Researchers from Omsk State Technical University (OmSTU) have created an unmanned aerial vehicle that can work in the Arctic at extremely low temperatures, the TASS news agency reported, citing Pavel Pogarsky, Head of the OmSTU laboratory of small remotely piloted vehicles.

"It is a third-generation UAV that can operate at temperatures between minus 40 degrees and plus 45 degrees Celsius, in winds of up to 15 meters per second, in snow or rain," he said.

The PP-50 drone is a considerable improvement on its predecessors, the PP-40 and the PP-45. Its range grew fourfold to 100 kilometers, flight time doubled to 3.5 hours, altitude ceiling increased fivefold to 5,000 meters, and speed rose to 120 km/h from 80 km/h. Its flight time can reach six hours.

"We have also created a Vzor patrol search system based on the PP-50 to monitor both contiguous and stationary objects and to engage in search operations," Mr Pogarsky said. He added that the drone is entirely Russian designed and made.

The PP-50 drone was presented at the VTTA — Omsk 2015 International Exhibition of High Technologies and Equipment for the Arctic, Siberia and the Far East on October 7-8, where it attracted the attention of Gazprom, oil companies and the Russian Defense Ministry.