Kronshtadt Grom

Grom
Mockup at ARMY-2021 forum
Role	Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
National origin	Russia
Designer	Kronshtadt
Status	In development
Primary user	Russian Aerospace Forces

Grom (Russian: Гром, lit. 'Thunder') is a Russian unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) being developed by Kronshtadt. It was first unveiled at ARMY-2020 forum.

Development

A full size mockup of the Grom UCAV was unveiled at Army-2020 by Kronshtadt.[1][2]

"Grom" is being designed to operate in conjunction with fighters such as Su-35 and Su-57; according to main designer of Kronstadt, the main task of this UCAV is to save the lives of pilots and piloted aircraft themselves.[3]

"Grom" will be able to carry Kh-38 air-to-surface guided missiles. The weapons will be placed on four hardpoints - two under the wings and two inside the fuselage. The Tactical Missiles Corporation has developed air-to-surface missiles for this drone, prepared the Izdeliye 85 guided missile, as well as KAB-250 and KAB-500 guided bombs.[4] The Grom drone will be capable of not only operating with its own weapons, but also controlling a swarm of 10 units of Molniya strike drones launched from another carrier.[5]

During Army-2022 forum Kronshtadt representatives confirmed that government contracts for the development of the drone were signed, and it was at the stage of preliminary design.[6]

Specifications (Grom)

Data from TASS, RG.ru

General characteristics

• Crew: None
• Length: 13.8 m (45 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
• Height: 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
• Empty weight: 7,000 kg (15,432 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,000 km/h (620 mph, 540 kn)
• Cruise speed: 800 km/h (500 mph, 430 kn)
• Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)

Armament

• 4 hardpoints: 2 under the wings and 2 inside the weapons bay for up to 1,3 tonnes of armaments.
• Missiles
  • Air-to-surface missiles
    • Kh-38
• Bombs
  • KAB-250
  • KAB-500

References

1. "На форуме "Армия-2020" впервые представлено вооружение беспилотников". Российская газета (in Russian). 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
2. Линдеманн, Иван (2020-08-27). "«Гром» среди ясного неба: на форуме «Армия-2020» показали новейший БПЛА". Телеканал «Звезда» (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-12-20.
3. "Разработчик раскрыл задачи новейшего ударного беспилотника "Гром"". Российская газета (in Russian). 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
4. "Источник: ударный беспилотник "Гром" будет носителем высокоточных ракет Х-38 - ТАСС". TACC. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
5. "Ударный беспилотник "Гром" сможет управлять роем из десяти дронов "Молния" - ТАСС". TACC. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
6. "В России начинается разработка скоростного беспилотника «Гром». Он будет работать в тандеме с пилотируемой авиацией и сам сможет управлять роем из 10 дронов". iXBT.com (in Russian). 2022-08-23. Retrieved 2023-12-20.