The success of the UKRSPEC Systems PD-1 modular Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) has led to its natural developmental evolution - the PD-2. Unlike the PD-1, which can be modified into a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) form, the versatile, all-weather PD-2 features this capability from the outset. The same high-winged monoplane planform with twin-booms is employed with the lift propellers mounted outboard of centerline - giving the unit unique agility and a "go anywhere" capability not seen in many UASs of this class. The type is versatile enough to satisfy requirements across military, civilian, and industry sectors.
With development having been started in 2019, the new and improved PD-2 was introduced to the market in 2021. Testing was undertaken in 2020.
As in the PD-1 before it, the PD-2 has a centralized fuselage housing the avionics, fuel stores, optics, and powerplant. The optics set sits in a traversing blister under the nose with the engine mounted at the rear of the fuselage in pusher arrangement. The 4-stroke, gasoline-fueled engine drives a two-bladed propeller unit sitting between the two tail booms which emanate from the mainplane trailing edges. The booms themselves are joined by way of inward-canted vertical planes at the rear of the aircraft. The mainplanes are straight in their general shape and capped by winglets. The tricycle undercarriage is wheeled and an optional assembly for the aircraft.
Internally, there is a small bay at the belly of the fuselage to house cargo loads. Additionally, cargo-hauling can be enhanced by mounting slim pods under each wing member (in place of the lift propellers).
The lift system of the UAS involves four independent, twin-bladed propeller units paired in parallel assemblies to either side of the fuselage. This gives the aircraft the VTOL capability which allows it to access areas typically inaccessible by fixed-wing drones of similar class. Coupled with the pusher prop, the UAS has unparalleled versatility to accomplish various over-battlefield tasks as called upon.
The PD-2 has an eight-hour endurance window, can reach operating altitudes of 4,500 meters, and carry a payload of up to 11 kilograms with an MTOW rating of 55 kilograms. Operational ranges reach 1,100 kilometers and speeds peak at 140 kilometers-per-hour. Its composite, small footprint airframe sports low radar visibility, making it more difficult to be tracked by enemy radar systems.
As with the PD-1, modularity is at the heart of the PD-2's design, able to take on whole new mission configurations within minutes, enhanced by ease-of-use through a tool-less approach and low-cost procurement / maintenance. New configurations can be had in as little as fifteen minutes.
The basic camera fit includes full-High Definition (HD) video with Electro-Optical / InfraRed (EO/IR) support and 30x optical zooming. Targets can be tracked despite the aircraft moving through the air as the optics are of pinpoint quality and fully-stabilized. A single Ground Control Station (GCS) is able to control several of the UASs with data transmission also possible to multiple ground sources.
Flights can be pre-planned, leaving the aerial unit to its own devices when needed. The take-off and landing functions can also be wholly automated. The in-built generator is also charged while the unit is inflight, keeping batteries topped-off as necessary.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓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).
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Special Forces
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.
✓Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.
RADAR-CAPABLE
Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.
PUSHER-PROP
Design incorporates rear-facing pusher-prop arrangement, a contrast to the more conventional puller-prop layout.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.
UNMANNED OPERATION
Design features ability to fly sans pilot, actions controlled onboard through programming and / or ground-based operator.
AUTONOMOUS OPERATION
Design features autonomous flight operations made possible through onboard artificial intelligence or pre-programming.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.
Width/Span
16.4 ft (5.00 m)
Empty Wgt
99 lb (45 kg)
MTOW
121 lb (55 kg)
Wgt Diff
+22 lb (+10 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base UKRSPEC Systems PD-2 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 UKRSPEC Systems PD-2 production variant)
Installed:
1 x 4-stroke gasoline-fueled engine driving two-bladed propeller unit at the rear of the fuselage in pusher arrangement with 4 x Two-bladed lift propellers held outboard of fuselage on wing booms.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base UKRSPEC Systems PD-2 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. Hardpoints reserved for mission pods.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
PD-2 - Base Series Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Image from official UKRSPEC Systems marketing materials.
Similar Aircraft
Aviation developments of similar form and function, or related to, the UKRSPEC Systems PD-2...
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