Russia To Test New Strike Drone In 2015: Reports

Russian reconnaissance and strike drone "Chirok" will begin tests in 2015, the CEO of the Moscow Research Radio Engineering Institute Yuri Nevzorov told RIA Novosti on Sunday.

"After the new year , we will launch the test. We have three models of the aircraft in total,” said Nevzorov during the 10th Anniversary of the International Gidroaviasalon exhibition in Gelendzhik, Russia.

According to the report, "Chirok" will perform test flights in 2015 during the International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS) in Zhukovsky a city in Moscow Oblast.

Nevzorov claimed that the drone will be used as a carrier for electronic warfare systems. The aircraft was presented to the United instrument Corporation (UIC), a member of the corporation, Rostec, during the global trade fair, INNOPROM, held in Ekaterinburg from July 9 to 12, the report said.

Chirok can be used to observe and assess different situations – to monitor the threat of fire in forests, disaster areas and road and traffic conditions, as well as for patrol. As for military utility, Chirok is intended for reconnaissance and can also be used as an offensive operations drone, capable of carrying weapons.

Its maximum takeoff weight is up to 700 kilograms, the payload weight limit is up to 300 kilograms. The UAV can carry opto-electronic devices for various types of monitoring, and the transport of bombs, rockets and high-precision missiles. The drone can rise to a height of 6,000 meters (approximately 19,600 feet), with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers (approximately 1,550 miles), it added.