Vrabac (drone)

Vrabac
Role	Remote controlled, UAV
Manufacturer	Utva (Yugoimport SDPR)
Designer	Military Technical Institute
Introduction	2008
Status	active
Primary user	Serbian Armed Forces
Produced	2008–present
Number built	>50

The Vrabac (from Serbian: врабац, lit. 'sparrow') is a mini drone intended for day/night reconnaissance and surveillance at shorter distances, as well as for target finding and designating, produced in Serbia by Utva Aviation Industry, subsidiary of Yugoimport SDPR.[1]

Design

The VRABAC is a high-wing monoplane made of composite materials. Its fuselage is aerodynamically shaped around the equipment. The nose part contains an 800W DC motor powered by a Li-pol battery while the space below and behind it is intended for electro-optical equipment. The airborne computer is in the central part. The UAV is hand launched and lands with a parachute and an airbag. It is designed to survey and analyze major infrastructural facilities such as pipelines, major roads, bridges, forests, etc.

In 2022, an armed version was revealed that can be equipped with six 40 mm M22 munitions.[2]

Performances and technical characteristics

Vrabac weighs 5.3 kg with a 2.80 meters wing span. It can carry a payload of maximum of 1.5 kg. It has a total of 1 hour flying time and has a maximum flight speed of 85 km/h. The operational range of the Vrabac is >10 km, and its operating height is 300 to 500 meters.[3]

Engine:	DC electric, 800 W
Propeller:	Two blades, graphite composite
Battery:	Li-Po 28V, 8000 mAh
Wing span:	2.806 m
Wing area:	0.75 m^2
Length:	1.94 m
Weight (without payload):	7.5 kg
Maximum payload weight:	<1.5 kg
Max takeoff weight:	9 kg
Max speed:	120 km/h
Cruising speed:	61 km/h
Operational altitude (AGL):	300–500 m
Flight duration:	1 h
Launching:	Automatic, hand launch
Landing:	Automatic, parachute and airbag. Optional: belly landing
Uplink:	UHF, frequency-hopping spread spectrum
Downlink:	S-band, digital, coded
Guiding:	Fully autonomous way points tracking, holding, camera guiding, Emergency and return home mode

Gallery

• 
  Vrabac mini UAV control panel at Partner 2013 International Defence Exhibition
• 
  Vrabac mini UAV next to Pegaz UAV at Partner 2013 International Defence Exhibition
• 
  Vrabac mini UAV top view at Partner 2013 International Defence Exhibition

See also

• Miniature UAV
• Pegaz

References

1. "UAVs: Serbian UAV Solution "Sparrow"". Balkan Monitor. 28 January 2010.
2. Gosselin-Malo, Elisabeth (2022-11-21). "Serbia may become biggest operator of military drones in Balkans". Defense News. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
3. "Тактичка беспилотна летелица кратког долета (ТБЛ)". ДОБРОДОШЛИ НА ВЕБ САЈТ - Војнотехничког института (in Serbian). Retrieved 2023-03-02.