General Information
Type Pchela-1T (Bee-1T)
Function Reconnaissance
Year (first use) 1995
Crew Unmanned
Powerplant
Type Piston + two solid rocket takeoff boosters
Power 32hp
Size
Length ?m
Height ?m
Wingspan ?m
Wing area ?m2
Weights and loads
Empty ?kg
Loaded 130kg
Wing Load (kg/m2) ?
Power load (kg/hp) 4.06
Speed (km/h)
Operational 110 to 150
Range
Recorded in combat 55km
Flight Endurance 2h
Ceiling (m)
Operational 100 to 3000
Climb
1000m ?min
Payload
Fuel ?kg
Cargo ?kg

Pchela-1T ('061') unmanned reconnaissance aircraft by Yakovlev KB

11k launcher photo "Military Parade"

Light unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. In March 2000 Russians Defence Ministry adopted unmanned reconnaissance system 'Stroy-P' (Rank-P). This system includes launcher on caterpillar-fitted platform, two (electronics?) vechicles and ten (five in the early units) 'Pchela-1T' (Bee-1T) aircraft.

The Stroy-P complex was adopted for service with the Russian Army in 1997. A governmental prize was granted to the team of the Stroy-P developers and manufacturers. Production launching was delayed due to financial problems.

On 6th International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft (Paris, May 1998 the first report and video footage were presented of the 'Stroy-P' operation in Chechnya (1995), where one of three available units was combat-tested. Ten flights were performed (eight - combat missions) making up 7h25min. One 'Pchela' was lost to guerrillas fire.

Production was assigned to Kyshtym radioelectronic plant (Chelyabinsk region) and Smolensk aircraft plant. The last one already gained experience with the technology while manufacturing 50 'Pchela' aircraft. Few 'Stroy-P' were delivered to the North Korea.

BPLA cost makes up 30% to 35% of the total 'Stroy-P' $5,000,000 price tag.

References
  • RUSSIAN ARMY WILL USE STROY-P PILOTLESS RECONNAISSANCE COMPLEX IN CHECHNYA
  • HALT IN QUANTITY-PRODUCTION OF ADVANCED ARMS MAY CAUSE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY LOSSES
  • INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON UNMANNED AIRCRAFT IN PARIS
Links
  • Kyshtym plant started production of the 'Stroy-P' reconnaissance system
  • Yakovlev Pchela/Shmel
Created March 20, 2000 Back to
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