Skyeton Raybird-3

Raybird-3 (ACS-3) is an unmanned aircraft system designed for various long-term missions and ISTAR operations. It corresponds to the class I of NATO classification and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.^{[lower-alpha 1]} Created by APC "Skyeton". Raybird-3 is the name of the aviation system for dual-use; ACS-3 is the name of the military version.^[3][4]

Raybird-3 / ACS-3
Role	Unmanned aircraft system
National origin	Ukraine
Manufacturer	APC "Skyeton"
Status	In service

History of UAV creation and development

In 2014, the first prototype of fixed-wing UAV was developed, with a gasoline engine for surveillance and inspection missions.^[5]

Later, a number of state tests confirmed that the complex carries out necessary tasks in the conditions of counteraction to electronic warfare (EW) and meets the requirements for tactical drones.^[6][7]

In October 2020, an upgraded modification of the ACS-3M was introduced with a new injector engine, improved software, and an ability to mount a small radar with a synthesized aperture.^[8][9]

In March 2021, the launch of a UAV from a moving object (vehicle in motion) was demonstrated.^[10]

Since 2016, the UAV has been allowed to operate in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.^[11] Also, the UAV manufacturer is included in the register of executors of the state defense order of Ukraine.^[12]

Design

Unmanned aerial system Raybird-3 consists of an unmanned aerial vehicle, a portable ground control station, an antenna, and a catapult.^{[lower-alpha 2]} The whole complex is transported in four containers. It takes less than 20 minutes to start.^[14]

UAV power plant is a single-cylinder four-stroke gasoline engine GF40 injector type with a capacity of 40 cm³ (manufactured by OS Engines), which drives the propeller. The engine operates in temperatures from −25 to +45 °C, its power is 3.8 hp (2.8 kW). The aircraft is launched by a mechanical catapult with a starting speed of 55 km/h. It lands on a parachute.^[5]

The UAV does not require manual entry of coordinates, flies on a pre-programmed route, and returns to the operator. The operator does not need to directly control the aircraft and the whole system operators under autopilot command at all times. The maximum distance of the control link is 240 km. In offline mode Raybird-3 flies 2.5 thousand km at a maximum radius of 1 thousand km. Any number of aircraft can be connected to the control station, any number of operators can be connected to one aircraft.^[14][15]

Specifications of Raybird-3 (modification of ACS-3M)

Source:^[16]

Name characteristics	Indicator
Wingspan	2960 mm
Flight altitude	up to 3.5 km
Flight duration	18–28 hours
Speed (min / cruising / max)	80/110/140 km/h
Maximum takeoff weight	23 kg
Payload	up to 5 kg

Areas of application

External videos
Ukrainian Army UAV (9 series of TV show "Polygon" on UATV Channel) on YouTube
ACS-3 from Skyeton: what a unique Ukrainian UAV is capable of (on Defense Express Channel) on YouTube
Dünyanin en i̇yi̇ askeri s i̇haları (The world's best military drones) (on Tekno Trend Channel) on YouTube

The UAV can be used in a number of commercial and military tasks:

• Aerial photography
• Fire prevention
• Mapping
• Search and rescue operations
• ISTAR mission etc.^[16][17]

Note

1. Takeoff weight up to 150 kg, small tactical UAV.^[1][2]
2. Andriy Berezhnyi informs about ACS-3 in an extended configuration: 4 unmanned aerial vehicles, 2 ground control stations, 2 launch catapults, 2 transport bases (car), spare parts, tools and accessories, operational documentation.^[13]

