ZALA KYB-UAV

Expendable Loitering Munition / Drone Aircraft

Russia | 2020

"The ZALA KYB-UAV is a deadly loitering munition, capable of silent precision strikes against unsuspecting targets."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/23/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Image from official ZALA Aero Group marketing materials.

The ZALA KYB-UAV is a "loitering munition" Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) originating from Russia by ZALA AERO Group. As a loitering munition, the aircraft is - by design - an expendable "smart missile" that can be launched against ground targets at distance. Loitering munitions are the next evolution of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) / drones - cost-effective solutions that support front-line personnel in contested spaces. ZALA markets the product under the qualities of ease-of-operation, high precision, and silent operation.

The aircraft relies on a blended wing-body design bookending a streamlined tubular fuselage. While the nosecone is rounded to preserve aerodynamic efficiency, the tail-end of the aircraft seats a two-bladed propeller unit in "pusher" arrangement for propulsion. The mainplanes are double-cranked and are capped by winglets for additional control.

Dimensions include a length of 8.26 inches, a wingspan of 37.4 inches, and a height of 6.49 inches. The system can reach speeds of 80 miles-per-hour and holds a mission endurance window of 30 minutes. Its explosive payload is restricted to 6.6lb.

Once airborne, the aircraft seeks out its target / target area, diving onto it once reached. The aircraft is fully expended as a result.

The ZALA KYB-UAV loitering munition has been a confirmed player in the skies over Ukraine during the Russian invasion of February 2022.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the ZALA KYB-UAV Expendable Loitering Munition / Drone Aircraft.

1 x Electric motor driving twin-bladed propeller unit at rear of fuselage in pusher arrangement.
Propulsion

81 mph
130 kph | 70 kts
Max Speed

62 mph
100 kph | 54 kts
Cruise Speed

984 ft
300 m | 0 miles
Service Ceiling

40 miles
65 km | 35 nm
Operational Range

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the ZALA KYB-UAV Expendable Loitering Munition / Drone Aircraft.

0
(UNMANNED)
Crew

3.1 ft
(0.95 m)
O/A Width

13 lb
(6 kg)
Empty Weight

13 lb
(6 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the ZALA KYB-UAV Expendable Loitering Munition / Drone Aircraft .

1 x 3kg expendable payload.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the ZALA KYB-UAV family line.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the ZALA KYB-UAV. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 500 Units
Contractor(s): ZALA Aero Group - Russia

[ Russia ]

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 100mph

Lo: 50mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (81mph).

Graph Average of 75 MPH.

Era Crossover

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

Production Comparison

500

36183

44000

Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

Aviation Timeline

EarlyYrs

WWI

Interwar

WWII

ColdWar

Postwar

Modern

Future

♦

1 / 1

Image from official ZALA Aero Group marketing materials.

Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to airborne requirements.

GROUND ATTACK

CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT

SPECIAL FORCES

UNMANNED

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for Special Forces

Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War

Going Further...
The ZALA KYB-UAV Expendable Loitering Munition / Drone Aircraft appears in the following collections:

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