A next-generation amphibious unmanned vehicle known as Meridian is moving toward water trials, as development progresses from lab work to real-world testing. A scale model of the drone has already been showcased at the international industrial exhibition Innoprom. Central Asia in Tashkent, according to the developer, the company TSARS, speaking to RIA Novosti.

The project is being carried out in partnership with the Competence Center for Unmanned Aerial Systems at Bauman Moscow State Technical University. It is part of a broader research and development program supported by Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. At the exhibition, visitors were shown a 1:5 scale model of the aircraft.

A dynamic prototype has been handed over to the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute, where hydrodynamic studies are underway. Tests in a controlled experimental pool have already been completed, and preparations are now in progress for the next phase — trials in a natural body of water.

At the same time, assembly of key structural components continues. Flaps, the vertical stabilizer, floats, elevators and rudders, a water rudder, stabilizer, ailerons, and a strut have already been manufactured. Work is still ongoing on the wing and the tail section of the fuselage. In parallel, production of systems for prototype units is nearing completion: servo drives, the propeller, a ground control station, engine elements, onboard radio-electronic components, wiring, and the power supply system are all ready. The parachute recovery system has also undergone testing.

Meridian is being developed primarily as a transport drone, designed to carry payloads of up to 700 kilograms into hard-to-reach regions, including the Arctic and the Far East. It is also intended for environmental monitoring. With the ability to operate year-round, the drone can track conditions on land, water, and ice, contributing to the forecasting of environmental changes.

One of its defining features is flexibility in takeoff and landing. The aircraft can operate from conventional runways, as well as from unpaved surfaces or directly from water — a capability that significantly broadens its range of applications.