National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
UAV «Busel»
The UAV «Busel» is a medium‑range reconnaissance and surveillance drone developed by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NANOB) under a state‑sponsored aerospace program initiated in 2015. The project emerged from a collaboration between the Institute of Aviation Technologies and the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, aiming to create a domestically produced platform that could replace imported systems and support both military and civilian operations. First flight tests were conducted in late 2017, and serial production began in 2019 at the Minsk‑Machinery Plant, with the aircraft entering operational service in 2020.
Key features of the Busel include a lightweight composite airframe, a modular payload bay capable of carrying electro‑optical/infrared cameras, synthetic‑aperture radar, and signals‑intelligence sensors, and a semi‑autonomous flight control system with GPS/GLONASS navigation and real‑time data link. The drone can fly for up to 12 hours at a ceiling of 8 000 m, covering a radius of 250 km while maintaining a low radar cross‑section. Its launch and recovery are ground‑based, using a catapult and a parachute system, which simplifies field deployment.
The Busel’s significance lies in bolstering Belarus’s indigenous aerospace capabilities, providing a versatile tool for border surveillance, disaster monitoring, and tactical reconnaissance, and positioning the country as a regional exporter of reliable unmanned platforms.
Key features of the Busel include a lightweight composite airframe, a modular payload bay capable of carrying electro‑optical/infrared cameras, synthetic‑aperture radar, and signals‑intelligence sensors, and a semi‑autonomous flight control system with GPS/GLONASS navigation and real‑time data link. The drone can fly for up to 12 hours at a ceiling of 8 000 m, covering a radius of 250 km while maintaining a low radar cross‑section. Its launch and recovery are ground‑based, using a catapult and a parachute system, which simplifies field deployment.
The Busel’s significance lies in bolstering Belarus’s indigenous aerospace capabilities, providing a versatile tool for border surveillance, disaster monitoring, and tactical reconnaissance, and positioning the country as a regional exporter of reliable unmanned platforms.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 2011
Design & Classification
- Manufacturer
- National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
- Designer
- National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
- Developer
- National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
- Operator
-
Belarus
- Wikidata ID
- Q110294538