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[5] and a VTOL drone.[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 a 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 loitering munition system 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 has two versions: the bigger Lancet-3 and the smaller Lancet-1.

It was reported in September 2023 that ZALA AERO has developed a loitering munition, named Italmas, with roughly 150–200 kilometres (93–124 mi) range allowing deeper penetration into enemy areas than the Lancet.[13][14] In October 2023, Pravda.ru reported the first combat use of Italmas.[15]

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.[16]

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.[16] As of 2021, ZALA 421-08 is used by scientists in the Antarctic.[17] 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.[18] In 2019, ZALA Aero developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-borne detection system that employs artificial intelligence (AI) technology to recognise objects.[19]

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.[20]

The KUB-BLA UAV was demonstrated in 2019. In March 2022, it was reportedly deployed in the Russo-Ukrainian War.[8][21]

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. Барражирующие боеприпасы производства ZALA AERO – лидеры в своем классе в России [ZALA AERO loitering munitions - leaders in their class in Russia]. armstrade.org (in Russian). Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade (TsAMTO).
  4. Беспилотные летательные аппараты самолеты, вертолет - купить [Unmanned aerial vehicles aeroplanes, helicopter - buy]. Zala-aero.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  5. Средства радиоэлектронной борьбы [Means of electronic warfare]. Zala-aero.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  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". 2021-07-21.
  8. Knight, Will (2022-03-18). "Russia's Killer Drone in Ukraine Raises Fears About AI in Warfare". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028.
  9. "Ukraine's National Guard downs Russian 'invisible' drone". pravda.com.ua. 2023-04-28.
  10. "Russia develops world's first light drone with hybrid engine". TASS. 2021-04-15.
  11. "Tech firm unveils Russia's first quadcopter invulnerable to electronic warfare systems". TASS. 2021-04-15.
  12. Комплекс с барражирующими боеприпасами «КУБ-БЛА» рекомендован к принятию на вооружение [The KUB-BLA loitering munition system is recommended for adoption]. armstrade.org (in Russian). Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade (TsAMTO). 30 August 2022.
  13. Syngaivska, Sofiia (22 September 2023). "Russia Has Unveiled a New Kamikaze Drone with a 200 km Range, which Is More Dangerous than the Lancet UAV". Defense Express. Kyiv. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  14. Malyasov, Dylan (21 September 2023). "Russia develops new long-range kamikaze drone". Defence Blog. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  15. "Russia uses new Italmas UAVs in Ukraine". Pravda.ru. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  16. Беспилотные системы (БПЛА), беспилотные воздушные суда (БВС) [Unmanned Systems (UAS), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)]. zala-aero.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  17. "Russia's ZALA latest drones tested in extreme Antarctic conditions". TASS. 2021-04-15.
  18. "Kalashnikov creates new anti-drone gun". Airrecognition.com. 2019-07-09. Archived from the original on 2019-07-09.
  19. "MAKS 2019: Zala Aero develops world's first artificial intelligence identification system". airrecognition.com. 2019-08-28. Archived from the original on 2019-09-07. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  20. Компания ZALA Aero поставит семь комплексов беспилотников в Латинскую Америку (in Russian). ТАСС. 2021-11-15.
  21. "Kasad Battalion of DPR Uses Zala Kub Drone to Destroy Afu Squad in Ugledar". 2022-11-24.
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