Military Standards Analysis for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Laboratory Testing on the Impact of Climatic Conditions

Prior to unmanned aerial systems field testing, laboratory tests are conducted to simulate the external climatic impact factors without the need for flights in real conditions. Such tests allow conclusions to be drawn about the behavior of the sample under climatic conditions and to assess the likelihood of failures during testing. However, current standards do not always consider the different types of unmanned aerial systems specifics, which creates difficulties for manufacturers and can lead to excessive costs for unjustifiably complicated tests or, conversely, to the neglect of critical operational factors during tests simplification. The article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of laboratory testing methods conducted in accordance with standard ВСТ 01.055.010-2021 (01) “Armament and military equipment. Climatic testing requirements and methods.”, which is agreed with STANAG 4370 Ed.6 / AECTP-300 Ed.3 (IDT), in order to conduct climatic laboratory tests of UAVs. The possibility and feasibility of using these standard methods for conducting climatic laboratory tests of UAVs is analyzed. It is found that using these standard methods and the relevant source data availability, the tester can simulate all climatic factors affecting UAVs during storage, transportation, and intended use. Based on the analysis, the proposed methods are systematized, the most important groups for conducting climatic tests of UAVs are identified, and this standard application main features are determined. One of the features is that the standard does not provide specific numerical parameters necessary for the full planning and climatic tests organization of UAVs. The generalized base values absence for test scenarios creates significant difficulties: the preparation stage for testing turns into a complex collecting, interpreting, and adapting data process for each type of UAV. In the modern warfare realities in Ukraine, this significantly complicates the rapid introduction of new models, since the test preparation cycle in this case takes an unacceptably long time. Climatic tests duration for UAVs to be used in the Ukrainian climate is calculated as well. The calculations allow time parameters optimization of the test procedures without losing the results accuracy or reliability. The adapted methodologies use that combine STANAG provisions with regionally oriented scenarios is recommended for the standard test program formation that considers the technical specifics of UAVs and the actual operating conditions in Ukraine. The standard practical value lies in the developing UAV testing methods possibility using the most appropriate methods and taking into account the tests temporal characteristics. The further research direction is to study methods that are appropriate for use in laboratory synergistic tests of UAVs under the influence of external climatic conditions.