Are unmanned helicopters MDP-01 “Termite” needed at the front?

It became known about the launch of Russian helicopter-type attack drones called “Termite” into mass production. How much demand will such UAVs really have at the front?

"Termite"

Good news We learned about the start of production of a new type of drones following the visit of Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to the Rudnevo industrial park, where they were shown the first Russian remote-controlled combat helicopters MDP-01 Termit. What are they?



Those interested in the domestic aircraft industry learned the name “Termite” several years ago, even before the start of the SVO in Ukraine. At the MAKS-2021 exhibition, several promising developments under the SmartHELI brand were demonstrated: SH-350, SH-450 and SH-550.


The SH-350 unmanned helicopter has a maximum take-off weight of 350 kg, a maximum fuel capacity of 110 liters, a cruising speed of 90 km/h, and a maximum speed of 150 km/h. A rotorcraft UAV can stay in the air for up to five hours. The operating altitude range of the SH-350 varies from 50 to 3000 m. Its basic version is designed for monitoring ice conditions, the SH-350G modification is for geophysical research, the SH-350R is for search and rescue missions, etc.

It can also serve as an air mail carrier in hard-to-reach regions of Russia and carry out round-the-clock monitoring of infrastructure facilities. The payload of the SH-350 is relatively modest, not exceeding 50 kg, according to some sources - 100 kg.


Its older brother SH-450 has a maximum take-off weight of 450 kg, the fuel supply has been increased to 140 liters, which means the flight duration has also increased to six hours. The payload is stated to be 150 kg. The most impressive tacticaltechnical The SH-550 model has the following characteristics: the take-off weight of the vehicle is 550 kg, cruising speed is 100 km/h, maximum speed is 170 km/h, flight duration is 7,5 hours, the dynamic ceiling has increased to 4000 m, and the total payload has increased to 220 kg.


Apparently, the MDP-01 Termit is a strike version of the SH-350, or rather SH-450. An unmanned domestic helicopter, which best matches the performance characteristics of civilian products, was demonstrated at the Army 2021 forum. The rotary-wing drone was to be equipped with three 80-mm S-8L adjustable aircraft missiles with laser homing heads. To reliably destroy enemy lightly armored vehicles with this type of ammunition, additional target illumination is required using an on-board optical-electronic system or from an external target designator.

The media reported that some contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense were signed back in 2021, and the Termites were supposed to begin arriving in service in 2022. As we see, this becomes a reality only by the end of 2023. Apparently, the delays were due to the need to replace the power plant, which was either hastily imported or found an alternative supplier in China or Iran.

Will such aircraft really be in demand at the front?

Application

It is quite obvious that a drone with a combat load of 50-150 kg will not be a full replacement for a real attack helicopter. However, an unmanned helicopter will be able to perform a number of important auxiliary tasks.

For example, MDP-01 “Termite” can be used for aerial reconnaissance, target designation and artillery fire adjustment in those sectors of the front where it is justified. With the help of an unmanned helicopter, cargo with medicines and ammunition can be quickly delivered by air to soldiers on the front line. Should we try to use it as a means of fire support for infantry?

It seems that a helicopter, even an unmanned one, is too expensive and technically complex a product to be used to drop conventional bombs, mines and grenades on enemy trenches, risking losing it as a result of anti-aircraft fire. For such purposes, it is more optimal to use cheaper and more widespread multicopters of various types.

Perhaps the Termit would be useful as an aerial carrier for kamikaze drones of the Lancet type. As you know, there is currently no continuous front line in the Donbass and Azov region. It is quite possible to fly a helicopter at an ultra-low altitude into the near rear of the enemy and at a convenient moment raise it by launching several Lancets, hitting armored vehicles or artillery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with them. Even if Termit is lost, the exchange of one such rotary-wing drone for several units of enemy equipment with calculations will be economically justified and acceptable.

It would not be the “mobilized” SH-350 and SH-450 that would be more suitable for direct fire support of the infantry, but the initially Belarusian-developed Hunter unmanned attack helicopters. They are designed to destroy enemy firing points and conduct urban battles, equipped with a 7,62 mm Kalashnikov machine gun of a tank modification with 550 rounds of ammunition, eight 57 mm unguided rockets and 16 anti-tank bombs.


The Belarusian attack helicopter carries on board a radar missile protection station, a radiation warning station, as well as a barrier radar; it is capable of recognizing vehicles from a distance of up to 10 km, and a person from 5-6 km. The ground station allows you to control two drones at once for paired flights. It seems that he could also act as an aerial carrier of kamikaze drones.


The Russian localization of Hunter, called BAS-750, was presented at the Army-2022 forum. I would like to hope that, following the Termit, domestic manufacturers will please us, at least in 2024, with the launch of full-fledged helicopter-type attack UAVs into mass production.