The R18 is a Ukrainian unmanned combat aerial vehicle designed to attack enemy targets with ammunition. It was developed by Ukrainian organization Aerorozvidka. The R18 is in service with the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian War, which has been ongoing since 2014.

History In 2016, Aerorozvidka started a program to develop the prototypes of its unmanned aerial vehicles. In 2019, the model was tested and saw use during a special operation in the ATO zone. «Нехай гине залізо, а не наші люди». Як українська Аеророзвідка перемагає окупантів у «війні дронів». ShoTam. 22.06.2022

Purpose The R18 has both military and civilian applications. The octocopter is used for surveillance and search, delivering cargo, or inflicting damage. As of 2022, the last function in Aerorozvidka is called the most relevant because many other drones with cameras can collect information. The complex is designed to destroy enemy equipment, small fortifications, and warehouses with ammunition.

Application

Combat use of the R18 started in 2019 during the Russo-Ukrainian War. Октокоптер R18: як український дрон допомагає знищувати ворогів на фронті. Fakty, ICTV. 10.07.2022 Помічники «Байракторів». Як працюють на Донбасі наші дрони Skyfist та R18. Delovaya Stolitsa. 16.11.2021 They work with the octocopter mainly at night, using the tactics of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The targets of drone attacks are mostly enemy cannons, tanks,“Aerorozvidka” demonstrated how they are destroying the tanks with the help of R18 drones. Militarnyi. 15.04.2022Fighters of “Aerorozvidka” detachment destroyed the Russian Т-90 “Vladimir” tank. Militarnyi. 11.05.2022 armored vehicles,Ukrainian forces dropped explosives on the Russian equipment from the UAV. Militarnyi. 21.04.2022 and trucks.

On the first day of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, February 24, 2022, one of the combat units prepared equipment and moved to the area of the airfield in Hostomel. Through horizontal communications, representatives of Aerorozvidka began to communicate with those involved in the events. On the first night, an R18 drone was used to inflict damage on paratroopers at the airport.

As of July 2022, 20 crews of R18 drones are working on the front lines of the Russo-Ukrainian War and have neutralized more than 100 units of enemy equipment. In June, Aerorozvidka noted that the R18 is used by the Main Directorate of Intelligence, the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other structures of the Ministry of Defense; National Guard; Security Service of Ukraine; other units of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine. Знайшов, підлетів і влупив. Найкращі операції ударного дрона R18 за 4 місяці. Відео. NTA. 16.06.2022

Characteristics The R18 is a multirotor type unmanned aerial vehicle. It is an octocopter, that is, a multicopter with eight propellers. Accordingly, the drone has 8 electromotors. This number of electromotors provides greater reliability. The drone is capable of vertical takeoff and landing. Both Ukrainian and imported components are used in its construction. Український бойовий октокоптер R18 уразив танк ЗС РФ (відео). Focus. 02.08.2022

Armament

To use the R18 drone as a bomber, Soviet RKG-3 HEAT grenades are used or RKG-1600 bombs created on their basis by gunsmiths of the Mayak plant (weight of one is 1.6 kg),How Ukraine Uses Obsolete Soviet Grenades To Destroy Russian Tanks From Above. Radio Liberty. 05.09.2022Watch: Ukraine Used Drones to Drop Bombs on 36 Different Tanks. Brent M. Eastwood, 19FortyFive. 23.06.2022 both of which are capable of neutralizing lightly armored vehicles with an attack from above. The accuracy of hitting with the RKG-1600 is one square meter from a height of 300 meters. Аеророзвідка розкрила удари з БПЛА по об’єктах окупантів. Militarnyi. 11.11.2021 Нові українські боєприпаси для БПЛА: Завод «Маяк» розкрив деталі (фото). Defense Express. 09.01.2021 The R18 is capable of carrying three such munitions. Українська аеророзвідка тестує новий вітчизняний октокоптер R-18 — можливості та особливості. STB. 10.07.2022 Військові показали кадри ефективної роботи бойового дрона R18 по техніці окупантів (відео). UNIAN. 16.06.2022R18 octocopter from Aerorozvidka – Ukrainian drone destroying the enemy. Mezha. 26.04.2022 It can fly up to 40 sorties without additional maintenance or repair. «Армія дронів»: як Україна збирається озброїти військо безпілотниками. Deutsche Welle. 14.07.2022

