ZALA Aero
Encyclopedia
ZALA Aero is a company specialising in unmanned aerial vehicle
development, located in Izhevsk
, Russia
. ZALA Aero has provided UAV systems for several sectors of the Russian government, including the Ministry of Defence, and has also won contracts to supply UAVs to foreign countries.
to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2006. In addition to providing aircraft for defense and military purposes, the company actively markets its products to the energy sector, and has signed a contract with Gazprom
to provide UAVs that will be used to monitor over 2,000 km of the company's pipeline nework. ZALA Aero has also cooperated with Gazprom's Space Systems
division in a development project to use UAVs to transmit real-time video communications over satellite
channels.
In 2008, the ZALA 421-06
, an unmanned helicopter, and the ZALA 421-08
, a more conventional UAV, completed test-flying, and entered operational service. The aircraft were trialled aboard an icebreaker
, participating in reconnaissance to assist the ship's work. In 2009, ZALA Aero reached an agreement with Turkmenistan
's Ministry of Internal Affairs to supply the country with the ZALA 421-12
UAV system.
Currently a large-scale project for UAVs is being developed for tender to the Russian government. Originally, twelve Russian companies submitting 22 different types of unmanned aircraft were involved in the competition. In November 2010, however, the selection was narrowed down to three submissions, one of which is the ZALA 421-04M, designed by ZALA Aero in association with the Vega Radio Engineering Corporation
. The three UAVs selected as finalists are currently undergoing trials before the final selection of a winner in the competition.
, Russia
, and is still operated by its founder and current company president Aleksandr Zakharov.
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
development, located in Izhevsk
Izhevsk
Izhevsk is the capital city of the Udmurt Republic, Russia, situated on the Izh River in the Western Urals. Population: From 1984 to 1987 Izhevsk carried the name Ustinov |Minister of Defense of the USSR]], Marshal of the Soviet Union, Dmitry Ustinov). The city is an important industrial center,...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. ZALA Aero has provided UAV systems for several sectors of the Russian government, including the Ministry of Defence, and has also won contracts to supply UAVs to foreign countries.
History
Founded in 2003 by Aleksandr Zakharov, ZALA Aero delivered its first production UAVsUnmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2006. In addition to providing aircraft for defense and military purposes, the company actively markets its products to the energy sector, and has signed a contract with Gazprom
Gazprom
Open Joint Stock Company Gazprom is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company. Its headquarters are in Cheryomushki District, South-Western Administrative Okrug, Moscow...
to provide UAVs that will be used to monitor over 2,000 km of the company's pipeline nework. ZALA Aero has also cooperated with Gazprom's Space Systems
Gazprom Space Systems
OJSC Gazprom Space Systems , previously known as ' , is a Russian communications satellite operator and developer.-Overview:Gascom currently operates three Yamal telecommunication satellites, designed and built jointly with the Energia space corporation...
division in a development project to use UAVs to transmit real-time video communications over satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
channels.
In 2008, the ZALA 421-06
ZALA 421-06
The ZALA 421-06 is an unmanned aerial vehicle helicopter designed and produced by Izhevsk-based ZALA Aero. This helicopter was developed in 2007-2008. In June, 2008 ZALA 421-08 was transfer to Russian Ministry of the Interior...
, an unmanned helicopter, and the ZALA 421-08
ZALA 421-08
ZALA 421-08 is a micro unmanned aerial vehicle developed and produced by the Izhevsk-based ZALA Aero company. It is a small, portable and reliable UAV platform. Weighing only 9 kg it includes 2 aerial vehicles, compact ground control station, 2 spare power supply kits and backpack container...
, a more conventional UAV, completed test-flying, and entered operational service. The aircraft were trialled aboard an icebreaker
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
, participating in reconnaissance to assist the ship's work. In 2009, ZALA Aero reached an agreement with Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
's Ministry of Internal Affairs to supply the country with the ZALA 421-12
ZALA 421-12
ZALA 421-12 is a micro unmanned aerial vehicle developed and produced by the Izhevsk-based company ZALA Aero. It is a small, portable and reliable UAV platform. ZALA 421-12 is designed for front-line reconnaissance, overground and oversea surveillance. It takes 3 minutes to prepare ZALA for launching...
UAV system.
Currently a large-scale project for UAVs is being developed for tender to the Russian government. Originally, twelve Russian companies submitting 22 different types of unmanned aircraft were involved in the competition. In November 2010, however, the selection was narrowed down to three submissions, one of which is the ZALA 421-04M, designed by ZALA Aero in association with the Vega Radio Engineering Corporation
Vega Radio Engineering Corporation
JSC Vega Radio Engineering Corporation is a Russian company specializing in military surveillance systems.-Overview:The company develops terrestrial, air and space surveillance systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles . It also manufactures civilian products, such as air traffic control equipment...
. The three UAVs selected as finalists are currently undergoing trials before the final selection of a winner in the competition.
Company profile
ZALA Aero designs and produces unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), as well as providing after-sale maintenance for their systems. The company's in-house design and production projects include a variety of systems related to UAV design, manufacture and operation, including autopilots, airframes, mechanical and pneumatic catapults, launchers, payloads and communication technologies. ZALA Aero is also the only company in Russia currently producing unmanned helicopters. The company is privately owned and located in IzhevskIzhevsk
Izhevsk is the capital city of the Udmurt Republic, Russia, situated on the Izh River in the Western Urals. Population: From 1984 to 1987 Izhevsk carried the name Ustinov |Minister of Defense of the USSR]], Marshal of the Soviet Union, Dmitry Ustinov). The city is an important industrial center,...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and is still operated by its founder and current company president Aleksandr Zakharov.