Russia has dramatically ramped up the use of long-range reconnaissance drones to serve as target finders for missile strikes in the Ukrainian hinterland, with Britain’s Ministry of Defense attributing their use to the success of Russian missile strike deep inside the country last month.
Alongside these snooper drones, Russia’s military industry has also developed and fielded a lineup of long-range heavy strike drones, including the Orion, the Sirius, and the Altius (also known as Altair). These UAVs, more reminiscent of manned aircraft than their smaller, slower, reconnaissance and kamikaze drone cousins, have ranges measuring in the thousands of kilometers, cruising speeds up of up to 250 km per hour, service ceilings as much as 12,000 meters, and an endurance time of as much as 48 hours.
Their weapons payloads vary from 200 and 2,000 kg, and can include precision missiles and aerial bombs. As for guidance, it can include satellite navigation, inertial navigation, and, in the case of the Sirius and the Altius – interfacing and integration between manned aviation and artificial intelligence. While such drones’ large size makes them more vulnerable to traditional air defenses, their ability to attack distant targets with heavy firepower, all without risking the lives of pilots, makes it all worthwhile.
Check out the infographic prepared by Sputnik to see the detailed characteristics of the three drones.