VR-3 Reys

May 11, 2009 · Posted in UAV, Uncategorized · Comment

The VR-3 Reys and later VR-3D Reys D system was the Soviet Union’s primary drone from the late 70’s to the present day. It incorporated the Tu-143 and later TU-243 drones fired from a SPU-143 launcher truck and carried one of two known sensor packages (film or video camera). The Soviets assigned the systems to the Air Force which were deployed to squadrons of 4 launcher trucks with 12 drones each. The systems were tasked with penetrating to an operational depth of 40 miles behind enemy lines and then return and recover via parachute. 950 were eventually manufactured with the VR-3’s coming into service in 1977 and the VR-3D’s in 1982. Client states include Czechoslovakia, Romania and Syria.