Other characteristics

complex deployment time — up to 15 minutes; equipping with a thermal imager — yes; number of mounts for projectiles — 3 pcs.; total weight — 17 kg; weight without batteries — 6.45 kg; the weight of the battery pair is 5.55 kg; the weight of the thermal imaging suspension — 490 g; useful load capacity — up to 5 kg; Український бойовий октокоптер R18 уразив танк ЗС РФ (відео). Focus. 27.07.2022 ammunition drop height — up to 300 m / from 100 to 300 m speed — 12 m/s; vertical speed — 2.5 m/s;:File:R18 drone characteristic.jpg. Aerorozvidka. 27.05.2022 wind resistance — 10 m/s; ambient temperature range — from −15 to +35 °C; radius of action — 5 km; application distance — 20 km; flight duration — 45 minutes; overall (transport) dimensions — 1200x1200x400 mm; battery type — Li-ion 6s 24v 32,5 Ah x 2.

Training The training of one R18 drone pilot lasts from two weeks to a month.

Trials

In 2020, tests of dropping new RKG-1600 training and simulation ammunition from an R18 octocopter took place during command and staff exercises at the base of the 235th interspecies training center for military units and units ("Shirokiy Lan" training ground). It is noted that this was the first time when an Aerorozvidka attack drone was included in the combined combat training program. During testing, drone operators successfully hit all targets. Завод «Маяк» та «Аеророзвідка» випробували ударний дрон на навчаннях ЗСУ (фото). Defense Express. 06.01.2021

Funding Aerorovizdka independently collects funds from donations for the production of the R18. «Аеророзвідка» збирає гроші на дрон R18 та розігрує знамениті марки. dev.ua. 05.06.2022

Assessments According to Aerorovizdka, a feature of the use of R18 octocopters at the front in the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has been ongoing since 2014, has been high payback. It is noted that with the help of relatively cheap equipment, it is possible to inflict significant losses on the enemy:“One dollar invested in drones causes $1,000 in loses for the enemy”: how Ukraine’s Aerorozvidka works. AIN.UA. 28.07.2022

Successor

In June 2023, Aerorozvidka announced the development of a new drone, the R-34, which is intended to become the successor to the R-18.

According to Vadym Yunyk, a representative of the Aerorozvidka NGO, the new model is technologically similar to the R-18 but larger and more powerful. The R-34 uses the same electronic architecture, allowing operators to control both generations with a single ground station, which simplifies production and operation. The bomb-release system of the R-34 functions in the same way as the R-18, but can carry five munitions instead of two.

See also List of unmanned aerial vehicles

References

External links

Inside the elite Ukrainian drone unit founded by volunteer IT experts: 'We are all soldiers now.'. Business Insider. 09.04.2022 Small Quadcopters Rule The Battlefield In Ukraine — Which Makes Their Chinese Manufacturers Very Unhappy. Forbes. 29.04.2022 Ukraine’s Next-Gen Anti-Tank Drones Are Bigger, Tougher And Much Smarter (Updated: New Video). Forbes. 14.07.2022 The Ragtag Army That Won the Battle of Kyiv and Saved Ukraine. James Marson. The Wall Street Journal. 20.09.2022 Ukraine’s R18 drone credited with inflicting $130 million in Russian army losses. Bruce Crumley, DroneDJ. 16.09.2022 Повітряні війни. Безпілотні літальні апарати захопили небо — Texty.org.ua. 04.08.2022 Усе для Перемоги. 31 військова розробка українців, що допомагає боронити Незалежність — dev.ua. 24.08.2022