UJ-22 Airborne

UJ-22 AIRBORNE manufactured by LLC NPP Ukrjet is a multi-purpose unmanned aircraft system that is able to fly at any time of day and season, in visual and adverse weather conditions, in situation of electronic countermeasures. "UJ-22 Airborne" can perform tasks for intelligence, search and rescue in the interests of army, police and rescue services. In addition to ammunition, the unmanned aerial vehicle can take a camera and an optoelectronic station from the payload.

UAV and payload control can be performed in automatic, semi-automatic and manual modes. Communication between ground control point and aircraft on digital two-way encrypted microwave data channel and digital two-way encrypted UHF data channel. Communication between the control center and the drone is carried out over an encrypted channel. As a ground control point, there may be a vehicle with a high level of cross-country ability. Antenna communication system - automatic tracking with the provision of two independent duplicate data channels. The complex is managed by two people - the pilot and the payload operator. Seats of operator and pilot of the UJ-22 Airborne UAV are located in off-road vehicles with air conditioning, heating and climate control systems.

The drone is capable of carrying unguided aerial bombs on board to destroy enemy manpower and armored vehicles. The developers have improved the drop system, and now oerators can drop 82-mm mines from it. In addition to mines, the novelty is capable of having a camera and an optical-electronic station.

The drone can carry free-falling bombs - 82-mm mortar mines (4), the main parts of RPG-7 (6) or grenade launchers (Ukrjet development) adapted for dropping. The use of a drone increases the range of the latter to 150-200 km. Instead of weapons, the drone can take a camera on board.

It has a 64-megapixel camera on board, which transmits real-time images to the ground station in real time. In the strike version, the UJ-22 carries six RPG-7VM grenades, or four 82-mm mortar mines. Accuracy of hitting the target from a distance of 700 meters has an error of up to 10 meters, and this is a fairly high result for uncontrolled ammunition.

The drone can stay in the air for up to 6 hours in extreme weather. The range of radio communication with the operator is provided at a distance of up to 100 kilometers. Control is reportedly carried out in several modes: manual, semi-automatic and automatic. Communication between the control center and the drone is carried out over an encrypted channel. A vehicle with a high level of cross-country ability can be used as a ground control point.

According to the company's chief engineer Igor Kramarenko, the multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle complex UJ-22 AIRBORNE is designed for both reconnaissance and destruction of ground targets. It has a 64-megapixel camera on board, which transmits real-time images to the ground station in real time. The UJ-22 is a carrier of ammunition: six RPG-7 VM grenades, or four 82-mm mortar mines. Accuracy of hitting the target from a distance of 700 meters has an error of up to 10 meters, and this is a fairly high result for unguided ammunition.

This drone can stay in the air for up to 6 hours in extreme weather conditions. On board is a starter-generator, an autopilot system developed by the company's specialists. The range of radio communication with the operator is provided at a distance of up to 100 kilometers. If the UJ-22 does not detect an enemy or finds a small target in the barrage zone, the UAV returns and dumps unused ammunition in a safe place. However, it is possible to land with them, - says Igor Kramarenko. - Transmitting photos in real time has its advantages over video, because operators can see in detail the terrain with a resolution of up to 5 centimeters per pixel. To counteract EW systems, the Xens inertial system was installed on board the UAV, which allows flying without GPS with the necessary coordinates.

UJ-22 AIRBORNE is designed according to all the canons of unmanned aerial vehicles, widely used abroad. The company employs combatants in eastern Ukraine who have flown in the area of hostilities and are well aware of what the end user needs.

"Our army has enough ammunition that UJ-22 uses. We only establish plumage on them. Such an operation can be performed in the field. Takeoff and landing are carried out in a semi-automatic mode, a take-off area of 100 meters is required for takeoff, but, as practice has shown, 50-60 meters is enough. The set includes two or three aircraft according to the customer's wishes," said Igor Kramarenko. It takes up to 2 months to produce one complex (a ground station and two planes). One month is enough to train an operator so that he can confidently perform his work. The flight can take place both in automatic mode and under manual control.

On 30 March 2022, the Russian Defense Ministry published footage of the destruction of the UJ-22 Airborne unmanned aerial vehicle in Ukraine by the Pantsir missile and gun system. According to the Defense Ministry, the drone carried an aerial bomb and 82 mm caliber mines under its wing. The crew of the Pantsir-S combat vehicle detected an unmanned aerial vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a timely manner and destroyed the target with one missile.

The crews of the Pantsir missile and gun complex carry out the tasks of controlling the airspace in their area of responsibility, a few kilometers from populated areas in order to ensure the safety of the civilian population. After detection, the "Shell" accompanies and destroys the target at a distance of up to 20 km. Immediately after the destruction of the target, the "Shells" go to another point. In total, since the beginning of the operation, the Russian Pantsir missile defense systems have destroyed more than three hundred drones and dozens of military aircraft.