Moscow’s Motochrome design bureau, part of the NTI EnergyNet network, has unveiled a new electric motor named Svirel. Developed by a team of Russian engineers, this motor is positioned to boost flight speeds of aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles by up to 30 percent when integrated into the propulsion system. The announcement came via the press service of NTI EnergyNet, a member organization in Motochrome’s collaborative ecosystem.
The Svirel motor is designed for versatile use across unmanned aerial systems, capable of powering both light and heavy UAVs with a gross weight exceeding 30 kilograms. Its construction relies almost entirely on domestically sourced components, with only the bearings and magnets imported from external suppliers. This high degree of localization is highlighted as a strategic advantage in terms of supply chain resilience and national industrial independence.
Jetting into action, the motor features a unique coaxial configuration that enables the paired operation of two propellers oriented in opposite directions yet positioned with a minimal axial gap. This arrangement aims to improve control stability and extend the maximum flight speed of the UAV platform. In practical terms, the system is described as delivering a 20 to 30 percent performance uplift in speed under typical mission profiles, according to Alexey Mishukov, who serves as both director and chief designer of Motochrome. The motor offers a total output around 3 kilowatts and can reach shaft speeds up to 12,000 revolutions per minute, illustrating a compact yet potent propulsion solution for medium to larger UAV payloads.
Prototype testing for the Svirel electric motor was planned for April 2024, with developers reporting that several assembly units were already in production at that stage. The pilot serial production phase was projected to price each engine at roughly 85 thousand rubles, reflecting a balance between performance goals and scalable manufacturing costs. This pricing is set within the context of ongoing efforts to push domestic aerospace technologies toward higher performance while maintaining competitive valuation in both military and civilian applications.
In related industry developments, the market for smart home devices in Russia had previously seen substantial growth, with reported increases in sales and consumer adoption during the period leading up to this propulsion news. The broader momentum in high-tech manufacturing and domestic innovation ecosystems underlines the strategic emphasis on advanced propulsion solutions for unmanned systems as part of national tech agendas and defense modernization efforts. [citation needed attribution: NTI EnergyNet press service; Motochrome company leadership]