References

1. Zhdanov, S.V. (2017). "Тенденції розвитку безпілотних авіаційних комплексів тактичного класу" [Trends in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles of the tactical class] (PDF). V Міжнародна науково-практична конференція (11–12 жовтня 2017 року) «Проблеми координації воєнно-технічної та оборонно-промислової політики в Україні. Перспективи розвитку озброєння та військової техніки»: Тези доповідей (in Ukrainian). Kyiv: ДНУ УкрІНТЕІ: 248. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
2. Frew, Joanna (2021). On the edge: Security, protracted conflicts and the role of drones in Eurasia (PDF). Oxford: Drone Wars UK. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.; Gettinger, Dan (2019). The drone databook (PDF). New York: Bard College. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
3. Virun, Bohdan (2020). Pron, Svitlana (ed.). Ефективність використання безпілотних авіаційних систем при виконанні пошуково-рятувальних операцій [The effectiveness of the use of unmanned aerial systems in search and rescue operations] (PDF) (in Ukrainian). Kyiv. p. 82. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
4. "Raybird-3. Рекорд у піднебессі" [Raybird-3. Record in skies]. Defense Express (in Ukrainian) (10): 20. 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
5. Jackson, Rory (2021). "Going the distance: Dossier: Skyeton Raybird-3". Unmanned Systems Technology (38). Wedmore: High Power Media Ltd: 22, 24, 26–27, 30. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
6. Buryachenko, Valentyn, ed. (2018). "Сучасні "очі" армії" [Modern "eyes" of the army] (PDF). Військо України (The Army of Ukraine) (in Ukrainian) (8). Kyiv: Ministry of Defence (Ukraine): 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
7. "Raybird-3 conquering new heights" (PDF). Ukrainian Defense Review (3). Kyiv: Defense Express: 42. 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
8. Horyansky, Orest (26 October 2020). "Україна показала модернізований безпілотник для розвідки над Донбасом" [Ukraine has shown a modernized drone for reconnaissance over Donbass]. Uryadovy Kuryer (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
9. "Иностранная военная хроника" [Foreign military chronicle] (PDF). Зарубежное военное обозрение (Foreign military review) (in Russian). 1 (886). Moscow: Ministry of Defence (Russia): 98. 2021. ISSN 0134-921X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
10. Pleshko, E.A., ed. (2021). "Інформаційна довідка No. 80 (березень 2021 року)" [Information reference No. 80 (March 2021)] (PDF). Науково-інформаційний бюлетень (збірник воєнно-морської наукової інформації) за перший квартал 2021 року (Scientific information bulletin (collection of naval scientific information) for the first quarter of 2021) (in Ukrainian). 1 (18). Odesa: National University «Odesa Maritime Academy»: 83. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
11. Hurak, S.P., ed. (2019). "Сучасний безпілотник" [Modern drone]. Оборонний вісник (Defense Bulletin) (in Ukrainian) (7). Kyiv: Центр воєнної політики та політики безпеки: 2. ISSN 2306-6121. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
12. "Мінстратегпром вніс ще 24 компанії до реєстру виконавців державного оборонного замовлення" [Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine added 24 more companies to the register of executors of the state defense order]. Ukrainian Military Pages (in Ukrainian). 25 October 2021. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.; "Про внесення товариства з обмеженою відповідальністю "Авіаційна виробнича компанія 'СКАЕТОН'" до електронного реєстру учасників відбору та виконавців державних контрактів (договорів)" [Order on inclusion of LLC APC SKYETON in the electronic register of participants in the selection and executors of state contracts No. 25-DR dated 29.09.2021] (PDF). Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 29 September 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
13. Berezhnyi, Andriy (2020). Trystan, A.V. (ed.). Методи та інформаційна технологія автоматизованого планування маршрутів польотів безпілотних літальних апаратів для підвищення ефективності пошуку об'єктів [Methods and information technology for automated flight planning of unmanned aerial vehicles to increase the efficiency of object search] (PDF) (in Ukrainian). Kharkiv: Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University. p. 179. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
14. "Skyeton Raybird-3: Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) (2019)". Military Factory — Global Defense Reference. 13 June 2020. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
15. "Крилатий розвідник: Компанія Skyeton розробила модернізовану версію безпілотника ACS-3" [Winged scout: Skyeton has developed an upgraded version of the ACS-3 unmanned aerial vehicle] (PDF). Defense Express (in Ukrainian) (10–11): 46. 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2022.; Full web version of the journal: Levkov, Oleksiy (24 October 2020). "Крилатий розвідник: На що здатна модернізована версія безпілотника ACS-3" [Winged Scout: What is the upgraded version of the ACS-3 drone capable of]. Defense Express (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
16. Misyura, Serhiy (9 June 2021). "Доба в повітрі для постійної розвідки. Компанія "Скаетон": що постачатиме для армії" [Day in the air for constant reconnaissance. Skaeton: what it will supply for the army]. ArmyInform — News Agency of the Ministry of Defense (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
17. Ricardo Alexandre Vaz Alves (2018). Emprego de meios tecnológicos na vigilância florestal em Portugal [Use of technological means in forest surveillance in Portugal] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Pedrouços: Instituto Universitário Militar. p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.

External links

• Кречко, Ярослав (18 November 2018). "Турецькі безпілотники в Україні. Чи необхідні вони на Донбасі?" [Turkish drones in Ukraine. Are they needed in Donbass?]. Radio Liberty (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2022.