Astron OKB: BPLA-400T

2023: Product Announcement

The Optical and Mechanical Design Bureau Astron (part of the Schwabe holding of the Rostec state corporation) has developed a helicopter-type drone BPLA-400T designed for reconnaissance and targeting. In addition, the drone can be used for civilian purposes, for example, to search for people in hard-to-reach areas, the Rostec press service said on July 7, 2023.

According to the developers, the device is equipped with a thermal imaging camera, which allows you to use the drone regardless of the time of day, as well as in fog and smoke conditions. A high-resolution thermal imaging camera and a high-speed lens made of germanium single crystal allow you to detect people at distances of up to 400 meters and cars at distances of up to 800 meters from the position of the drone at a minimum weight. The gyro-stabilized suspension of the thermal imaging camera makes it possible to change the angle of place for observation and orientation of the operator without using an additional heading camera. The operator displays flight information, battery charge and drone coordinates.

BPLA-400T

The UAV weighs just over 1.5 kg, it can work for about an hour without recharging, "being on stable, noise-proof communication with the operator," said Bekhan Ozdoev, industrial director of the Rostec arms, ammunition and special chemistry cluster.

Such drones are now especially in demand in the zone of a special military operation, but there is no doubt that the new development will be useful not only for the military. It will be no less useful, for example, for employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations or forest protection workers, - he said (quoted by the press service of Rostec on July 7, 2023).

The Astron Design Bureau is going to modernize the BPLA-400T and release improved versions of it. By July 7, 2023, the enterprise's specialists are working on the creation of an apparatus whose range will be much wider than its predecessor, and the modification itself will be more resistant to electronic warfare. The bureau's capacity allows the production of several thousand BPLA-400T per year.