Russia to test fly Chirok reconnaissance-strike drone next year

Russia’s Moscow Research Radio Engineering Institute is reportedly planning to begin testing the reconnaissance and strike drone, Chirok, in 2015 during the International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS) in Moscow Oblast.

Capable of being deployed as a carrier for electronic warfare systems, Chirok can also be used to keep an eye on and assess different situations such as monitoring the threat of fire in forests, disaster areas and road and traffic conditions, besides patrolling.

Moscow Research Radio Engineering Institute CEO Yuri Nevzorov was quotedby RIA Novosti as saying: "After the new year, we will launch the test.

"We have three models of the aircraft in total."

Further, the Chirok can be used in military to carryout reconnaissance, while as an offensive operations drone that can ferry weapons.

With a maximum takeoff weight of about 700kg and payload weight limit of about 300kg, Chirok is capable of carrying opto-electronic devices for a range of monitoring activities, while transporting bombs, rockets and high-precision missiles.

The reconnaissance-strike drone can reach a height of 6,000m (about 19,600ft), while offering a range of up to 2,500km (about 1,550 miles).

The aircraft was offered to the United Instrument (UIC), a member of Rostec, during the INNOPROM global trade fair held in July.