Russian Helicopters holding company (part of Rostec State Corporation) presented the prototypes of VRT300 helicopter-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) designed by VR Technologies for the first time at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017.

The VRT300 complex is being developed, and its two versions are presented at MAKS-2017: Arctic Supervision with side-viewing radar for ice reconnaissance and operation in the Arctic conditions and Opticvision with extended flight range for remote sensing and monitoring.

VRT300 Arctic Supervision's priority tasks are to develop the transport system of the Northern Sea Route and provide assistance in the development of the Arctic. For these purposes, the complex has an airborne X-band high-resolution side-viewing radar that makes it possible to quickly assess the changes in ice situation. A diesel engine and the possibility of being mounted on a ship make the "Arctic" version of VRT300 irreplaceable for both icebreakers and drilling platforms.

Due to a considerable payload (70 kg) the complex may be used for carrying various types of cargo, such as food and medicines, from a ship to a polar station and back. Besides, the complex is to estimate the thickness of ice on the route of a vessel, provide for search-and-rescue operations in the sea and measure the dimensions of large ice fields suitable for placing polar research stations.

"Development of the Arctic is extremely relevant to the present day. For instance, shipping companies that plan year-round navigation on the Northern Sea Route need constant monitoring of ice situation on course. Technical solutions used in VRT300 will make it possible to estimate the thickness of ice in advance and optimize the course in accordance with the received data," noted Andrey Boginsky, CEO of Russian Helicopters.

The Opticvision version of the VRT300 complex is designed for developing the diagnostic system, the systems for accident prevention and elimination in the sphere of energy resources production and transportation. Other tasks of the complex include diagnostics of overhead power lines, mapping, freight transportation, search and monitoring of the environment, roads and roadside infrastructure facilities. The complex includes a mobile UAV control station which is also presented at MAKS-2017.