JSC Spectator

Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance Drone [ 2014 ]

The JSC Spectator is a Ukrainian designed, developed, and produced airborne drone for the unarmed ISR role.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/10/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

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The "Spectator" is an all-weather Ukrainian-originated Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). It is an unarmed drone offering with inherent versatility to serve across military, civilian, and industry sectors covering such roles as border enforcement, Search and Rescue (SAR), general observation, maritime patrol and the like.

The aircraft was developed by Politeko Aero LLC with the Kiev Polytechnic Institute and the Chuguev Aircraft Repair Plant and a first-flight was recorded in 2014. Manufacturing is handled under the start-up JSC Meridian brand label.

The Spectator (specifically the more advanced 'Spectator-M" variant) is in active service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (the Ukrainian Air Force) as well as the country's border service. The nation has since taken on a fleet of about sixty airframes.

The aircraft is given a conventional, wholly-traditional design arrangement centered on a slim, rounded-slab-sided fuselage. The mainplanes are shoulder-mounted and seated just ahead of midships, each being capped by winglet surfaces. The tail unit showcases a single vertical fin as well as low-set horizontal planes. A two-bladed propeller unit is affixed to the nose of the aircraft and driven by an internal motor. Like other UASs of this class, the aircraft is equipped with an optics set and can be modified to carry certain sensors and imagers to better suit the mission need.

Dimensions of the aircraft include a running length of 4.25 feet, a wingspan of 9.84 feet, and an MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight) of 12lb. The air vehicle is capable of reaching 75 miles-per-hour speeds up to an altitude of 6,560 feet. Operational range is out to 9 miles.

The initially-produced variant was simply designated "Spectator" and this version appeared in 2014. This model was followed by the improved, slightly larger second-generation "Spectator-M" which appeared before the end of year - the increased size and power allowing for greater payloads to be carried. The "Spectator-M1" has since emerged as a lighter-weight, third generation offering carrying thermal imaging equipment, sporting an improved recovery system, and featuring an extended operational range. This model was introduced in during 2019 and officially inducted into Ukrainian military service in June of 2020.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

2014

Origin

Ukraine

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

0
UNMANNED

Production

60
UNITS

JAS Meridian - Ukraine

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

Ukraine

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

✓ Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).

✓ Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.

WINGLETS

Mainplanes capped with winglets, providing improved fuel efficiency and enhanced handling.

UNMANNED OPERATION

Design features ability to fly sans pilot, actions controlled onboard through programming and / or ground-based operator.

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.

Length

4.3 ft
(1.30 m)

Width/Span

9.8 ft
(3.00 m)

MTOW

11 lb
(5 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base JSC Spectator production variant)

monoplane / shoulder-mounted / straight

Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.

Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.

Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.

(Structural descriptors pertain to the base JSC Spectator production variant)

Installed: 1 x Engine driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.

Max Speed

75 mph
(120 kph | 65 kts)

Cruise Speed

56 mph
(90 kph | 49 kts)

Max. Speed Diff

+19 mph
(+30 kph | 16 kts)

Ceiling

6,562 ft
(2,000 m | 1 mi)

Range

9 mi
(15 km | 28 nm)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base JSC Spectator production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

None. Mission-equipment related to the ISR role.

Supported Types

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

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