Georgia has tested in flight conditions the first locally manufactured UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

Georgia conducted a test flight of its first domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, the Georgian Defense Ministry said in a statement. The new Georgian UAV system was tested in extreme terrain and weather conditions. It consists of an aerial vehicle and ground segment.

The new Georgian UAV consists of an aerial vehicle and ground segment. The control is performed by Pilot Control Software. It is powered by an internal combustion engine. Takeoff is performed via pneumatic catapult. It is capable of flying for eight hours at an altitude of 100 to 3,000 meters and can develop speeds of between 60 and 160 km/h, the Defense Ministry statement said.

The drone is equipped with a dual camera gimbal, photo and infrared camera and can be used for reconnaissance, surveillance, coast guard and border patrol missions, as well as for civilian purposes.

Georgia has operated Israeli-made drones purchased from the Elbit Systems defense electronics company under a 2007 contract. Saakashvili said in 2008 that Georgia had about 40 Israeli drones, among them medium-size Hermes 450.

When landing the Air Vehicle develops its parachute and at the same time the airbag inflates for additional impact dampening. The parachute is automatically released after the plane hits the ground. The system can be operated in various environmental conditions and in wide temperature range.