The Siberian Research Institute of Aviation named after S. A. Chaplygin (a subsidiary of the National Research Center "Institute named after N. E. Zhukovsky") has tested the "Partisan" transport unmanned aerial vehicle for ultra-short takeoff and landing. It is being developed by order of the Foundation for Advanced Research.
In the near future, in accordance with the flight test program, planned work will be carried out to confirm the key flight performance characteristics, and the "Partisan" will also be tested in unmanned mode.
As a result of the work, we will receive a universal aircraft with the possibility of optional piloting. Thanks to the presence of an automatic control system, both fully autonomous cargo transportation in autonomous mode and passenger transportation in piloted mode can be organized. The automatic control system will greatly simplify the piloting of the aircraft, which, combined with a significant reduction in requirements for airfields, may in the future make domestic aviation truly accessible, and the "Partisan" in demand among a large number of operators in various industries.
According to the developers, thanks to the active blowing system along the entire span of the lower wing, the "Partisan" can provide stable control at ultra-low speeds of up to 50 km/h.
It can also significantly reduce the takeoff and landing distance — take off and land on unprepared sites with dimensions of 50 by 50 meters in both piloted and unmanned modes. The drone with the possibility of piloting should carry cargo weighing up to 1000 kg over distances of up to 1000 km.
It is assumed that the "Partisan" will be able to become a worthy alternative to helicopter-type aircraft and will be in demand in various fields of application: from performing cargo and passenger transportation, participating in rescue operations, extinguishing fires to conducting aviation and chemical works, works in the interests of sanitary aviation and aviation monitoring.
According to the management of SibNIA, it is now planning with the regional government to create a scientific and production center for unmanned aviation systems based on the "Berdsk-Central" airfield.