VIDEX 2022: Vietnam unveils VTOL-capable UAV for urban warfare operations

Viettel's ‘light-weighted close-range UAV' on display to the public for the first time at VIDEX 2022. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

Vietnam's Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) has unveiled a new fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities.

Speaking to Janes at the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition (VIDEX) 2022, which is taking place in Hanoi from 8 to 10 December, a representative from the company described the system, which it calls the ‘light-weighted close-range UAV', as one that has been under development since 2019.

“It is being shown for the first time, so that we can market the product to potential overseas customers,” a Viettel representative said. He also disclosed that the People's Army of Vietnam has also acquired several units of the system for its urban warfare operations.

However, the number of units acquired cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality reasons.

The UAV has a wingspan of 2.9 m and a length of 2.1 m. It has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 26 kg and can carry payloads of up to 2.5 kg. It is propelled by a single piston engine, but its quad propellers utilise an electric motor when operated in VTOL mode.

The system has a top speed of 110 km/h with an operational radius of 70 km. It has a service ceiling of 3,000 m and an endurance of about 4.5 hours. It has been designed to carry day and night cameras in its sensor gimbal, but these can also be replaced with thermal imagers.