Vrabac (drone)
| Vrabac | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle |
| Manufacturer | Utva Aviation Industry |
| Designer | |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Serbian Armed Forces |
| Number built | >50 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 2020-present |
| Introduction date | 2020 |
| First flight | 2013 |
The Vrabac (Serbian: Врабац, lit. 'Sparrow') is a Serbian-produced unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle intended for day/night reconnaissance and surveillance at shorter distances, as well as for target finding and designating, designed by Military Technical Institute and manufactured by the Utva Aviation Industry.[1]
History
[edit]The Vrabac was first showcased at the 2013 Partner (international weapons trade fair) and entered service in the Serbian Army in 2020.
Design
[edit]The Vrabac UAV is hand launched and lands with a parachute and an airbag. It is designed to survey and analyze major infrastructural facilities such as pipelines, major roads, bridges, forests, etc.
The Vrabac is a high-wing monoplane made of composite materials. Its fuselage is aerodynamically shaped around the equipment. The nose part contains an 800W DC motor powered by a Li-pol battery while the space below and behind it is intended for electro-optical equipment. The airborne computer is in the central part.
Vrabac weighs 5.3 kg with a 2.80 meters wing span. It can carry a payload of maximum of 1.5 kg. It has a total of 1 hour flying time and has a maximum flight speed of 85 km/h. The operational range of the Vrabac is >10 km, and its operating height is 300 to 500 meters.[2]
Specifications
[edit]- Length: 1,9 m
- Wingspan: 2,8 m
- Weight: 9 kg
- Launch: automatic, hand launch
- Recovery: automatic, parachute and airbag
- Engine: electric motor
- Speed: 85 km/h
- Altitude: 500 m
- Endurance: 1 hour
- Range: 50 km
- Guidance: electro-optical/infrared camera
- Operation: real-time telemetry downlink to ground control station
Variant
[edit]In 2022, an armed version was revealed that can be equipped with six 40 mm M22 munitions.[3]
Operators
[edit]
Gallery
[edit]-
Vrabac control panel at the 2013 Partner international weapons trade fair -
Vrabac next to Pegaz at the 2013 Partner international weapons trade fair -
Vrabac top view at the 2013 Partner international weapons trade fair
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "UAVs: Serbian UAV Solution "Sparrow"". Balkan Monitor. 28 January 2010.
- ^ "Тактичка беспилотна летелица кратког долета (ТБЛ)". ДОБРОДОШЛИ НА ВЕБ САЈТ - Војнотехничког института (in Serbian). Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ^ Gosselin-Malo, Elisabeth (2022-11-21). "Serbia may become biggest operator of military drones in Balkans". Defense News. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
