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R18 octocopter

R18 is an octocopter, i.e. a vertical take-off and landing drone with eight propellers capable of carrying several kilograms of payload. R18 is a completely custom model created in Ukraine by Aerorozvidka, which uses domestic and imported components.

Non-governmental organization Aerorozvidka was founded by Maidan volunteers and IT specialists back in 2014 and from the beginning of the war in eastern Ukraine has been assisting the Ukrainian military primarily with intelligence, as it is stated in the name of the association. The Ukrainian organization was founded by a group of enthusiasts who saw the potential of quadcopter technology in war. Today, the group works closely with the Ukrainian military and is considered a key component in Ukraine's military efforts. The co-founder of "Aero-reconnaissance" died in 2015 during reconnaissance in Donbas.

Recently, in addition to surveillance and reconnaissance drones, there have been R18 octocopters in the Aerorozvidka’s arsenal. R18 has a range of 4 km, can be in the air for about 40 minutes, and most importantly, can carry 5 kg of free-falling bombs. Soviet cumulative RKG-3 anti-tank grenades or RKG-1600 bombs created on their basis by the gunsmiths of Mayak Plant are used as bombs. The R-18 drone is capable of carrying two bombs/grenades and dropping them from a height of 100-300 m, hovering over the target. Using the RKG-1600 bomb, the R18 drone can hit a target within a radius of 1 m from a height of 300 m.

Ukrainian-made octocopter called the R18 first flew in 2019 and was able to destroy Russian targets worth millions of dollars, dropping explosives weighing up to five kilograms. The R18's specifications, including a range of up to four kilometers, rival the best drones on the market and are designed for full visibility in the dark.

Unlike most civilian drones, the R18's developers saved weight by removing the landing gear, meaning the drone has to take off from a special platform and then be "caught" in mid-air by someone on the ground after its mission is complete. The R18 also differs from civilian drones in its use of thermal imaging cameras, which produce relatively low-resolution black-and-white images.

Soviet hand-held cumulative grenade RKG-3 is designed to destroy tanks, self-propelled units, and armored vehicles, as well as to destroy defense structures. It was put in service in 1950. Depending on the modification of the RKG-3, it has an armor penetration of up to 220 mm. That is, theoretically, it should not severely damage the modern tank, but Aerorozvidka also successfully destroyed tanks with R18 and RKG-3. But the main targets for these drones are staff vehicles, radars, self-propelled artillery, air defense and MLRS systems, rear depots, and so on.

The cost of one R18 drone, according to Aerorozvidka, is about $20,000, the cost of old Soviet grenades can be neglected, so this method of destroying enemy equipment is still quite budgetary.