Skat-350M Russian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

The Skat-350M is a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) classified as a light-class drone. It features a “flying wing” design with a pulling three-blade propeller powered by a low-noise electric motor. Under the central part of the fuselage, it is equipped with a spherical gyrostabilized optical-electronic system. The Skat-350M is designed for aerial reconnaissance using both optical and infrared spectral bands, making it effective for day and night operations. It can perform aerial photography to generate high-precision digital terrain maps and conduct real-time remote video monitoring of the area and ground objects with specialized payload modules. The Skat-350M UAV is a result of extensive modernization based on the proven Supercam platform. Kalashnikov specialists have significantly enhanced the aerodynamic properties of the airframe and upgraded the ground control system based on lessons learned from previous models. The new payload on the Skat-350M offers superior performance characteristics and incorporates technological improvements for both daylight and thermal imaging cameras. An updated module with advanced algorithms assists operators in capturing and reliably tracking targets. Currently, the Skat-350M is actively deployed in special military operations (SVO – spetsialnaya voennaya operatsia in Russian) and is one of the primary aerial reconnaissance aircraft employed by military units on the front lines. The Skat-350M can be utilized for various applications, including state border patrolling, maintaining law and order, ensuring safety, conducting environmental monitoring, executing search and rescue missions, overseeing oil infrastructure (such as pipelines and offshore platforms), and performing aerial photography for geodetic and cartographic purposes. With a wide range of operating frequencies and 32 communication channels on its ground-based receiving and transmitting device (NPPU – nazemnoye priemo-peredayushee ustroistvo in Russian), the Skat-350M ensures reliable communication between the UAV and the NPPU, equipped with embedded countermeasures against enemy electronic warfare (EW).