Russia builds fully 3D-printed spy drone
Russia’s Azimut company, part of the state-owned Rostec defense conglomerate, has begun field testing a new domestically developed reconnaissance drone produced with additive manufacturing technology.
The prototype features a fuselage that is entirely 3D-printed, a design the company says reduces both production time and cost while expanding mission flexibility.
According to Azimut, the drone’s body “is completely printed on a 3D printer and represents a ‘tube’ with a robotic front section.” The firm described the system as a universal aerial platform capable of performing surveillance and logistical missions, including the delivery of medical materials.
“The promising aircraft costs less than analogues with similar characteristics,” Azimut said in a statement. “This is achieved through the use of a single engine for all flight modes—vertical and horizontal. In addition, additive technologies help reduce the final cost of the product. It is planned that the main variant of this unmanned aerial vehicle will be monitoring.”
The company added that the drone “is capable of performing various medical tasks for delivering biomaterials, medicines, and vaccines without the need for additional cargo boxes.”
By incorporating 3D-printing methods, Azimut aims to simplify fabrication and allow rapid adaptation of airframe components to different mission requirements.
The prototype’s tubular structure and single-engine configuration suggest a hybrid layout that enables both vertical takeoff and conventional forward flight. The firm said this design allows the drone to operate efficiently in multiple environments without the complexity of separate propulsion systems for hover and cruise.
Azimut’s engineers presented the system as a platform suitable for reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and light cargo transport [may be a kamikaze variant]. The use of additive manufacturing, according to the company, also facilitates quick repair or replacement of structural parts in the field—an advantage that can shorten maintenance cycles and reduce logistics burden.
