Russia unveiled its Katran rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during the Victory Day Parade in May. “The trials of the Katran UAV are scheduled for this summer [mid-2018],” a Russian aerospace industry source told Jane’s .
The Katran is designed for firesupport and reconnaissance missions, and carries a photo or TV camera, or a thermal imager. It features a co-axial rotor scheme and can land at unpaved airstrips.
The Katran has a normal take-off weight of 340 kg for best performance, but can accommodate a maximum take-off weight of 490 kg if necessary. The vehicle carries a 60 kg payload. It is powered by a 115-hp engine, which produces a climb rate of up to 12 m/s, a maximum speed of 130 km/h, and an endurance of 4 hours during flights with the normal take-off weight. The Katran has a hover ceiling of 2,000 m and a service ceiling of 4,000 m.
The UAV can be used by ground and naval units.
Two Katran UAVs were shown, transported by KAMAZ-65117 multipurpose trucks, during the parade. The trucks were also fitted with two 9M113M Konkurs-M (AT-5B Spandrel-B) and two 9M120 Ataka (AT-9 ‘Spiral-2’) anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).
Source: Jane’s 360