UAVOS Inc. has announced that it has completed a series of test flights with Sitaria, its new fixed-wing UAS.

The UAS is designed to carry out a variety of tasks, including patrol and observation missions, and aerial photography of terrain area with a radius of up to 120 kilometers. The UAS is also “purposely designed” to work with the LIDAR airborne laser scanning equipment as payload.

With a wide range of speeds—a stall speed of 65 kilometers per hour and a maximum speed of 150 kilometers per hour—Sitaria can conduct missions at minimum flight speeds close to 70 kilometers per hour.

UAVOS says that when there is a tailwind of six meters per second, the aircraft has a minimum operational speed of approximately 90 kilometers per hour. The company adds that it is important to maintain a certain speed of the aircraft relative to the ground when trying to complete a mission using LIDAR.

When the UAS is conducting a monitoring mission while moving against the wind, “it shall keep high air speed,” UAVOS says. It will have a lower speed when moving upwind.

“During monitoring missions, a wide range of speeds allows Sitaria fixed - wing drone to quickly reach the object and return back at the optimal speed,” explains Vadim Tarasov, UAVOS investor and board member.

“Takeoff and landing is carried out at low speeds, which makes it possible to use short runways. All these features directly affect safety, and also optimize operating costs.”

Sitaria weighs 35 kilograms, has a wingspan of 5.2 meters, and its length of fuselage is 2.8 meters. The UAS has a flight time of three hours, and an operating altitude up to 6000 meters, when it has a payload of four kilograms.

The range of the video transmission can be up to 60 kilometers, but the backup Iridium command line is unlimited in range. According to UAVOS, there is an opportunity to carry out research under jamming of satellite radio navigation signals and the command line channel, thanks to the EW countermeasure function. Also, there is a ground control system to go with the Sitaria UAS.

Sitaria is equipped with an electric motor, which is less noisy and more reliable, UAVOS says. Additionally, the low vibration level does not impact the stable work of the payload.

Sitaria has a unique aerodynamic design, which allows for the quick adjustment of the position of the wing relative to the fuselage when the weight of the payload changes. The minimum tail weight has a positive effect on the control and stability of the aircraft.