September 13, 2009:  A Russian firm has introduced the Dozor-3 (now renamed Dozor-600) UAV. The Dozer has a range of up to 3,700 kilometers (2,299 miles) and a max endurance of 24 hours. Costing $10 million each, the Dozer-600 resembles a smaller version of the U.S Predator UAV. An enlarged nose tapers back toward the rearward facing propeller for a fuselage length of 7 meters (22 feet). Straight wings extend from the upper midsection out to a length of 12 meters (39 feet). These along with the twin tails may be detached and reassembled in 60 minutes.           

 Three different payloads are available. Synthetic Aperture Radar( which maps the terrain as it scans, combines several images of the same terrain and displays it in high resolution on a computer screen), Optical (digital cameras) and thermal imaging (senses heat contrasts such as people and vehicles on the ground). All information is transmitted to an operator in real time or if selected the UAV may operate autonomously. Maximum payload capacity is 220 kilograms (485 pounds) with a takeoff weight of 640 kilograms (1,410 pounds). Predator weights 1,100 kilograms, and a payload of 230 kilograms. Top speed of Dozer is 210 kilometers per hour, with cruising speed of 130 to 150 kilometers per hour. Its maximum altitude is 24,600 feet.

Russia is a late participant in the UAV world and recent experience in the conflict against Georgia revealed significant shortcomings in the way the air force performed reconnaissance when an aircraft and crew was lost performing a mission in which the West and Israel have been using UAV’s for many years. Now, the Russian Army has requested 100 various UAV’s to fill this vulnerable shortcoming. -- Mike Perry