Everything about the new APUS interceptor drone from Dark River Group!

Speaker 1

Tell me why you got into the topic of interceptors. I said at the presentation that 5 months for a company is not very much. Why did you decide to do this?

Speaker 2

We understand that there aren't many high-quality interceptor wings on the Ukrainian market that are activated, let's say, with one button, like the American Mirops. Therefore, we want to make a Ukrainian Mirops, at the very least.

Speaker 1

What stage do you think you are at to create a Ukrainian Mirops?

Speaker 2

I think that we just need a couple more months and we will be no different from them in terms of functionality. I think we will reach this goal by the end of the year.

Speaker 3

This is an interceptor UAV focused specifically on targets such as Shahed or Gerbera. Its main technical specifications are a speed of around 300 km per hour and a flight time of up to 60 minutes, depending on weather conditions. It can also operate in an environment without GPS using beacons. It also features systems for automatic navigation to the target area and subsequent automatic homing on the target during the terminal stage. The Compact consists of a ground control station, including external control antennas and a case with two screens so that a pilot-navigator, working with radar, can operate. It includes a catapult and 10 units.

Speaker 1

Why was this particular aerodynamic layout chosen?

Speaker 3

We sought a balance between speed and maneuverability and arrived at this fuselage. Canards give us greater maneuverability combined with speed. That is, when it starts to maneuver, it is much better and can have a sharper maneuver than some standard fuselage. Plus, maneuverability is added by the reverse steerability of the wing.

Speaker 1

And what about the range? It says it is 40 kilometers.

Speaker 3

Yes, as of today, the maximum radius of action, if it is a radius, can be 50 kilometers. The radius today is limited for us by the ground station, the TVDO control. Accordingly, when we increase the capacity of the ground station, the automatic radius will increase.

Speaker 1

This distance, once again, you don't often see interceptors working at such a distance. What does it provide, what advantages does it give, what opportunities does it provide for the crew?

Speaker 3

If you have a wider operational sector, like 30 kilometers, then you can cover, reach a larger territory, you can have more targets. Because of exactly such flight time. Because it's not only about the radius, that you have up to 60 minutes of flight time there, which will give you many strike attempts if the first time was unsuccessful.

Speaker 1

Regarding the warhead, tell me about the warheads, what options and variants are there?

Speaker 3

There are several options. There is a cassette for the warhead, and a specific weight of the active substance that can be placed in it. And the second is the development of our own unified warhead, so that it could also be supplied under the section. The development of the warhead is currently ongoing.

Speaker 1

Weight, fragments and other such technical specifications?

Speaker 3

Look, there is a discussion here because the total weight of the warhead that can be placed here is from 500 to 800 grams, and these are calculated by these. Whether it will be purely high-explosive or fragmentation. We are currently at such a stage where the unit was split; some say that only high-explosive is better, while others say fragments are needed. Therefore, we are still analyzing this in parallel. If there is a need, we will create a nomenclature there. High-explosive, not fragmentation. If we eventually agree that there should be fragmentation, then there will be fragmentation.

Speaker 1

Tell me about the guidance system, its features, and its operation.

Speaker 3

Application scenarios. The radar starts, tracking detects targets. Accordingly, the crew reacts, launches our asset, marks the detected target, marks themselves in the software, activates a special guide mode, and the approach to the target then occurs automatically up to the terminal stage. Once this has happened, the automatic homing module begins to operate. The tracker must capture the target. As soon as the tracker, starting from a distance of one kilometer and closer, captures the target, we can activate the homing and target destruction mode.

Speaker 1

And at what distance does it acquire this target?

Speaker 3

From a kilometer. That is, a kilometer or closer is needed. If we already have a target in the region of a kilometer, we can lock onto it and operate automatically. There is such a problem now. This is the RCS. That is, the extent to which the asset is seen on the radar; we need to work with this RCS and its value to increase it. The team has done the work, and we have developed a special sphere and a corner reflector to increase the RCS of the asset; thus, the radar sees us better, and accordingly, the autonomous mode works better. Total deployment time of the complex is 15 minutes. We'll take 3-5 minutes for aircraft preparation for use. Five, and that is the limit. What is unique, I would like to say. Our software allows remote connection to the aircraft. This is the functionality built into the operation of the ground station. Accordingly, we can update the aircraft firmware, read logs, and update the automatic terminal guidance module. How will this happen? For example, the crew performs a certain number of sorties, sends us the logs, and we identify some problem, or perhaps the enemy's tactics have changed. We adapt, finalize a new firmware, send it, and update. And all this is very fast and remote.

Speaker 1

Without having to bring the boards sometime?

