In a writtren interview with Sputnik, Kalashnikov Concern external communications director Sophia Ivanova said that the ZALA 421-16E2 is already being mass produced and that this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will soon be supplied to customers.
"The drone is manually launched with the help of an elastic catapult. It is equipped with an automatic target tracking module and a built-in air shock absorber to protect the UAV during landing. The ZALA 421-16E2 has no analogues in its class of drones," Ivanova said.
The take-off weight of the all-weather, round-the-clock drone is 7.5 kg; it is capable of staying in the air for four hours.
The payload includes a daytime camera equipped with a 60x optical zoom and a 10x magnification thermal surveillance device.
According to Ivanova, the UAV's built-in inertial system, electronic telemeter and self-checking sensors provide the drone with full autonomy from GPS/GLONASS satellite navigation systems.
The UAV can be operated with the help of a real-time controller, with multi-channel encrypted communication and data transmission adding significantly to the drone's protection, she said.
Ivanova added that the ZALA 421-16E2 has, to date, conducted more than 1,000 sorties and that it was approved to hit the shelves in early January 2016.
In 2015, Kalashnikov Concern CEO Alexey Krivoruchko announced his company's plans to produce drones, which he said would be used for border control, reconnaissance and special missions.
He said that the company is also planning the development and production of UAVs for the purposes of monitoring emergency situations and dangerous objects, as well as geodetic research in harsh climate conditions.
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