The cardboard drone attack launched by Ukraine on Russian air bases in the Kursk region at the end of August has clearly tarnished the reputation of the Red Bear Country's military, because the Australian-made cardboard drone doesn't cost 'that much', but was able to destroy four Su-30 units and one MiG-29 units.
However, the cardboard drone attack has apparently galvanized Russian innovators to create an ideal match for cardboard drones.
Russian innovators and professionals have now succeeded in creating a drone called the MM-1. This drone is unique, because it is made from conventional foam plastic, which makes the MM-1 invisible to the opponent's radio electronic warfare system.
Details of the MM-1's development were published by the Russian News Agency TASS by a spokesperson for the innovative technology center, TsAGIStart, located at the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute's Technology Park.
The construction of the MM-1 uses ordinary foam so its production is economically feasible. An important feature of this drone is its optimal radio transparency, ensuring the absence of parts that could cause interference.
The MM-1 was designed as a kamikaze drone equipped with the ability to avoid detection by electronic warfare systems. The developer claims the MM-1 has the potential to successfully navigate and penetrate enemy electronic radio barriers.
In order to guarantee its 'stealth' properties, the MM-1 drome is designed to mostly not use metal parts. So far, metal components are still available, but only found in the motor and a number of screws. However, if any glitches arise due to these screws, the developers are ready to launch models equipped with fiberglass screws.
Quoted from BulgarianMilitary.com, the MM-1 was first introduced to the public at a conference entitled "Development of the Industry of Unmanned Aviation Systems: Instructions, Challenges, and Solutions" held by TsAGI on October 6 2023.
A TsAGIStart spokesperson said that the MM-1 drone is capable of reaching speeds of up to 100 km per hour while carrying a payload of up to 5 kg. This drone operates based on First Person View (FPV) mode which relies on the front camera as an extension of the drone pilot's 'eyes'.
Currently, only one unit of the MM-1 has been produced. “We plan to produce five more devices in the near future. Previously, a series of additional tests for flight range and duration will be carried out. "The goal is that the MM-1 can cover a distance of 100 km in approximately one hour," said a TsAGIStart spokesperson.
The foamplast material used in the MM-1 drone is a type of foam made from plastic polymer material. It is commonly used in various industries for insulation, packaging, and cushioning purposes. The material is light, flexible, and has excellent thermal and sound insulation properties.
Foamplast is typically produced by expanding plastic beads using heat and pressure, producing a foam-like structure with a cellular network of interconnected cavities. This cellular structure gives foam plastic unique properties, such as low density and high compressibility.
Radio frequency (RF) based devices, such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems rely on electromagnetic waves to communicate and exchange information. These devices work by sending and receiving radio signals to identify and track objects or individuals. However, foam plastic materials pose challenges in RF detection due to their composition and physical properties.
The cellular structure of the foam plastic material acts as a barrier to radio waves. When radio waves encounter foam plastic, they are absorbed, scattered, or reflected by the many air-filled voids in the material. This scattering and absorption of radio waves makes it difficult for RF-based devices to accurately detect or read signals from objects covered or surrounded by foam plastic materials.
