The first Russian unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) “Luch” will be presented at Moscow international aerospace show MAKS-2011, Vzglyad newspaper reports. It has been declared by the official representative of Vega concern, Alexey Nedelin. 

«A full-scale sample of new medium-range UCAV developed by Luch design bureau will be demonstrated within the framework of Vega concern’s exposition», - he said. 

«Luch» is intended for: electro-optical, radar, electromagnetic intelligence and retransmission. 

The concern’s representative has especially stressed that the weapons may be installed on new UCAV as pods or using pylons. 

«The total weight of ammunition and weapon control system is 150 - 170 kg», - said Nedelin. 

Thus, «Luch» is the first Russian UCAV. The enterprises of Russia have only developed reconnaissance UAVs before. 

The Luch UCAV is created on the basis of manned Sigma-5 aircraft and it is an aircraft having a twin-boom scheme with a tail rotor. The UCAV is equipped with four-stroke piston turbocharged ROTAX-914 engine, working on petrol. The takeoff and landing are performed using wheel landing gear (the front unit is stowable). 

The wing may be folded up during transportation and storage of the UCAV. The UCAV may be folded up by a single person in less than two minutes. The dimensions of Luch: wingspan - 8,7 m, length - 5,85 m, height - 2,4 m.

It is capable of real-time data communication during surveillance within the radius of 250 km (or 350 km using retransmitter). The surveillance radius may be increased up to 500 km using aircraft recorder. 

The maximum flight speed is - 270 km/h, maximum altitude – 7000 m. The duration of flight is 18 hours (it may be increased up to 30 hours by installing winglets and increasing the fuel load). The UCAV’s takeoff weight is 800 kg. The power of engine is - 115 h.p.