The Yarará project is the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programme in South America to be produced in series and for export. The system is developed by Nostromo Defensa for surveillance, border patrol and reconnaissance. It was unveiled at the Argentine Air Force Air Show (Fuerza Aérea Argentina, FAA) on 10 August 2006. The manufacturer says it has been produced in small series for export to an unidentified government customer in the United States.
| Nostromo Yarará | |
|---|---|
VANT Nostromo Yarará | |
| General information | |
| Type | Tactical UAV |
| National origin | Argentina |
| Manufacturer | Nostromo Defensa |
| Designer | Marcelo Martínez |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | US Department of Defense (US Southern Command) |
| History | |
| Introduction date | June 2006 |
| First flight | [1] |
Design
editThe vehicle was named after the yarará, a South American venomous snake.
The Yarará was developed by Nostromo Defensa under contracts from the US Southern Command with a system comprising three aircraft delivered in June 2006.
Evolution of the design has seen an increase in the width of the undercarriage footprint to support rough field landings, while a Zenoah 6.5 hp engine is an option. The first powerplant is a Modellmotoren 3W 5.5 hp two stroke system. [1][2]
The current Yarará is powered by a single Sonic 35 multifuel air-cooled wankel rotary engine which produces 5.9KW of output power. It is fitted with a three-bladed propeller at the rear of the fuselage section raised on an engine pylon with integral fuel tank. This engine is designed and built by British company Cubewano. It is the first kerosene-powered (heavy fuel) rotary engine flown on a UAV that can use JP8 as fuel. It was first flown in this configuration in August 2009. [1]
The Wankel engine has electronic injection.
Specifications
editData from 2009 Worldwide UAV Roundup Poster[3]
General characteristics
- Capacity: 5 kg (11 lb) payload
- Length: 2.472 m (8 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 4 m (13 ft 1 in)
- Empty weight: 15.5 kg (34 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 22.5 kg (50 lb)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 145 km/h (90 mph, 78 kn)
- Cruise speed: 115 km/h (71 mph, 62 kn)
- Stall speed: 45 km/h (28 mph, 24 kn)
- Range: 50 km (31 mi, 27 nmi)
- Endurance: 6 hours
- Service ceiling: 3,500 m (11,500 ft)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Nostromo Yarara Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Argentina". Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ^ "Argentina explores mini UAVs in homeland security roles". 2007-09-24. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ^ "2009 Worldwide UAV Roundup Poster" (PDF). Aerospace America. April 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2019.