The development of military forces can only be successful if we build up the Hungarian defense industry, the Minister Commissioner for Defense Innovation stressed at the official presentation of the Hungarian-developed unmanned aerial vehicle.
Imre Porkoláb stressed that the ProTAR jet-propelled drone was developed specifically for military use, and the unmanned aerial system is intended to improve the air defense capabilities of the Hungarian army. The new technology can also prove itself on the international market, he added.
He said the
new development is a milestone in the renewal of the defense forces, and is cheaper and more powerful than its predecessors.
The developments in the defense industry contribute to the development of a wide range of devices and technologies for everyday use, and thus also have an impact on our everyday lives, he said, citing the use of the internet as an example.
Imre Porkoláb pointed out that
in the current international context, airspace protection is of paramount importance, and the use of drones is becoming increasingly important.
Photo: MTI/Vasvári – Tamás
The advanced, jet-powered aircraft is being developed by Rotors & Cams Zrt. together with Genevation Aircraft Kft. and HunMech Kft. on the order of the Hungarian Defence Forces Modernisation Institute. Rotors & Cams Ltd. was established as a subsidiary of the 4iG Group. At the event, László Blénessy, Deputy CEO of 4iG, said that his company is engaged in developing in the fields of IT, telecommunications, and defence technology and that the new drone is the result of technological development involving all three areas.
Zsolt Molnár, CEO of Rotors & Cams Zrt., said that the ProTAR F4J fixed-wing, jet-powered, unmanned military drone weighs 68 kilogrammes, has a top speed of about 500 kilometres per hour, can take off at an altitude of 6,000 metres and has a communication range of 75 kilometres. The drone has an operating time of one hour. The equipment consists of three parts: the aircraft, the catapult and the ground control station. An innovative feature of the Hungarian drone is that it can fly three aircraft in formation at the same time, a unique capability in the international drone market.
‘Drone technology is a priority industrial and defence area in Hungary,’
Zsolt Molnár highlighted.
The ProTAR jet drone is specifically designed for military use, as a defensive unmanned aerial system designed to improve the air defence capabilities of the military. The new technology is also making its mark in the international market, Brigadier General Imre Porkoláb, Ministerial Commissioner for Defence Innovation remarked, stating:
‘This drone is the result of several years of development work and the cooperation of Hungarian engineers. It is faster, it can take off higher, it can perform complex manoeuvres and, as it has been emphasised, it is also capable of formation flying, which is unique on the market, so we can simulate scenarios for the soldiers with these drones that were not possible before and create a more realistic training environment.’
The drone act as a decoy target during live and training firing of air defense systems as a target vehicle. The air defense unit using the device must hit the drone during a simulated alert. A variety of readiness situations can be simulated by the drone without the use of high value aircraft.
The development will radically reduce the material and human risks and implementation costs of air defense exercises.
The device can be air-launched in a short time from a launch pad, also developed in Hungary. The repetition time of the catapult launch does not exceed two minutes. In addition to the aircraft and the catapult, the third part of the equipment is the ground control station, consisting of nine people.
Top Photo: Brigadier General Imre Porkoláb speaking at the unveiling, standing next to a ProTAR on 10 July 2023 – László Kertész/honvedelem.hu
Sources: Hungarian Conservative; Hungary Today