ZALA Aero Group

ZALA Aero Group (also called A-Level Aerosystems) is a Russian company specialising in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development, located in Izhevsk, Russia. ZALA Aero has provided UAV systems for several sectors of the Russian government, including the Ministry of Defence, and has also won contracts to supply UAVs to foreign countries.[1][2][3] The company's in-house design and production projects include a variety of systems related to UAV design, manufacture and operation, including autopilots, airframes, mechanical and pneumatic catapults, launchers, payloads and communication technologies.[4] ZALA Aero is the only Russian company producing unmanned helicopters, portable anti-drone EW systems and a VTOL drone.[5][6][7]

ZALA Aero Group
IndustryAerospace
Founded2003
HeadquartersIzhevsk
Key people
Aleksandr Zakharov
ProductsUnmanned aerial vehicles, Jammers
ParentKalashnikov Concern
Websitezala-aero.com

Company

The company is a subsidiary of Kalashnikov Concern.[8]

Products

The ZALA 421-06 is an unmanned helicopter.

The ZALA 421-08 and ZALA 421-12 UAV are conventional UAVs.

The ZALA 421-16E5G is an unmanned aircraft outfitted with a hybrid powerplant combining an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. This UAV model is used by the Russian military in Ukraine. One of them was shot down by the Ukrainian military on April 25th 2023 and recovered two days later in a minefield. [9]

The ZALA 421-24 is Russia's first quadcopter, which the company claims is invulnerable to electronic warfare systems.[10][11]

The KUB-BLA is military UAV that can loiter over a combat area for an extended period and allegedly identifies targets using artificial intelligence. It has a 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) wingspan. It is fired from a portable launcher. Its top speed is 130 km/h (81 mph), which it can maintain for 30 minutes. It crashes into its target and detonates a 3 kg (6.6 lb) explosive.[8] The complex with loitering ammunition "KUB-BLA" has successfully passed state tests and is recommended for adoption by the Russian army at the end of 2021.[12]

The ZALA Lancet is a further development of the KUB-BLA. It consists of two versions: bigger Lancet-3 and smaller Lancet-1.

History

ZALA Aero was founded in 2003 by Aleksandr Zakharov, Its first production UAV went to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2006. In addition to providing aircraft for defense and military purposes, the company markets its products to the energy sector, and has contracted with Gazprom to provide UAVs to monitor over 2,000 km of the company's pipeline network. ZALA Aero has worked with Gazprom's Space Systems division to use UAVs to transmit real-time video over satellite channels.[13]

In 2008, the ZALA 421-06 and the ZALA 421-08 completed test-flying and entered operational service. The aircraft were trialled aboard an icebreaker, participating in reconnaissance to assist the ship's work.[13] As of 2021, ZALA 421-08 is used by scientists in the Antarctic.[14] In 2009, ZALA Aero reached an agreement with Turkmenistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs to supply the country with the ZALA 421-12 UAV system.[1]

Unmanned plane ZALA 421-12

As of 2019 Russia operated over one thousand ZALA drones.[15] In 2019, ZALA Aero developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-borne detection system that employs artificial intelligence (AI) technology to recognise objects.[16]

In 2021, ZALA Aero launched into serial production the ZALA 421-16E5G and developed the ZALA 421-24.[10][11]

In November 2021, “ZALA Aero Group” signed a contract with Panamian “UAV Latam” for a supply of seven UAV systems in 2022-23 on eight local markets of “UAV Latam”. The company will help with the construction of a UAV training center as well as the preparation of local operations and other technical specialists.[17]

The KUB-BLA UAV was demonstrated in 2019. In March 2022, it was reportedly deployed in the Russo-Ukrainian War.[8][18]

See also

References
  1. "Zala Aero To Deliver UAVs To Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan". Shephard. 2010-02-06.
  2. "Russia's ZALA latest drones already in use over Latin America, says UAV Latam spokesman". TASS. 2021-10-30. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30.
  3. "ЦАМТО / / Барражирующие боеприпасы производства ZALA AERO – лидеры в своем классе в России".
  4. "Беспилотные летательные аппараты самолеты, вертолет - купить". Zala-aero.com.
  5. "Средства радиоэлектронной борьбы". Zala-aero.com.
  6. "Zala Aero developed a new multipurpose VTOL UAV". www.airrecognition.com. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  7. "Cutting-edge Russian drone unveiled at MAKS 2021 air show".
  8. Knight, Will (2022-03-18). "Russia's Killer Drone in Ukraine Raises Fears About AI in Warfare". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028.
  9. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/04/28/7399918/
  10. "Russia develops world's first light drone with hybrid engine".
  11. "Tech firm unveils Russia's first quadcopter invulnerable to electronic warfare systems".
  12. "ЦАМТО / / Комплекс с барражирующими боеприпасами «КУБ-БЛА» рекомендован к принятию на вооружение".
  13. "ZALA AERO — Беспилотные системы (БПЛА), беспилотные воздушные суда (БВС)". zala-aero.com.
  14. "Russia's ZALA latest drones tested in extreme Antarctic conditions".
  15. "Kalashnikov creates new anti-drone gun". Airrecognition.com.
  16. "MAKS 2019: Zala Aero develops world's first artificial intelligence identification system". airrecognition.com. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  17. "Компания ZALA Aero поставит семь комплексов беспилотников в Латинскую Америку" (in Russian). ТАСС. 2021-11-15.
  18. "Kasad Battalion of DPR Uses Zala Kub Drone to Destroy Afu Squad in Ugledar". 2022-11-24.
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