Speaker 3

Yeah, basically. In general, it's not necessary.

Speaker 1

The Nemesis software that you are presenting, what kind of tool is it for

Speaker 4

users? Overall, this is an ecosystem of services that covers the entire path of target execution. From its planning, setting up the crew for work, to detection and targeting. If we look at the work of the crews now, most of them have two such lesser-known programs that they use. These are open-source solutions. And there is a lot of functionality there because they were implemented, first, many years ago, and second, for anything that flies. That is, and indeed many things can fly. And very different configurations, modes. Flying only on wings, crews encounter the fact that 80% of the information they see on the screen is not needed. This is information noise. And our task is not only to create autonomy of settings and select the best, most effective configurations, but also to reduce this information flow to the crew, who see what is happening in front of them. And therefore, we have divided this functionality into three logical mission stages. Preparation, execution, and analysis after the mission is completed. Everything is divided by stage-by-stage steps, highlighted, very intuitively, unclear, by colors. Green means it is working, yellow means something, in this system it looks minimalist enough because most of the processes, all these checks, are already automated. And in most cases, the pilot himself does not need to figure out how the communication, control, or other data streams are configured. He needs to know that everything is okay and working stably. If suddenly something is not working okay, there is always an opportunity to fix it manually, calibrate some sensors, or make the interface adaptive to one's needs. Also, pilots can place this telemetry grid over the video broadcast if it is more convenient for them, or at the bottom, choose which indicators, in which configuration they find it convenient to view, choose the modes in which they control the aircraft—autopilot, manual, or for targeting. Update the connection; if spoofing suddenly occurs, which most likely will, the video connection—the broadcast itself—may drop, but at the same time, the manual control connection will remain active, and with this connection, the video connection can be updated while the aircraft is already performing the mission and continue the flight. Also, various settings regarding the minimum altitude, when the warhead can be activated, or the automatic detonation of safety warheads.

Speaker 1

points

Speaker 4

vision.

Speaker 1

You developed part of the components, why did you go in this direction?

Speaker 2

Our vision, as I already said at the presentation, is to create a complete system, meaning a turnkey solution to the problem. This includes hardware solutions, which in our case means electronics, and includes software solutions. And if we are talking about electronics, we know all the pain of dependence on China. Currently, 50% of the parts in our BPLASKOLEDI are Ukrainian. By adding our own flight controller, our own ESC, we are simply increasing this percentage and will continue to increase it until we cover as much as possible. I cannot say that we will be 100% independent of China, because things like servo drives, for example, are unfortunately still often manufactured in China. But perhaps production will start in Ukraine; we are more than open to Ukrainian manufacturers. Therefore, Ukrainian component manufacturers, please contact us, we will be in communication with you. It is currently 3D-printed, because this makes it easy and fast for our R&D team to iterate the development process. After confirming the developments, we will convert it to composite materials. They will not be expensive; in terms of cost, they will actually cost the same as 3D printing. But, of course, we understand that all military personnel want the aircraft to return in case of mission failure. And we want to ensure this for them with a strong fuselage.

Speaker 1

I also wanted to clarify regarding the training for pilots. Is this included in the service, and how does it work?

Speaker 2

Of course, it will be available, as will our training. In the long term, we will open our own flight school. But for now, we will focus on creating collaborations with training centers. We will provide them with aircraft, train them, and units interested in training on our aircraft will then come to them.

Speaker 1

What is his status now?

Speaker 2

The board is now being sent for combat trials with various brigades.

Speaker 1

What timeline do you give for these initial combat trials? How much time should pass?

Speaker 2

We are allocating up to two months. That is, so that the military can give us feedback on what we need to fix in the unit. And, accordingly, it is clear that we will not create an Apple in two months. But any rookie mistakes that may still exist in this unit, we will fix.

Speaker 1

And tell us more about the jet interceptor. Is it currently under development, an idea, and what should its main parameters be?

Speaker 2

Currently, our jet interceptor is at TRL-4. We began its development three months ago. As of now, we are awaiting final components in the form of engines, which are being sent for laboratory testing. Then everything is assembled, and by the end of September, we expect internal testing. And approximately in November, depending on how the internal tests go, we will be ready for a demonstration. Its speed will be 600 kilometers per hour, cruising speed 300 kilometers per hour, maximum distance 100 kilometers, and flight time approximately 23-25 min. This is a much more complex development. Engineers from Ukraine and from abroad are involved here, so that Ukrainian engineers from abroad. We are involving and gathering the brightest minds from around the world to realize this device. But the development itself, the calculations are very complex. That is to say, any mistake will be very costly. Therefore, we would rather measure seven times before we show it once.