Russia to launch Chaika strike drone into combat zone

Strike unmanned aerial vehicle Chaika, based on a tail-sitter aerodynamic scheme and combining advantages of UAVs and multi-rotor types, will arrive for combat zone testing in March, the Stratim design bureau told TASS.

Stratim stressed that the aerodynamic scheme of the Chaika gives advantages in its use.

"The apparatus is based on the part-sitter aerodynamic scheme, literally - 'sitting on the tail'. Chaika takes off like a copter, then switches to horizontal flight in aircraft mode and flies like an aircraft. This gives the drone the ability to take off simply from a patch of ground, without the need for a catapult, runway or powder launch. As a result, it is very convenient to use," says the bureau.

The device can fly up to 30 kilometres at a speed of at least 100 km/h.

"It is possible to load the Chaika with anything. It is an attack variant that can carry a payload of 4-5 kg," Stratim said.