Russian media reports that Moscow is developing new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to replace the Orlan-10 and Orlan-30 reconnaissance aircraft on the battlefield. The chief designer of the Russian “Special Technology Center,” Roman Ivanov, revealed that the project is still in its early stages and initially kept secret before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The new drones will incorporate improvements based on the Russian Ministry of Defense’s technical orders. The development has been delayed due to other operational priorities.
The upcoming drones are expected to enhance tactical and technical capabilities, including extended flight range, longer endurance, and increased payload capacity. They are likely to incorporate upgrades to counter new threats like jamming and attacks by first-person-view (FPV) drones. Ukrainian media describe the Orlan-type drones as relatively small, weighing 14 kilograms, with a wingspan of up to 3 meters. These drones have become essential for infantry reconnaissance and, recently, have been modified to drop munitions during combat. The Orlan drones are equipped with navigation systems and can function using optical recognition if signals are jammed.
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