Dark day for Russian UAVs in Syria

Syrian military sources said that while performing reconnaissance and target designation missions for artillery and missile forces in Bosra - a town in southern Syria, the Granat-4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) suddenly crashed to the ground due to an accident.

The Granat-4 crashed.

However, according to information from the opposition in Syria, their own gunmen carried out this shooting down. Although information about the cause of the Granat-4 being grounded is unclear, it is an undeniable fact that in just one day, Russia lost 2 UAVs while on a mission in Syria.

According to the Russian manufacturer, the Russian Granat-4 tactical UAV conducts signals and communications surveillance for target detection and artillery fire. This UAV can detect mobile phone and radio transmitter points and transmit coordinates of enemy positions for a precise strike.

The Granat-4 tactical UAV was designed by the contractor Izhmash-Unmanned Systems. According to information received from open sources, the aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 30 kg, a maximum payload of 3 kg, a length of 2.4 m, a wingspan of 3.2 m, a flight speed of 90 km/h, a maximum speed of 145 km/h, and an operating range of up to 70 km.

A complete Granat-4 unmanned system includes two UAVs, a set of replaceable payload modules, a launch station, a UAV loading and refueling station, a ground control station on the basis of a KAMAZ-4350 truck with 4350D-11 equipment.

Izhmash-Unmanned Systems is a developer and manufacturer of UAVs of several types, including the Granat family (Granat-1 to 6), Mukha and Tachyon. All are supplied to the Russian Armed Forces.

The Granat UAVs have reportedly passed high and hot tests in the Pamirs. The UAVs flew at an altitude of 3,500 m above sea level at an ambient temperature of nearly +50 �C. Additionally, the Granat was tested in mountainous terrain at a Russian military base in Armenia.

Chi Nguyen