Shmel-1 (Bumblebee) Russian Close-Range Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

The Shmel (Bumblebee) has been the Russian army's primary close-range reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The Shmel has high mounted straight wings with turned-down tips and ailerons for roll control. A broad-chord ring enshrouds the pusher propeller and the rotable elevator and rudder. According to its manufacturer, the Shmel-1's annular channel ensures: *"an increase in the effective thrust of the propeller; *"an increase in the efficiency of the control surfaces by placing them in the propeller wash and retain efficiency in all flight conditions; *"an improvement in the acoustic characteristics of the propeller; and *"ground maintenance safety while the engine is running." The Shmel's transport/launcher/control vehicle is a tracked, fully amphibious, NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) protected vehicle adapted from the BMD armored personnel carrier.