Rythar Industries Shtriga Low-Cost Loitering Munition
Top speed: 170 kph
Control range: 5 km (more with repeaters).
Loitering time: 2 hours
Communications: 5.8Ghz for video transmission and 2.4Gh and 900Mhz for radio signal transmission
Payload: 2 kg
Price: $2,500
DPR: $100 million
Make all your orders from Allanean Defense Exports
Background: With the advances in consumer drone technology, it was only a matter of time until the technologies in use in low-cost sports drones would be applied directly to use by soldiers on the front-lines.
In cooperation with the marketing experts at Allanean Defense Exports, Rythar Industries engineers have worked with infantrymen in the field, military ergonomics engineers, and civilian FPV racing teams to implement sportsmen’s experience directly to a front-line technology.
The result was the Shtriga - a combat drone assembled 75% from Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS), and capable being used directly with a range of pre-existing munitions.
Technology:
The drone itself is, quite simply, an X-shaped arrangement with four rotors, equipped with Velcro straps. These can be used to attach a munition with a weight of up to 2 kg (an explosive charge, an anti-tank warhead, or landmine), either using the munition’s own fuze (pointed forward), or a pressure sensor attached to the munition (a pressure sensor ships with every Shtriga kit). However, the drone ships without any explosives or munitions whatsoever, minimizing difficulties in storage and transit.
The drone is controlled through the same interfaces as FPV drones, and is compatible with the Raider FPV sports goggles from SPC.
In situations where targets are hard to track due to being in motion, or to being protected with ECM measures, Shtriga operator can activate an image-guided terminal guidance option, in which the Shtriga’s camera takes a photo of the target silhouette and the drone then dives on the target without further user input.
In normal situations, however, the principal method of the Shtriga’s control is by means of encrypted radio signals - a 256-bit encryption variant of the radio signals used by sports drone operators. Moreover, it is equipped with a waypoint navigation capability to ease operator fatigue, as well as able to receive control signals via repeater aircraft. This allows the drones to be used at ranges far exceeding those of the base station, and even allow them to be carried by bigger ‘carrier’ drones, maximizing range, tactical flexibility, and operator safety.
Applications:
Depending on the configuration, the payload type, and control arrangements, the Shtriga Low-Cost Loitering Munition can be used for a range of applications
Drawbacks:
Because it is fundamentally a system designed with cost-cuttings in mind, the system is devoid of any meaningful independence, has a limited range, and can only be set off by flying it directly into targets. It is also devoid of any IR observation capability, and the camera quality is limited. This limits its usefulness in terms of the information it collect, and operations are impeded by visibility (while the drone has some software-enacted low-light capability, it is not a true night vision system). The drone cannot operate in sentry mode and cannot autonomously differentiate targets.
But for $2,500 in your hard-earned money we do feel we’re giving you your money’s worth.
In cooperation with the marketing experts at Allanean Defense Exports, Rythar Industries engineers have worked with infantrymen in the field, military ergonomics engineers, and civilian FPV racing teams to implement sportsmen’s experience directly to a front-line technology.
The result was the Shtriga - a combat drone assembled 75% from Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS), and capable being used directly with a range of pre-existing munitions.
Technology:
The drone itself is, quite simply, an X-shaped arrangement with four rotors, equipped with Velcro straps. These can be used to attach a munition with a weight of up to 2 kg (an explosive charge, an anti-tank warhead, or landmine), either using the munition’s own fuze (pointed forward), or a pressure sensor attached to the munition (a pressure sensor ships with every Shtriga kit). However, the drone ships without any explosives or munitions whatsoever, minimizing difficulties in storage and transit.
The drone is controlled through the same interfaces as FPV drones, and is compatible with the Raider FPV sports goggles from SPC.
In situations where targets are hard to track due to being in motion, or to being protected with ECM measures, Shtriga operator can activate an image-guided terminal guidance option, in which the Shtriga’s camera takes a photo of the target silhouette and the drone then dives on the target without further user input.
In normal situations, however, the principal method of the Shtriga’s control is by means of encrypted radio signals - a 256-bit encryption variant of the radio signals used by sports drone operators. Moreover, it is equipped with a waypoint navigation capability to ease operator fatigue, as well as able to receive control signals via repeater aircraft. This allows the drones to be used at ranges far exceeding those of the base station, and even allow them to be carried by bigger ‘carrier’ drones, maximizing range, tactical flexibility, and operator safety.
Applications:
Depending on the configuration, the payload type, and control arrangements, the Shtriga Low-Cost Loitering Munition can be used for a range of applications
- Urban Warfare: The Shtriga can attack opponents indoors, behind cover, and in complex built-up environment, while simultaneously collecting information for the operator and allowing the minimization of bystander casualties.
- Combined arms combat: The Shtriga can be used to engage targets to isolate the immediate combat area out to the tactical depth of a mechanized battalion defensive area.
- Naval security: With a top speed of 170 kilometers per hour, Shtriga can engage enemy speedboats, USVs, RHIBs, and landing craft. It is a useful tool for any coast guard or national defense force
- Infrastructure attack: Because the Shtriga can be operated on a waypoint basis, it can be programmed to target soft, immobile or semi-immobile targets (radar installations, power substations, communications arrays, fuel storage) to a maximum range of 300 kilometers, night or day, including in GPS denied environments.
Drawbacks:
Because it is fundamentally a system designed with cost-cuttings in mind, the system is devoid of any meaningful independence, has a limited range, and can only be set off by flying it directly into targets. It is also devoid of any IR observation capability, and the camera quality is limited. This limits its usefulness in terms of the information it collect, and operations are impeded by visibility (while the drone has some software-enacted low-light capability, it is not a true night vision system). The drone cannot operate in sentry mode and cannot autonomously differentiate targets.
But for $2,500 in your hard-earned money we do feel we’re giving you your money’s worth.
Make all your orders from Allanean Defense Exports