ZALA 421-16E

The ZALA 421-16E is a compact, fixed‑wing unmanned aerial vehicle developed by the Russian company ZALA Aero. The program began in 2015 as a response to growing demand for portable reconnaissance platforms that could be launched from confined spaces and recover without a runway. By 2018 the prototype entered serial production, and the model has since been exported to several NATO‑partner and allied states for border patrol, environmental monitoring and disaster‑relief missions.

Key features include a 1.2 m wingspan, a lightweight carbon‑fiber airframe, and a modular payload bay that can accommodate electro‑optical, infrared or lightweight synthetic‑aperture radar sensors. The aircraft is powered by a brushless electric motor, delivering a 40‑minute endurance at a cruise speed of 90 km/h and a maximum altitude of 4 500 m. Its launch system relies on a catapult, while recovery is achieved with a parachute or a net, enabling operations from ships, trucks or rugged terrain.

The ZALA 421‑16E’s significance lies in its blend of cost‑effectiveness, ease of deployment and high‑resolution data collection. It has helped democratise tactical ISR capabilities for smaller forces, influencing the design philosophy of later small‑UAV families worldwide.

ZALA Aero

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