Rusak-S (drone)

2024

Start of production

On August 6, 2024, it became known about the start of mass production in Russia of the Rusak-S military drone, equipped with an artificial intelligence system for autonomous recognition and prioritization of targets. The new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a quadcopter capable of performing kamikaze functions with a combat load of up to 3 kg.

According to Izvestia, Rusak-S has a number of unique characteristics. The UAV is capable of speeds up to 80 km/h in cruise mode and up to 150 km/h when attacking a target. The flight range reaches 20 km, which exceeds the indicators of modern anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM).

source = Izvestia

A key feature of the new drone is its ability to fly autonomously in the final phase of the attack. After selecting the target by the operator, Rusak-S can independently overcome the last 500-1000 m to the target. This allows you to effectively overcome the areas of action of the enemy electronic warfare (electronic warfare) and attack targets outside the radio horizon.

The neural network installed on board the Rusak-S is trained to recognize various types of military equipment, including heavy and medium armored equipment, wheeled vehicles, artillery installations, as well as enemy manpower. After identifying potential targets, the operator selects a priority object for the attack and gives a command to defeat.

The use of artificial intelligence in tactical UAVs is a promising direction for the development of military equipment. The use of such drones increases the effectiveness of strikes and provides greater safety for operators who can control devices from a greater distance from the front line.

Military expert Yuri Lyamin emphasizes that the development of UAVs with elements of artificial intelligence is underway in many countries. This is due to the need to counter the constantly improving electronic warfare means, which are capable of disrupting communication between the operator and the drone.^[1]

Product Announcement

Russia drone The new Rusak-S was presented, capable of independently continuing the task after losing communication with the operator. Telegram This was reported on June 18, 2024 by the UAV Developer channel.

The unmanned aerial vehicle was developed by engineers of the Stratim Design Bureau and is equipped with a homing and target recognition system. This innovation allows the drone to autonomously complete the mission, which significantly increases its effectiveness in conditions of difficult terrain or when exposed to electronic warfare (electronic warfare).

source = Telegram channel KB "Stratim"

According to the Telegram channel, the homing of the drone is carried out using a single-board computer that controls the flight controller. This algorithm puts the drone in automatic flight mode, in which all decisions are made on board, eliminating the need to receive commands from the operator. This approach prevents the risk of loss of control due to distance or difficult conditions.

According to the developers, the target recognition system is based on a neural network trained on large amounts of video data. This neural network identifies artillery, armored vehicles and vehicles with high accuracy in real time. Recognized objects are highlighted by frames, which facilitates the operation of the operator. In addition, the neural network allows the drone to work effectively even in conditions of poor visibility for the operator.

The neural network, unlike the operator, sees the picture without interference, so pointing at the recognized object is possible, even if only "snow" is visible in the glasses. Such a drone will be able to work in fully autonomous mode, the developers say.

The Rusak-S drone is equipped with a system functionally similar to the homing head of the Javelin complex, but its cost is much lower, which makes the technology available for installation on conventional FPV drones.^[2]

Notes