A few days ago, the start of production in Russia of the first BAS-200 unmanned helicopter was officially announced. This news is positive and remarkable in itself, which means that domestic technologies, although in close cooperation with Belarus, do not stand still. But can this originally civilian rotary-wing drone be “mobilized” and go to war?
LOW – 200
The BAS-200 unmanned aerial system was presented at the recent St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. 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:
The BAS-200 is a very important drone for our country, which can perform various tasks – from search and rescue operations and terrain surveillance to transporting goods, including in hard-to-reach areas. It has proven itself in tests, including in the harsh climatic conditions of the Far North. Many parts of the country are showing interest in the device. The mass production of BAS-200 at KumAPP will allow the demand for these drones to be covered in the future.
What is this first domestic helicopter-type drone?
It should be noted that the aircraft was based on the technologies of the Belarusian design bureau “Unmanned Helicopters”, which were finalized at the NTSV by Mil and Kamov. It is an unmanned helicopter with a length of 3.9 meters, a height of 1.2 meters, a take-off weight of 200 kg and an engine capacity of only 54 ch. with., capable of reaching a maximum speed of 160 km / h, service ceiling – 3500 m. The payload that the BAS – 200 can deliver currently 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 one station to another, 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 see 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 imagery, which is used in geological exploration, forestry and agriculture, as well as environmental and infrastructure monitoring. We are preparing contracts for the supply of drones in the interest of various regional services, and we also receive requests from leasing companies.
50 kilograms of payload makes 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 areas difficult to reach. access. 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 have 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 operating range 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 Hunter attack drone, armed with machine guns, unguided rockets and anti-tank bombs. Its performance is 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 on-board equipment.
In other words, our army and navy would, of course, be more suitable for Hunter, but its production in Russia has not yet been mastered. But BAS – 200 went into series. Can he be forced to fight in the NWO zone? Undoubtedly.
First of all, an unmanned helicopter asks for the role of aerial reconnaissance and observer of artillery fire. After all, “surveillance equipment” can be very different, including military hardware. The type of take-off and landing of the helicopter will greatly simplify its operation in the front line zone.
Secondly, even an initially purely civilian drone can be turned into an effective destroyer of enemy armored vehicles. Now the main threat to Ukrainian tanks is the ground crews of anti-tank systems, as well as attack helicopters, which, with enormous risk to the lives of their crews, fly at very low altitudes and hit the enemy , being in the zone of destruction of its air defense systems and MANPADS. The effective range of ATGMs in service is about 10 km. But what if the BAS-200 is transformed into an attack drone?
One of the most serious threats to enemy armored vehicles, in addition to anti-tank systems, today are disposable drones “Lancet-3” and “Cube”. From the ground, “Lancets” are launched using a catapult and are mainly used by MTR and counter-battery combat units. The flight range of such a kamikaze drone, capable of hitting even a heavy NATO tank, is 40-70 km. For example, up to four Lancet-3 type kamikaze drones, weighing 12 kg, with an air launch system, can be placed on a BAS-200 suspension. That’s just comfortably within the helicopter’s load capacity. What will he give?
This will yield a reusable unmanned vehicle that can take off from a small patch, fly up to 100km deep in the front line, preferably paired with an aircraft-type reconnaissance drone, release up to four Lancet kamikaze drones -3 one after another, then back to base for refueling and ammo resupply. On a successful combat sortie, you can hit up to four enemy armored vehicle units without any risk to the pilots. And it can be done now with minimal design changes to the BAS-200.
Author: Sergey Marzhetsky Photos used: Russian Helicopters/Rostec
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