Tu-300 Korshun / Shock Drone

The estimable Greg Goebel reported "In the early 1990s, the Tupolev organization began work on the "Tu-300 Korshun", which resembles its predecessors, but is effectively a new design. It is fitted with a nose antenna dome and nose fairings for modern sensors and electronic systems. It features a larger inlet, suggesting that it uses turbofan propulsion. It was designed as a strike UAV or "uninhabited air combat vehicle (UCAS)" and features internal weapons bays, along with a single centerline pylon for an external munition. It uses twin RATO boosters. Other details remain classified, and it doesn't appear to have gone into production."

The company "Tupolev" is developing a project of an unmanned medium-range aircraft, based in part on the reconnaissance and strike complex with the Tu-300. This was reported by Interfax in June 2010 with reference to a source in the company. The developed drones will be submitted to the contest, which in the near future was to be announced by the Russian Defense Ministry. Technical characteristics of the perspective UAV are not reported. The Tu-300 has a launch weight of three tons and is capable of speeds of up to 950 kilometers per hour. The device is able to carry weapons under the fuselage of up to a ton. The range of the reconnaissance-strike complex is 300 kilometers.

Tu-300 "Korshun-U" - Soviet and Russian tactical tactical unmanned aerial vehicle. Designed by engineers from the Tupolev design bureau. The main purpose is related to the conduct of aerial reconnaissance and the detection, destruction of ground targets and targets. The first flight of the prototype took place in 1991. Two upgraded versions have also been developed. "Filin-1" is intended for conducting radio technical reconnaissance, "Filin-2" is for retransmission of radio signals.

In 1982, the Soviet Union, the Air Force proposed to begin developing tactical tactical UAV (code name "Korshun"). Initially, the project was entrusted to the Sukhoi Design Bureau, but after the first works, a year later, the project was redirected to the MMZ "Experience" under the guidance of the Tupolev Design Bureau. The decision was made because of the vast experience in the creation of successful unmanned vehicles, in particular, the scouts Tu-141 and Tu-143. The designers indexed the project as 300 with the designation "Korshun-U". It should be noted that they immediately thought about using previous models as basic ones, but after reviewing the decision and proceeding to develop a unique Tu-300 drone.

Providing ground equipment developed UAV unified with the same in the Tu-141 and Tu-241. In the early 90's, the first experimental flying specimen was designed. In 1991, began to conduct flight tests. This aircraft was rather actively promoted to MAKS (International Aviation Space Salon), which was held in Zhukovsky. But due to subsequent events and the lack of sufficient financial support, the project of tactical strike UAV Tu-300 had to be frozen.

In 2007, thanks to the agency "Interfax", there was information about the freezing and resumption of work on the drone. It also became known that the general layout of the airframe, the main design solutions and ground support equipment remain unchanged, which should correspond to the specified parameters back in the 90's to the scout with the ability to detect and destroy enemy targets. For the improvement of technical characteristics and power plant will meet the new engines, modern avionics and radio equipment. In addition to this information, it was announced about the creation of a medium-range UAV, the LHC SD, for which the basic model would be the almost finished unmanned vehicle Tu-300.

The Tu-300 is an unmanned single-engine airplane with an aerodynamic "duck" scheme. For the lifting force corresponds to a triangular wing with a slight elongation. Mechanized communications and an electronic computer complex, as well as auxiliary and reconnaissance equipment, are installed in the forward part of the fuselage. The main load, missile-bomb armament or radio electronic equipment is installed on the external points of the fuselage suspension and in the fuselage compartment. In addition to its own weight of four tons, an aerial unmanned vehicle can take up to one ton of specialized load on board.

At various exhibitions and air show UAV was demonstrated with the presence of a suspended container of small-sized cargo (KMGU). Due to this, the unmanned Tu-300 can be armed with percussive weapons in the form of cumulative-fragmentation and high-explosive bombs. A wide range of unmanaged and controlled air ammunition is capable of being deployed on an air vehicle due to the used holder BDZ-U.

Since the use of an unmanned vehicle chassis is not provided, the launch is carried out from a launching transport container mounted on the vehicle chassis. For the launch itself into the air, there are two solid-fuel accelerators. And for the safe landing of the Tu-300 meets the inherent in almost all UAV parachute system, located in the tail section.