Mikoyan Skat

Skat
Role	Unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV)
National origin	Russia
Manufacturer	Mikoyan

Designed by the Russian firm Mikoyan, the Skat (Russian: Скат – "Manta Ray") is one of two concept strike UCAV currently being developed for the Russian Defense Ministry.

SKAT is a low-observable, subsonic craft meant to carry weapons in two ventral weapons bays large enough for missiles such as the Kh-31, powered by a single Klimov RD-5000B turbofan engine, a variant of the RD-93.

Possible roles include the suppression and attack of enemy air defenses. The first version of Skat to fly is planned to be piloted in order to meet Russian flight regulations. A number of aerodynamic configurations have been wind-tunnel tested, including with small twin fins. MiG has settled on a tail-less configuration.

The single-engine subsonic design has an 11.5 meter (37.7 ft) wingspan, and it is 10.25 meters (33.6 ft)long. The UCAV has a maximum take-off weight of 10 tons, with a maximum speed of 800 kilometers per hour (497 mph) at low altitude. It is intended to carry a combat load of up to two tons, with a combat radius of 2000km (1240 miles).^[1]

Specifications (Projected)

General characteristics

• Crew: 0
• Length: 10.25 m (33.6 ft in)
• Wingspan: 11.5 m (37.7 ft in)
• Powerplant: 1 × Klimov RD-5000B, ? kN (? lbf) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: 800 km/h (497 mph)
• Service ceiling: 12000 m (39370 ft)

Armament

• Up to 2 tons of weapons in internal bays

Current status

As General Director of RSK "MiG" Sergei Korotkov said to the press earlier, the development of Skat was discontinued. By the decision of Russian Defence Ministry Sukhoi Holding became the new Head Developer of the Strike UCAV project. Still, Skat experience would be used by Sukhoi. RSK "MiG" specialists are expected to work in the new project.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Boeing X-45
• Northrop Grumman X-47
• Lockheed Martin Polecat
• Dassault nEUROn
• BAE Taranis
• Phantom Ray
  

References

1. ^ First look at Mig Skat, Aviation Week, http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/MIG082307.xml&headline=First%20Look%20At%20MiG%20Skat%20UCAV .

External links

• Russia’s Sukhoi and MiG working on unmanned combat air vehicles
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