The ZALA 421-16Е5G drone as seen in footage released by the ZALA Aero Group.
The ZALA Aero Group, a subsidiary of Russia’s defense giant Kalashnikov, has tested its latest ZALA 421-16Е5G drone in Syria.
The drone, which is propelled by a unique hybrid-electric system that combines an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, is capable of staying in the air for more than 12 hours and has an operational range of more than 100 kilometers. The state-of-the-art drone was unveiled by ZALA last April.
ZALA released a video from the test in Syria on April 15. The video went unnoticed by military observers until very recently.
During the test, the ZALA 421-16Е5G captured high definition footage of militants using its modern Z-16E5VHD60-IRA2/IRQ electro-optical, infrared system. The system is also equipped with a laser designator.
The ZALA 421-16Е5G is equipped with the ZX1 on-board computer with an integrated AI [Artificial Intelligence] capabilities which allows for the processing and transmission of HD quality videos and photos via encrypted communication channels.
The drone’s sharp surveillance capabilities allow it to identify and track the smallest targets with high accuracy. This feature is especially important in urban warfare.
