At the Army-2018 forum, the Belarusian Scientific & Production Center for Multifunctional Unmanned Systems presented the project named Yastreb. The UAV combines the functions of reconnaissance, targetry, and attack systems.

UAV Yastreb and kamikaze drones Photo by Mil.Press Today

The Belarusian designers applied the Austrianpusher-propped internal combustion engine as a powerplant.The airplane-type systemhas a maximum takeoff weight of 700 kg and is capable to carry up to 120 kg payload. The flight endurance has been prolonged, comparing to the earlier models, and amounts to 10 hours. The UAV was designed both for civil and military use.To destroy targets,uses the high-precision loitering munitions."The basic aircraft carries 2 or 3 automatically guided drones. They are equipped with either high-explosive fragmentation or shaped-charge warheads weighting up to 10 kg", explained Maria Maksimova, assistant director of the scientific center.The target drones have the same characteristics, but instead the warheads they are equipped with the Luneburg lenses to simulate radar cross-sections of real larger targets, and other special-purpose equipment.The interviewee toldthat although thesystem had been designed proactively, it was already being tested by the Russian military. "The Russian Defense Ministry is what we cater to", emphasized Maksimova.