- Could you define the KRET drone development strategy? What market share is KRET going to capture?

- KRET is the largest Russian developer and manufacturer of airborne radio electronics and electronic warfare systems for fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. The Concern will maintain its leadership as more drones enter service.

Quite a long time ago we noticed the trend: drones were moving from the margins to the mainstream. So we have taken some steps in terms of R&D, and manufacturing facility upgrades. Consequently, today we confidently claim that Russia has developed world-class avionics for all kinds of drones. All the suites have an open architecture to offer various modular airborne equipment configurations meeting the application, and the drone type.

The avionics suites are available both for Russian-made and international aircraft. It gives us access to the huge and fast-growing world market of civil and military drones. Its current volume is about US$7 bln., and even most moderate forecasts by the industry experts predict over US$10 bln. by 2020. Depending on the aircraft type and specifications the avionics amounts from 30 to 70% of a drone’s cost. The figures give a clear picture of the significance and possible financial outcomes of the work we have been doing.

– What is special about developing drone avionics? What is the difference from the avionics for conventional piloted aircraft?

– The very name “pilotless” points to a major difference: there is no aircrew. With modern advanced technologies the pilot has become a weak link both in the aircraft control loop, and in the aircraft design strategies.

As we remove the human pilot, we can significantly improve flight control and navigation systems that fly the aircraft. Another factor is that we do not have to protect the pilot from overloads. Drones can fly as fast and perform maneuvers as sharp as the powerplant and the laws of air dynamics allow. A human may lose consciousness at just 3…5 g overload. A trained pilot can withstand up to 6…7 g for a short time, while a drone is capable of high-g flights up to 20 g, and more.

– What are the capabilities of KRET avionics used on military drones?

– Despite their unparalleled performance, drones are mostly intended to replace conventional aircraft, to make it more efficient in military and, which is equally important, in financial terms. For Russia, operations in difficult-to-reach regions, particularly in the Far North, are of great interest. To cover the huge airspace over the northern borders, we badly need long endurance drones for integrated ground and air reconnaissance including video surveillance, radar and electronic intelligence, search for IR, UV, and laser emissions. Drones are highly efficient for such operations. The equipment to perform such services has already been developed; now we need a carrier.

– Is it true that the nanophotonics studies by KRET would eventually lead to the development of radars for middle-size drones, which would have the performance of modern fighter radars?

– It is true, indeed. One of the major projects we are working on is the so-called radio optical phased array antenna (ROPAA) project. The antenna would be very suitable for drones, above all. Photon crystals being ROPAA elements can cover large surface areas of a drone. Consequently, such areas would emit higher power with perfect efficiency.

ROPAA also has another useful feature for drones: it can be airborne for extended periods of time with no maintenance required. In this aspect the endurance of such radar exceeds the endurance of modern drones. The radar can continuously operate for several days with no landings.

– You said KRET is adjusting all its competences to develop drones. First of all, we are talking about electronic warfare systems. What are the prospects for drone technologies in this field?

– As to drones, let’s not forget that it is an aircraft in the first place, and all the military performance specifications require a drone to have an onboard defense system. By today we have developed proposals to install defense systems on heavy, medium, and even light drones. It is just needed since any drone is a prime target. The enemy wants to kill it as soon as possible, while we want to keep it operational as long as possible. A drone’s survivability mostly depends on the efficiency of its onboard electronic warfare systems.

Heavy and medium aircraft can serve as jammers. It is a rather promising area. A drone can come really close to a combat zone without putting the aircrew lives at risk. A drone will perform electronic warfare as close as possible to enemy’s electronic systems.

A drone as a jammer is also much cheaper than piloted aircraft. Cluster electronic warfare systems have large antenna arrays, and high emission power, so if there are humans on board, they should be protected. There is a need to protect the aircrew from UHF emission, and it means extra development and manufacturing costs for such fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. There is no need for this on a drone. It is a “humanless” aircraft, there is just nobody to protect there.

– Is KRET working on any solutions to counter anti-drone systems currently being developed in many countries?

– Every country realizes the danger of drones, and works on countermeasures. We, just like other global companies, are working on such solutions, and we have managed to make a significant progress in this field. Both in Russia and in other countries anti-drone and counter anti-drone projects are developed concurrently. I may not disclose any details, but I would say that we have done a lot of research on drone detection and attacking.

The drones in question are not only enemy ones. In peacetime protection from drones is probably even more relevant. As there are more and more household drones such sites as airports, power, and hazardous production facilities are to be protected. Besides, terrorists can use drones. To shoot down every suspicious drone over densely populated areas is certainly not an option. Using electronic warfare tools to deactivate a drone is a much more viable option both in terms of finances, and common sense. Actually, these are the same military electronic warfare systems just adapted to interact with drone software. If we jam its transmissions, suppress its navigation system and telemetry, and intercept its controls, then the drone would become totally harmless in a quiet and stealthy manner.

As to military applications, it is not only defense of individual facilities, but also a large-scale search for enemy aircraft trying to stay invisible as long as possible. Here electronic reconnaissance is a major player. Any drone is fitted with many flight management, communication, navigation, radar systems, and leaves an emission trail. From these signs, their qualitative and quantitative parameters we could locate a drone at a long range, identify its type, and obtain other information. We prepare an attack based on such data.

We are currently working on many aspects of this. One day we will make it public.