsepower, which drives the screw in the front. In the future, Turgis & Gaillard plans to install a more perfect Safran Ardiden 3 or GE Aviation Catalyst.

For shock missions, the military will be able to put Hammer high -precision bombs on Aarok, available with different guidance systems: satellite (GPS), inertial, laser, infrared and warheads of different sizes. For intelligence, the developers promise high -performance optoron and electromagnetic sensors, a large camera, multi -mode radar and radio intelligence equipment. The drone will also use the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) - the US Air Force Air Force.

"With Hammer, the shooting range is 35 kilometers, so we are not too disturbed by the" shell "," said Turgis & Gaillard CEO, Patrick Gayar. As the Drive explains, he referred to the Russian Small Range Air-C1. The manufacturer may have hinted that Aarok would be able to replace MQ-9 Reaper, which the Russians fired at Syria in November 2022, may not be confused.

The size, purpose and range of flight more than 24 hours allow to attribute Aarok to the same class as the Reaper produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. According to analysts, Turgis & Gaillard is planning to compete with Americans who have already put France six models MQ-9a Block 1 and Block 5. Another competitor Aarok will be the Bayraktar Akinci Bayraktar.