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MiG's Skat unmanned combat air vehicle mock-up has a low-observable intake mounted on top of the fuselage. One internal weapons bay door is also open.
MiG today revealed a full-scale engineering mock-up of its unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) design, nicknamed Skat (Skate). Work on the low-observable design began over two years ago, and MiG will produce a flight worthy prototype within 24-months.
The MiG program is one of two competing designs that will be presented to the Russian Defense Ministry as a strike UCAV. Sukhoi is also understood to be working on a UCAV.
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A comparison of Skat's plan form and that of a MiG-29 Fulcrum provides a sense of the size of the design.
MiG unveiled the program during the Moscow air show, though only a few journalists were taken off the show site to a MiG facility at the Gromov flight test research institute.
Skat has two internal weapons bays, capable of carrying air-to-surface missiles as large as the Kh-31 (AS-17 Krypton). Possible roles include the suppression and attack of enemy air defenses.
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Partner companies are listed on the inside of the weapon bay door. The saw-tooth door edges are typical of low-observable design.
MiG is working with a number of Russian companies and state institutes -- including the 2nd Central Scientific Research Institute -- on Skat. The institute is known to be closely involved in low-observable research and development.
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.
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Various configurations have been wind-tunnel tested. This version appears to show a cockpit option for the first prototype, which will be piloted. MiG has settled on a tail-less design for final UCAV airframe.
The single-engine subsonic design has an 11.5 meter wingspan, and it is 10.25 meters 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 2,000 km.
The Skat will be powered by the Klimov RD-5000B, a derivative of the RD-93. Two demonstrators will be built, the second will be unmanned. The flight tests will be used to prove the design and air vehicle systems. Weapon firings will also be carried out.
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Control surfaces can be seen deployed on the wing trailing edge, while some of Skat's potential weaponry, including guided-bombs and the Kh-31 missile (AS-17 Krypton) are also shown.
