A compact engine for jet drones is being tested in Russia

SAMARA, December 7 A compact gas turbine engine, which will increase the speed and payload of jet drones, began to be tested at Samara Korolev University, the university’s press service reported.
““Comprehensive testing of the first prototype of the small-sized gas turbine engine MGTD-22 “Kolibri”, developed at our university and intended for small, but high-speed and load-lifting jet unmanned aerial vehicles, has begun,” said Ivan Zubrilin, director of the Engineering Center of Samara University.
He added that the engine was equipped with an experimental prototype of a control system developed at the university.

During the tests, which will last about three months, it is necessary to confirm the calculated characteristics of the device in various operating modes.
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One of the key features of the Kolibri gas turbine engine compared to similarly sized piston engines is its high thrust-to-weight ratio. According to scientists' calculations, a small drone with a Hummingbird engine with a total take-off weight of 45 kilograms will in the future be able to reach a maximum speed of 800 kilometers per hour with a maximum flight altitude of nine kilometers. In addition, the Hummingbird has an integrated, rather than separate, control system, as well as electric start.

Another advantage of the compact engine is that it runs on traditional aviation fuel — kerosene, which has a high energy intensity compared to the lithium-polymer batteries usual for drones.
«Kolibri» became the first and smallest engine in the line of small-sized gas turbine engines being developed at the university's youth laboratory, Zubrilin said. In addition to the Kolibri, the laboratory is working on designs for the next two engines — MGTD-40 Chaika and MGTD-100 Orel, which will surpass the Kolibri in size, thrust, power and a number of other characteristics. These engines will make it possible to implement new promising projects, for example, a high-speed cargo drone with the ability to take off and land vertically in any weather and any terrain.