Army-2024 – Kronshtadt unveils its Grom strike UAV in a new configuration
The Kronshtadt Group continues to work on the development of the Grom high-speed strike unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an improved version of which was presented at the static display of the Army-2024 military exhibition
This version differs from the Grom UAV, which was exhibited at Army-2021, for the smoother aerodynamic contours of the fuselage, while the dorsal air intake has been moved closer to the tail section.
The Grom system includes: a high-speed strike UAV, a ground control station (GCS), and an aviation weapons system.
The Grom is designed to operate as a “wingman” in the forward attack echelon in cooperation with manned aircraft to suppress enemy air defences. This unmanned vehicle is tasked with opening and destroying air defence systems with anti-radar missiles such as the Kh-31P and Kh-58UShK, performing reconnaissance tasks, including conducting electronic reconnaissance. Furthermore, the Grom UAV is planned to be used to destroy surface targets and coastal facilities in tactical and operational-tactical depth, as well as destroying ground targets in tactical and operational-tactical depth with high-precision guided weapons.
The Kronstadt company unveiled some of the characteristics of the latest version of its Grom UAV: payload 1,000-2,000 kg, maximum speed of 1,000 km/h, cruising speed of 650-800 km/h, maximum flight altitude of 12,000 metres, operational radius of 700 km. The Grom is equipped with four underwing hardpoints for air-launched weapons (two under each wing), as well as a weapons bay hosting air-to-surface weapons inside the fuselage. The maximum payload weight is 2,000 kg. The Grom can use laser-guided, GLONASS-guided or TV-guided air-launched weapons, , including 100, 250 and 500 kg guided bombs, 100, 250 and 500 kg free-fall aviation bombs, air-to-surface guided missiles, including 100 and 500 kg anti-radar missiles.
Photos taken by N. Morris at Army 2024
