ZALA T-16: For the first time in history, Russia controls a UAV in Antarctica.

A unique technological breakthrough was achieved at Mirny Station during the 71st Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE). The ZALA T-16 unmanned aerial vehicle, while conducting scientific monitoring in the skies above Antarctica, came under the direct control of operators from the Mission Control Center in Izhevsk.

This is the first successful instance of remotely controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle in Antarctic latitudes from Russian territory, thousands of kilometers away. The key role was played by over-the-horizon control technology, specifically developed by ZALA engineers for operation in conditions where the presence of a pilot on-site is impossible or difficult.

A reliable C2 (Command & Control) relay link allowed specialists in Izhevsk to receive real-time video from the ZALA T-16 and control its flight as if they were directly in Antarctica. The flight missions were aimed at monitoring potentially hazardous areas (ice cracks and fissures) and conducting aerial observations of penguin colonies as part of a biological monitoring program.

Furthermore, integration with the ZALA 4Z1x digital platform provided specialists in Izhevsk and Moscow with real-time access to the onboard video feed, which ran uninterrupted and in high definition, as well as a full array of telemetry data.

This achievement opens up new possibilities for remote monitoring and research in the most remote corners of the planet.

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