A Russian Granat-4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrying communication intelligence (COMINT) payload crashed above Bosra, a town in southern Syria.
According to the Syrian source, the Russian Granat-4 tactical UAV conducted signals and communication monitoring for reconnaissance and artillery spotting/targeting. Dron can detect the points of use of mobile phones, radio transmitters and transmit coordinates of enemy positions for an accurate strike.
COMINT (communications intelligence) is intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, communications between people by phones or radio stations.
The Granat-4 tactical UAV designed by Russian defence contractor Izhmash-Unmanned Systems. According to information, received from open sources, drone has has a maximum take-off weight of 30 kg, a maximum payload weight of 3 kg, a length of 2.4 m, a wingspan of 3.2 m, a cruising speed of 90 km/h, a maximum speed of 145 km/h, an operational range of up to 70 km, and a maximum flight altitude of 11,500 ft.
A Granat-4 unmanned air system (UAS) comprises two UAVs, a set of replaceable payload modules, a starter, a charging and refuelling station for the UAVs, a ground control post on the basis of the KAMAZ-4350 truck with the 4350D-11 van-type body, two transportation containers, and a demountable catapult.
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According to TASS, the Izhmash-Unmanned Systems is the developer and manufacturer of UAVs of several types, including the Granat family (Granat-1 through 6), Mukha and Tachyon. All of them used to be supplied to the Russian Armed Forces.
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The Granat UAVs are reported to have passed high-and-hot trials in the Pamirs. The UAVs have flown at an altitude of 3,500 m above sea level at ambient temperature close to +50°C. In addition, the Granat has been tested in mountainous terrain at the Russian military base in Armenia.