Nizhny Novgorod manufacturer of medical equipment ES Service LLC is developing new types of products for the purposes of military-industrial complex. One of the examples is the Zhuk-3 (Beetle three) octocopter glider created by one of the company’s subdivisions which can be used in a special military operation in Ukraine.
According to ES Service, the octoglider can be used to deliver and drop compact cargo weighing up to 5 kg to predetermined locations.
«A lot of money is being spent on buying Chinese drones, while our own developments are not being used. We use our own funds for the creation and testing of samples and the introduction of this type of product into production. The Zhuk-3 octoplanner is practically 100% Russian-made,» said ES Service.
The total weight of the vehicle without attachments is 8 kg, the maximum payload of the UAV is 5 kg, the normal payload — 2.5 kg. The UAV has four guided drop mechanisms, on which eight RGD-5 or similar grenades can be attached. With such ammunition, the octoglider can stay on a mission for at least 26 minutes.
The Zhuk-3 is a synthesis of a glider and a quadcopter with two pairs of propellers each mounted on the shaft of an electric motor. Its high take-off weight and powerful engines provide the Zhuk with the ability to withstand the wind and hover over the target for up to 36 minutes. A Full HD (1920×1080) camera provides the operator with a comfortable and reliable observation and targeting. Dust and waterproof engines ensure that the Zhuk can be used in difficult weather conditions, and operate the octoglider even at temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
The Zhuk-3 can climb to an altitude of 4000 m, a flight range of 35 km and a maximum ascent speed of 6 m/sec. Horizontal flight can be flown at a maximum speed of 57.6 km/h or 16 m/s, with an optimum speed of 9.7 to 11.6 m/s. The 12-channel radio equipment operates on 2.4GHz frequency and provides a range of 15 to 20 km depending on various conditions, video transmission is provided up to 10 km. The RC is equipped with a monitor and can operate autonomously for up to 20 hours without recharging.
According to the developer, the Zhuk-3 octoglider is made of 80 percent Russian components. The vehicle is not designed for reconnaissance missions yet, the Zhuk-3 is a combat vehicle controlled directly by the operator and its dropping mechanisms run on a common power supply network rather than a separate one, like in many similar-purpose copters. The Zhuk can also be used as a reconnaissance drone, but for this purpose, ES Service LLC is currently developing another specialised drone, which the company will present in the near future upon completion of tests.