Page 35 - World Airnews Magazine April 2021 Edition

DRONES VACCINES

RUSSIAN VKS TO EMPLOY DISTRIBUTING VACCINES

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING vene should any cargo start to experience temperature deviations,

delays, equipment malfunction or damage on the ground.

he demand for COVID-19 vaccines has seen airlines tap These safety measures result from months of preparation and

Tinto years of experience to transport pharmaceuti cal ship- form a vital part of effectively transporting vaccine shipments, like

ments, using cu�ng-edge technology to distribute vaccines safely. Cathay Pacific’s first vaccine shipment to Hong Kong as well as hu-

he Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) South Africa began the first phase of its COVID-19 vaccination manitarian bodies such as UNICEF’s introducing initiatives to work

Twhich has already adopted the rollout programme on 17 February 2021, with many healthcare with leading airlines to deliver vaccines around the world.
Orion UAV that has proven itself in combat workers across the country having received their shot. VACCINE SHIPMENTS WILL HELP THE AVIATION
in Syria, might be interested in other Here is a brief look at how one airline Cathay Pacific adapted its op- INDUSTRY RECOVER

product developments of Moscow-based erations to play its part in the distribution of these life-saving vaccines. While the pandemic has led to the largest decline in passenger travel

Kronshtadt company. MONTHS OF PREPARING FOR TAKE-OFF in aviation history, the opportunity, and ability, to carry vaccines in

During the ARMY 2020 International passenger aircraft will support the commercial case for renewed

Forum Kronshtadt presented the new UAV Transporting pharmaceuticals and vaccines by air is not a new passenger operations. Airlines’ ability to safely and efficiently trans-

- Grom (Thunder) heavy classed. concept. The scale, speed and ultra-cold shipping and storage port vaccines across the world is a turning point for the industry and

According to official data, Grom has facilities required to deliver COVID-19 vaccines do, however, ensures millions of people receive their lifesaving shot. Q
a take-off weight of seven tons and is present notable challenges to the airline industry.

capable of delivering a 1.3ton payload at a McKinsey has estimated that vaccinating the 7.8 billion people

distance up to 800 km. It can use a variety that make up the world's population will require up to 15 000

of weapons including guided missiles as within joint missions teaming up with the km/h. The UAV payload is between five to flights to ensure global coverage for the next two years.

well as the KAB-250 and KAB-500 guided conventional aircraft. seven kilogrammes. The International Air Transportation Association (IATA) estimat-

aerial bombs, it is claimed. According to a recent company statement, The drones can be launched in the form ed that distributing the vaccine and providing a single dose to the

The weapons can be allocated at four quoted by national information agencies, of a swarm from a carrier aircraft to break world's population would require 8,000 Boeing 747 cargo aircraft.

suspension points - two under the wing Grom is capable of controlling a swarm of 10 through the enemy air defence or conduct Airfreight has always played an essential role in distributing vac-

consoles and two inside the drone’s airframe. light strike drones launched from another group electronic warfare in conjunction cines. While this form of transportation has been tried and tested,

During ARMY 2020, Nikolai Dolzhenkov, aircraft, presumably a non-UAV. with manned aircraft. the overwhelming challenge lies in transporting the COVID-19
Kronstadt general designer, claimed Those small drones designed by Molniya drones are planned to be vaccines in controlled, low temperatures.

that the Grom would be used in support Kronshtadt and named Molniya (Lightning) used as high-precision guided munitions Airlines typically use containers with cooling capabilities to trans-

of the Su-35 and Su-57 fighters to are in the form of jet vehicles. or reconnaissance target designators, port pharmaceutical products. Unfortunately, not all airlines have
preserve the manned aircraft and their The drone has a length of 1.5 m and a according to a company spokesman. the necessary temperature controls to protect vaccines from being

pilots. The drones would be used to wingspan of up to 1.2m. The speed of the The exact timing of the system employment vulnerable to flight delays and other unforeseen events.

neutralize the enemy's air defence device is said to be around of 600 - 700 within the VKS has not been specified. Q To prepare for the biggest logistical challenge the air cargo industry

has ever encountered, airlines dedicated vast resources to exploring

innovative distribution systems, conducting trial flights to test the
RUSSIAN DRONE STRIKES IN SYRIA process of shipping vaccines, and training staff on the ground.

Guidelines were set out for vaccine distribution by IATA, in-

cluding measures governments and airlines had to implement to
ensure industry preparedness.
These guidelines include re-establishing air networks to ensure

adequate capacity is available for vaccine distribution, tempera-
he Russian Ministry of Defence ture-controlled infrastructure to ship the vaccines, and training
Trecently released a video of the staff to handle time and temperature-sensitive vaccines.

Orion UAV conducting several strikes

on militants’ objects, including an am- COUNTRIES WELCOME GLOBAL VACCINE

munition depot during a night flight in DISTRIBUTION SOLUTIONS

Syria. The video was aired on a national By drawing on the many years of experience in handling and flying

TV channel. pharma shipments globally and building on these existing capa-

The drone had been operating in a bilities, airlines like Cathay Pacific not only successfully carried
tough environment with low clouds over 1,222,192 tons of cargo in 2020, despite the extraordinary

using thermal imaging and a night circumstances, but also adapted and designed an effective

vision camera for aiming. Sergey vaccine distribution system that are in line with IATA guidelines.

Tyugay, deputy chief of the Aerospace Cathay Pacific along with its subsidiaries Cathay Pacific Service
Forces (VKS) Unmanned Aviation main is able to conduct a flight up to 24 be controlled from a mobile operator Limited and Hong Kong Airport Service Limited received airport-wide

command commented on the footage. hours. The vehicle maximum take- station which can run up to four UAVs recertification of IATA’s CEIV Pharma accreditation at Hong Kong

The drone featured in the television off weight is 1000 kg including 200 simultaneously. International Airport and is now using its network of 20 dedicated

report has 38 stars on its airframe. kg payload. Orion is intended for use The UAV has an export version, freighters and cargo bellies of passenger aircraft to distribute vaccines

The numeral represents the number of in aerial reconnaissance of terrain, namely Orion-E which has been globally. To ensure vaccines are shipped safely and efficiently, the

missions concluded including 17 combat the determination of co-ordinates of included in the product catalogue of airline uses a first of its kind, next-generation track-and-trace system

and 20 reconnaissance flights, as well as ground and surface objects, as well as Rosoboronexport - the national state called Ultra Track. The fully operational and functioning solution uses

one unspecified mission. for the topographic survey of the area. defence trade mediator. low-energy Bluetooth readers to monitor the temperature, GPS loca-

Orion is the first Russian locally In the strike version, the drone can The vehicle mock-up was been tion, and humidity of the vaccines during flights - giving shippers and

designed UAV produced by the carry up to four air-to-ground missiles. displayed at the Army 2020 International forwarders near-real-time visibility of vaccines to ensure they remain

Moscow-based Kronshtadt company. Orion operational sealing is up to 5 km Forum and Rosoboronexport exposition within their transportation temperature ranges.

According to sources, the drone with a flight range of 120 km. It can at IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi. Q The system works in tandem with the newly established Operations

Control Centre (OCC) based in Hong Kong. Working in shifts, the OCC

team monitors shipments 24/7, and can take proactive steps to inter-
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