"Reusable bomber is fantastic" - "Queen of Hornets" sets frontline on fire
The Wild Hornets team has launched the production of a unique FPV drone called the Queen of Hornets. This is a versatile and multifunctional model. It can operate as a kamikaze, bomber, reconnaissance, and relay station, as well as supply provisions, medicine, ammunition, and smaller drones.
Another important advantage of this FPV is its ability to carry a six-kilogram combat load over a considerable distance. At the same time, its price is several times lower than that of large drones.
"The Queen" is more than half made of Ukrainian components. It can be operated by any FPV pilot who has been instructed for half an hour and made two or three training flights.
Each drone is tested before being sent to the frontline, flying in a special room.
- In the winter, Kyrylo Veres, the commander of the K-2 unit of the 54th SMB, came to us and asked: "Guys, make us a cheap bomber that we can use to fly into a Luhansk oil refinery and f#ck it up without regretting losing it," says Yurii, co-founder of the Wild Hornets project. - "We accepted it. We spent about three months developing it. We were looking for a frame and components. We assembled the first prototypes. We tested them. At first, they fell down because the engine regulators did not fit. We found a Ukrainian electronics manufacturer who agreed to make them for us. After about the tenth time, they found the right set of regulators and everything worked. We sent the first test units to the front to the BULAVA unit of the Bohdan Khmelnytskyi Presidential Brigade. They attached five kilograms of explosives, flew off, and dropped the f#ckers on a dugout. The subfloor was destroyed, and everything was being covered. We tested it several times. Over time, we realized that it had a broader purpose than just a bomber.
ADVANTAGES OF THE " QUEEN OF HORNETS"
It delivers ammunition load, medicine, foodstuffs, drones. Now it often performs the function of remote mining.
The optimal weight for its operation is six kilograms of combat weight. For a range of 17 kilometers. The maximum weight for a ten-inch drone is three kilograms. The "Queen" blows up buildings, shelters, and equipment. It can work as a kamikaze. But so far, we don't use it that way because we don't have enough drones. The military spares them. I hope that it will also hit tanks. This is our dream. We even have a special explosive for this purpose - a four-kilogram cumulative charge. A "tank barn" with electronic warfare devices will not survive from such a hit - there will be no chance.
The "Queen" is not too loud. It is much quieter than Baba Yaga. And faster. It has a cruising speed of 80 kilometers per hour and a top speed of 120. It is maneuverable. It can turn over in the air, make "bagels", cut "eights".
It can operate at night. You just install a thermal imaging camera and that's it. This is a platform-constructor where you can add anything - digital, analog video, drop, etc.
Now there is another function: a relay station. It will hover at an altitude of 100 meters without any communication of its own and retransmit the signal from the operator to other drones that can fly 30-40 kilometers to the rear. It can stay in the air for an hour and work like that.
- "Another important advantage of the "Queen" is that the pilot does not have to undergo special training," adds Dmytro, co-founder of Wild Hornets. "The one who worked on an ordinary FPV yesterday can already fly it today. From the second or third flight, they get used to it and do their job effectively. It's for huge drones that you need to take additional courses. There is a specific setup and control. Here, everything is similar to FPV. Plus, to transport a large drone, you need several people. In combat conditions, such exits can be fatal, because you can burn up your position by moving and making noise. Here, one assistant can take the drone out, hide in a dugout, and the pilot can continue working. That is, we have closed this free niche, the middle link between FPV and large drones. If a unit has FPV, a "Queen" and a "Vampire", it can perform a full range of work in its area of expertise. This includes reconnaissance, supply, bombers, kamikazes, and mining.
We have a separate team working on it because we have seen how serious this area is. We will focus on the number of orders for these aircraft and scale up. I think we have already passed the most difficult stages in the production of the Queen. Next is the matter of equipment and work at the front.
" QUEEN OF HORNETS-XL"
- We are constantly working to improve it," Dmytro continues. - "We hold consultations, and if necessary, we can, for example, create a universal control for each unit. I'll make an announcement: we are planning a version of the Queen of Hornets-XL, which will already lift ten kilograms. Plus, there will be a version of the relay station for which we have received an order from the military. I repeat: we are always in communication to understand the needs and wishes. Based on our experience, we have seen that everything needs to go through the frontline.
In general, I believe that each unit should have 20-30 "Queens" to be able to perform tasks effectively. Moreover, the situation at the front is constantly changing. We need to adapt to it. Speed plays a big role here. You can make a request and they will quickly produce the required quantity. But for large drones like Baba Yaga, you need to stand in line for about a month and wait. Although we have a multi-stage process, it still takes less time. This is despite the fact that, in addition to manufacturing, we conduct tests and flights. Then we went to the front, where the "Queen" is now actively working in several units. We hear cool words from the guys. It is inspiring!
MILITARY FEEDBACK ON THE "QUEEN OF HORNETS"
Call sign Fatty, "Achilles" unit of the 92nd SAB:
- I tested the "Queen" weighing five kilograms. It flew eight kilometers, made a drop, and flew the same distance using 1/3 of the battery (10 Ah out of 30). These are not just impressive figures, but incredible! It is very productive. It doesn't even feel five kilograms. Once the commander said: "'It's consuming too little power. It must have lost weight. Let's fly up and have a look." No, it was not lost - the weight is there. This battery system from the Hornets is impressive: you can take a lot of weight, fly very far, and return to hit the "russkies" again.
The camera system for flight and a separate camera on the bottom for precise drops are cool. It's also easy to switch. The release system is simple and reliable - everything works perfectly. It makes a fantastic reusable bomber. Reusability is an incredible increase in efficiency. In simple terms, it's the ratio of the weight of the drone/battery/payload to the number of kilometers the "bird" can fly. The Queen's level is simply outstanding. To say that I am impressed is an understatement!
Call sign Deputy, "Thunder" Marine Corps unit:
- The first Queen of Hornets arrived in early June. Our guys had just returned from their positions and on the same day went to try flying it, because it is more difficult to control than ordinary FPVs. We were flying for a couple of days, training to continue working. Now we have three of them. It is an analog of such large drones as the "Bat", but it is cheaper, lifts more weight and is more functional, which is a very big plus. We immediately planned to use it to deliver cargo to the Left Bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region: food, water, batteries - everything we needed to perform our tasks. We used it for drops because it is difficult to reach targets underground with a 2.5 kilogram "ten" drone - you need to put a couple of these in there. And the "Queen" can easily carry out a six-kilogram projectile. You can take seven kilograms for ten kilometers, but we haven't risked it yet. For your understanding: one and a half kilograms of Fugas is enough to give the enemy a hot day. And six kilograms is just space! We have not yet seen FPV drones that can carry that much weight.
We did not conduct reconnaissance with it, because we have other reconnaissance drones and wings. We use FPVs to strike. But the "Queen" has not yet been used as a kamikaze. Now we are working on targets that we can hit with the "eight" and "ten" FPV - there are enough charges. We plan to use it in places where it will be more effective. Since the enemy does not want to take any risks and hides their equipment away from the contact line, we want to use it to hit the enemy there. But we need even more "Queens" for this purpose.
P.S.: If you would like to contribute to the production of "Queen of Hornets" for our defenders, please find the details below:
🔗 Monobank jar send.monobank.ua/jar/7HkJmmYzkb
💳Bank card number
5375 4112 1818 0292
Olha Moskaliuk, Censor.NET
