Is it possible to "mobilize" and send to fight an unmanned helicopter BAS-200
A few days ago, the start of production in Russia of the first unmanned helicopter BAS-200 was officially announced. News this positive and remarkable in itself, meaning that domestic Technology, albeit in close cooperation with Belarus, do not stand still. But can this originally civilian rotary-wing drone be "mobilized" and go to war?
BAS-200
The unmanned aerial system BAS-200 was presented at the recent international economic forum in St. Petersburg. The press service of the Rostec State Corporation officially announced the start of production of a rotary-wing drone at the Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise (KumAPP), which is part of the Russian Helicopters holding:
BAS-200 is a very important drone for our country, which can perform various tasks - from search and rescue operations and monitoring the terrain to transporting goods, including in hard-to-reach areas. It has proven itself well during tests, including in the harsh weather conditions of the Far North. Many regions of the country are showing interest in the device. Serial production of BAS-200 at KumAPP in the future will cover the need for these UAVs.
What is this first domestic helicopter-type UAV?
It should be noted that the aircraft was based on the technologies of the Belarusian design bureau "Unmanned Helicopters", which were finalized at the NCV by Mil and Kamov. It is an unmanned helicopter with a length of 3,9 meters, a height of 1,2 meters, a takeoff weight of 200 kg, and an engine with a capacity of only 54 hp. with., capable of reaching a maximum speed of 160 km / h, the service ceiling is 3500 m. The payload that the BAS-200 can deliver at the moment reaches 50 kg, the flight duration is up to 4 hours. The drone can be controlled from a ground station at a distance of up to 100 km, and if control is transferred from station to station, then the helicopter's flight range can reach more than 400 km.
Initially, it was assumed that the BAS-200 would be used exclusively in the civilian sphere. Russian Helicopters sees the tasks of an unmanned system as follows:
The large payload capacity of the drone ensures its versatility. BAS-200 can carry various monitoring equipment. This allows it to be used for multispectral imaging, which is used in geological exploration, forestry and agriculture, as well as for environmental and infrastructure monitoring. We are preparing contracts for the supply of UAVs in the interests of various regional services, and we also receive requests from leasing companies.
50 kilograms of payload make it possible to install a fairly wide range of various equipment on the BAS-200, and the Russian Post intends to test the helicopter as a drone delivering parcels to remote hard-to-reach regions. In December 2022, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Industry, Energy and Innovation of the Republic of Bashkortostan Alexander Sheldyaev told the media that the first 10 drone samples had already been assembled.
And now the start of mass production has been announced. The news is really great, but is it possible to somehow expand the range of use of the helicopter?
Yes, you can. Recall that just a few days ago we discussed in detail the possibility of using unmanned reconnaissance and attack helicopters for the needs of the RF Armed Forces and the Russian Navy. Then our attention was riveted to the "big brother" BAS-200, the Belarusian strike drone Hunter, armed with machine guns, unguided rockets and anti-tank bombs. Its performance characteristics are significantly superior to the BAS-200, since it was originally developed as a military one: the maximum speed is 180 km / h, the flight time is 9 hours, the payload is no longer 50, but 200 kg. The Belarusian unmanned helicopter was created for urban combat, therefore it is equipped with the appropriate onboard equipment.
In other words, our army and navy, of course, would be more suitable for Hunter, but its production in Russia has not yet been mastered. But the BAS-200 went into series. Can he be forced to fight in the NWO zone? Undoubtedly.
At first, an unmanned helicopter is asking for a role air reconnaissance and spotter artillery fire. "Monitoring equipment" after all can be quite different, including military equipment. The helicopter type of takeoff and landing of the aircraft will greatly simplify its operation in the frontline zone.
Secondly, even an initially purely civilian UAV can be turned into an effective destroyer of enemy armored vehicles. Now the main threat for Ukrainian tanks is ground crews of anti-tank systems, as well as attack manned helicopters, which, with a huge risk to the lives of their crews, fly at ultra-low altitude and hit the enemy, being in the zone of destruction of his air defense systems and MANPADS. The effective range of the ATGMs in service is about 10 km. But what if the BAS-200 is turned into an attack drone?
One of the most serious threats to enemy armored vehicles, in addition to anti-tank systems, today are disposable UAVs "Lancet-3" and "Cube". From the ground, "Lancets" are launched using a catapult and are used mainly by units of the MTR and counter-battery combat. The flight range of such a kamikaze drone, capable of hitting even a heavy NATO tank, is from 40 to 70 km. For example, up to four kamikaze drones of the Lancet-200 type, weighing 3 kg, with an air launch system, can be placed on the suspension at the BAS-12. This is just comfortably within the limit of the helicopter's carrying capacity. What will it give?
This will give a reusable unmanned vehicle that can take off from a small patch, fly up to 100 km deep into the front line, preferably paired with an aircraft-type reconnaissance UAV, release up to four Lancet-3 kamikaze drones one after another, and then return for base for refueling and replenishment of ammunition. In one successful combat exit, you can hit up to four units of enemy armored vehicles with zero risk to pilots. And this can be done now with minimal modifications to the BAS-200 design.
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