UAS Glory Air, together with its partner — BAS Infrastructure Operator LLC — conducted comprehensive flight tests of the Sparrow UAV system, designed for remote monitoring of extensive and hard-to-reach sites, including infrastructure, industrial facilities, and natural territories under challenging climatic conditions. The testing confirmed the high reliability of the developed technologies in extreme cold and thin air. The 8 kg UAV successfully reached an altitude of 6,000 meters at -45°C, after completing a week-long freeze cycle at -35°C.
Testing under extreme conditions
At the end of January 2026, a full test program was carried out at a site in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug to evaluate UAV performance during multi-day operation in Arctic conditions, followed by a high-altitude flight. Temperatures on-site reached -30°C with the wind intensifying the effects of cold.
All ground operations, including the deployment of the parachute system, were performed in the cold without preheating the UAV. According to Ivan Alferov, Director of the Flight Test Department, “The UAV remained for seven days at temperatures between -32°C and -35°C without any warming, after which it successfully completed a flight to 6,000 meters at -45°C. The objective was to comprehensively validate the flight control systems, onboard avionics and structural integrity.”
Flight Test Progress
The Sparrow began ascending after pre-flight checks. The flight proceeded normally under 3,500 meters. The vertical speed decreased at higher altitudes due to low air density and satellite navigation became less stable but the UAV continued operating normally. The UAV reached 6,000 meters, followed by a controlled descent.
The landing was conducted in a limited forested area, deploying the parachute system at approximately 70 meters altitude and 17 m/s. The procedure was completed without issues.
The tests confirmed the resistance of composite structures to cold brittleness. A successful flight of the lightweight UAV after prolonged freezing without structural damage demonstrates the high quality of materials and precision of engineering calculations.
Conducting the tests required coordinated work from the team and partners, who provided the necessary infrastructure and logistics in a remote region. All stages — from preparation to landing — were carried out in real northern conditions without laboratory simulations.
The successful completion of these tests demonstrates that the Sparrow UAV system is ready for operation in extreme climates. The data obtained confirm its suitability for monitoring pipelines and transport routes, aerial surveying, delivery of small cargo and conducting search-and-rescue operations in remote regions of the Russian Arctic, Siberia, and high-altitude areas.
Testing under extreme conditions
At the end of January 2026, a full test program was carried out at a site in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug to evaluate UAV performance during multi-day operation in Arctic conditions, followed by a high-altitude flight. Temperatures on-site reached -30°C with the wind intensifying the effects of cold.
All ground operations, including the deployment of the parachute system, were performed in the cold without preheating the UAV. According to Ivan Alferov, Director of the Flight Test Department, “The UAV remained for seven days at temperatures between -32°C and -35°C without any warming, after which it successfully completed a flight to 6,000 meters at -45°C. The objective was to comprehensively validate the flight control systems, onboard avionics and structural integrity.”
Flight Test Progress
The Sparrow began ascending after pre-flight checks. The flight proceeded normally under 3,500 meters. The vertical speed decreased at higher altitudes due to low air density and satellite navigation became less stable but the UAV continued operating normally. The UAV reached 6,000 meters, followed by a controlled descent.
The landing was conducted in a limited forested area, deploying the parachute system at approximately 70 meters altitude and 17 m/s. The procedure was completed without issues.
The tests confirmed the resistance of composite structures to cold brittleness. A successful flight of the lightweight UAV after prolonged freezing without structural damage demonstrates the high quality of materials and precision of engineering calculations.
Conducting the tests required coordinated work from the team and partners, who provided the necessary infrastructure and logistics in a remote region. All stages — from preparation to landing — were carried out in real northern conditions without laboratory simulations.
The successful completion of these tests demonstrates that the Sparrow UAV system is ready for operation in extreme climates. The data obtained confirm its suitability for monitoring pipelines and transport routes, aerial surveying, delivery of small cargo and conducting search-and-rescue operations in remote regions of the Russian Arctic, Siberia, and high-altitude areas.
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