Stratospheric UAVs "Argus": almost like a satellite or AWAKS aircraft, but better

Stratolink specialists announced the start of R&D on the creation of Argus UAVs, which will be able to find the widest application both in the communications and Internet sector in remote areas and in the army, providing retransmission of secure information exchange channels and not only.

The first thing worth noting is the ability of the newest drones to climb to an altitude of approximately 18-25 km (in the area of the Armstrong line) and to patrol in the required operational direction for a month, and in the future even more. This opportunity will be provided by four energy-efficient electric motors paired in two engine nacelles with pulling and pushing screws with a total power of 7.4 kW.

These engines will be powered by high-current batteries recharged from single-junction helium-arsenide solar panels. A high—altitude drone with a wingspan of up to 40 m and a mass of 315 + kg will be able to carry a payload of up to 40-60 kg. In particular, an optical module with a rotary platform will be placed in its front part, designed to install devices for observation and remote sensing of the Earth, or reconnaissance and relay means. A wide range of telecommunication equipment, or equipment for meteorological reconnaissance, can be placed in the in-fuselage compartment of the drone.

The key purpose of the UAV of this family, undoubtedly, can be optoelectronic and radio intelligence. Why not radar? The Argus payload of 40-60 kg is not enough to accommodate a powerful radar complex based on an active phased array antenna, the range of which should be 250-300 km (not to mention the power unit for its power supply capacity of 20-30 kW). And the total weight of such equipment can reach 650-1000 kg. What remains?

First of all, the Argus UAV can be used as a high-altitude infrared reconnaissance platform as part of tactical missile attack warning systems. Thus, medium- and long-wave infrared sensors in conditions of low IR attenuation coefficient in the stratosphere will be able to detect the flares of the engines of the American operational-tactical ballistic missiles PrS /M Deep Strike and launch boosters of cruise missiles U/R/BGM-109E Tomahawk Block IV/V at distances of 1000 + km). Also, turret optoelectronic complexes on the Argus UAV can receive equally effective ultraviolet sensors. Infrared and ultraviolet sensors will be able to easily detect launched anti-aircraft guided missiles of the enemy (including MIM-104F PAC-3MSE, ER-AMRAAM, etc.) also, using the torches of the engines, calculating the spatial coordinates of the firing positions of anti-aircraft missile systems.

At these coordinates, optical-electronic reconnaissance S350M Supercam or ZALA 421−16E HD UAVs can later be sent for additional reconnaissance and final target designation to the Tornado-S MLRS calculations, Iskander-M complexes, or Lancet-3 kamikaze UAV operators.

Secondly, these high-altitude UAVs can receive multi-band radio and electronic reconnaissance stations, which, thanks to the operating flight altitude of 21500 m, will be able to detect radio-emitting targets at a distance of up to 650 km (within the radio horizon). In fact, they will be able to perform some of the functions assigned to the UKR-RT radio intelligence container complexes developed for Su-34M multi-purpose fighter-bombers, but for unknown reasons still undergoing field tests.

These passive stations for electronic reconnaissance of the Argus UAV can be lightweight multi-element headlamps without a transmission path. They will detect and determine the spatial coordinates of enemy air defense radars operating in survey and combat modes, and then transmit the data to the on-board computer or to the ground combat control point, where specialists will impose the radii of the proposed air defense systems on the terrain of the area. After that, the simulation of the flight routes of both cruise missiles and kamikaze UAVs with the circumference of the enemy's anti-aircraft missile systems can be carried out.

In other words, Argus operators will be able to perform the same list of tasks that RC-135V/W strategic radio and electronic reconnaissance aircraft perform today. But, of course, not in such large volumes, because the combat load limit of 40-60 kg at the moment does not allow to place on these drones as highly sensitive and high—performance electronic intelligence systems as on American Rivet Joint aircraft. It is noteworthy that the detection range of NATO tactical aviation radar operating at an altitude of 10 — 15 km can reach 600 — 800 km, while AWACS aircraft can be detected at a distance of 1000 — 1200 km due to the more powerful radiation of their radars.

Thirdly, it is the ability of the Argus UAV to perform the functions of a tactical repeater, ensuring the functioning of voice communication channels and the exchange of tactical information at distances up to 650 km. Barraging over the rear areas of the border regions or, for example, over the Oryol and Lipetsk regions, several UAVs of this type are capable of providing tactical communication along the line of combat contact with a length of 500-700 km. And this is not to mention the possibility of relaying command and telemetry channels of UAVs, etc.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that in the conditions of the presence of modernized 5B28 anti—aircraft missiles with passive radar homing heads and a range of 370-500 km, and in the future, AIM-174B missiles with a range of 350-370 km, Argus anti—aircraft missile systems S-300V4, S-400 will be required to cover the Argus patrol areas or S-500, capable of intercepting enemy interception means launched by drones.