United Aircraft Corp Sukhoi S-76 Atlas Transport (prototype)

(Photo credit: Sukhoi Design Bureau)

S-76 Atlas Transport (prototype)
Sukhoi Design Bureau
United Aircraft Corporation
Moscow, Russia
www.uacrussia.ru

Founded in 1939 by Pavel Sukhoi as JSC Sukhoi Company in Moscow, Russia, the company was in the business of designing and manufacturing both civilian and military aircraft. During February 2006, the Russian government merged Sukhoi with Mikoyan, Ilyushin, Irkut, Tupolev, Yakovlev and more, as a new company named United Aircraft Corporation. The Sukhoi Design Bureau has developed a heavy-lift air cargo hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). This has been made possible through Russia's Vector program.

Potential customers, Russia's postal service, oil and gas companies and more have told the company they really need an airport independent air cargo aircraft that is lower in cost than using a helicopter. The Sukhoi Design Bureau has stated there are 28,000 settlements in Russia that depend on Russian Helicopters Mi-8 helicopter service because many remote areas are difficult to reach by land throughout most of the year. Drone service payloads can cost 30-40% less than helicopter service and is why the company's drone is expected to be in big demand.

Its ability to operate in remote and inaccessible areas without requiring specialized infrastructure makes it a valuable asset for various industries, including logistics, research, and government operations.

S-76 Atlas Transport heavy-lift air cargo hybrid-electric VTOL prototype aircraft
The S-76 (C-76: Russian) Atlas Transport is uncrewed highly automated heavy-lift air cargo hybrid-electric VTOL prototype aircraft. The purpose of the aircraft is to provide long range air cargo delivery in urban and to remote areas at a highly reduced cost in doing so. The hybrid-electric power source (piston engine and batteries) and the wings of the aircraft provide the necessary technology for long range travel. The aircraft will be able to accomplish its air cargo missions with minimal human involvement according to the company. The aircraft does not require any commercially made landing sites.

The cruise speed is expected to be 180 km/h (112 mph), has an anticipated range of 1,000 km (621 miles) and a planned cruise altitude of 4,000 meters (13,123 feet). If the aircraft's destination has no fuel, then the range of the aircraft is cut in half. There are nine propellers, nine electric motors and uses an piston internal combustion engine and batteries for its power source. There are eight VTOL-only propellers and one pusher propeller.

The empty weight of the aircraft is 1,200 kg (2,646 lb), has a maximum payload weight of 300 kg (661 lb) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,500 kg (3,307 lb). The cargo hold is two cubic meters and can hold two standard 80 cm X 120 cm X 14.4 cm (2 ft, 7.5 in X 3 ft, 11.2 in X 5.75 in) pallets or two transport containers. The cargo is loaded at the front of the aircraft and there are cargo rollers making it easy to load and off load them. There are also locking devices to prevent cargo movement during the flight. A ramp can be used to load and unload the aircraft.

The aircraft has one main high wing, four booms for the eight VTOL-only propellers and an inverted V tail. The main wing is 11 meters (36 feet, 1 inch). The aircraft dimensions are 11 meters in width, 7.2 meters in length and 2 meters in height (36 ft, 1 in X 23 ft, 7-1/2 in X 6 ft, 6-3/4 in). The aircraft is made from carbon fiber composite material to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear. The area needed to land the aircraft is 17 meters by 17 meters (55 ft, 9.25 in X 55 ft, 9. 25 in).

On 12 August 2024, UAC had a full-scale S-76 prototype on an outdoor display at the annual Army International Military-Technical Forum held in Moscow, Russia. The fully operational flight model has already successfully completed initial flight tests, demonstrating its capabilities in vertical takeoff, hovering and landing.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Long range heavy-lift uncrewed air cargo eVTOL drone
• Piloting: Autonomous piloting
• Capacity: Air cargo. 2 cubic meters (2 m3), (71 ft.3) cargo hold. The aircraft can hold two standard 80 cm X 120 cm X 14.4 cm (2 ft, 7.5 in X 3 ft, 11.2 in X 5.75 in) pallets or two transport containers. The cargo is loaded at the front of the aircraft.
• Cruise speed: 180 km/h (112 mph)
• Range: 1,000 km (621 m)
• Cruise altitude: 4,000 m (13,123 ft)
• Empty weight: 1,200 kg (2,646 lb)
• Maximum payload weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
• Propellers: 9 propellers (8 VTOL propellers, 1 pusher propeller)
• Electric motors: 9 electric motors
• Power source: Internal combustion engine and battery packs
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Aircraft dimensions: 11 m width X 7.2 m length X 2.0 m height (36 ft, 1 in width X 23 ft, 7-1/2 in length X 6 ft, 6-3/4 in)
• Wing: 1 high wing (11 m, 36 ft, 1 inch)
• Tail: 1 inverted V tail
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Area needed to land: 17 X 17 m (55 ft, 9.25 in X 55 ft, 9. 25 in)
• Safety features: Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propellers (or electric ducted fans) and multiple electric motors on an aircraft so if one or more propellers (or electric ducted fans) or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers (or electric ducted fans) and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. DEP provides safety through redundancy for passengers or cargo. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity.

Related Aircraft:

• United Aircraft Corp S-76 Atlas Transport (technology demonstrator)

Company Insights:

• Airframer, Sukhoi Design Bureau JSC
• Crunchbase, United Aircraft Corporation
• Pitchbook, United Aircraft Corporation
• Tracxn, United Aircraft Corporation
• Wikipedia, Sukhoi
• Wikipedia, United Aircraft Corporation

Resources:

• United Aircraft Corporation website
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• United Aircraft Corporation Twitter (English)
• United Aircraft Corporation YouTube Channel
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• United Aircraft Corporation LinkedIn
• Video: Sukhoi and UAC presented a heavy UAV of vertical take-off and landing drone, RuAviation, Aug. 12, 2024
• Article: Sukhoi and UAC presented a heavy UAV of vertical take-off and landing, RuAviation, Aug. 12, 2024
• Article: Sukhoi Unveils Modified S-71 Attack UAV Concepts, Aviation Week, Aug. 12, 2024
• Video: UAC S-76 - Russian New VTOL Cargo Drone at ARMY 2024, Altitude Addicts, Aug. 12, 2024
• Article: S-76 unmanned transport aviation system of off-airfield basing, RuAviation, Aug. 13, 2024