Aerorozvidka R18

The R18 is a Ukrainian unmanned combat aerial vehicle, an octocopter developed by the organization Aerorozvidka. It entered service with Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces during the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. Aerorozvidka started developing prototypes in 2016, and the model was tested and used in a special operation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone in 2019.

Purpose

The R18 serves both military and civilian roles, including surveillance, search, cargo delivery, and attacks. As of 2022, Aerorozvidka considered the attack function most relevant, since many other drones already handle reconnaissance. The system is designed to destroy enemy equipment, small fortifications, and ammunition warehouses.

Application

Combat use began in 2019. The octocopter is typically operated at night, using tactics from Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces.

Targets include enemy cannons, tanks, armored vehicles, and trucks. On the first day of Russia’s large-scale invasion, February 24, 2022, a combat unit moved to the Hostomel airfield area. Through horizontal communications, Aerorozvidka representatives coordinated with those on site, and that first night an R18 struck Russian paratroopers at the airport.

By July 2022, 20 R18 crews were working on the front lines, having neutralized over 100 enemy equipment units. In June 2022, Aerorozvidka noted that the R18 was used by the Main Directorate of Intelligence, the Special Operations Forces, other Ministry of Defense structures, the National Guard, the Security Service of Ukraine, and other Security and Defense Forces units.

Characteristics

The R18 is a multirotor octocopter with eight propellers and eight electromotors, providing greater reliability. It can take off and land vertically. Its construction uses both Ukrainian and imported components. For bombing, it employs Soviet RKG-3 HEAT grenades or RKG-1600 bombs (each weighing 1.6 kg) created by gunsmiths at the Mayak plant.

Armament

These can neutralize lightly armored vehicles from above. Accuracy with the RKG-1600 is one square meter from 300 meters. The drone can carry three such munitions and fly up to 40 sorties without maintenance.