The Orion unmanned aerial vehicle launched small-sized guided missiles, a source in the military-industrial complex told RIA Novosti. It became the first Russian drone to use this type of weapon
In addition, Orion has practiced the use of guided gliding bombs. The massive arrival of UAVs in the troops “will restore parity with a potential enemy in this class of equipment,” the source said. Representatives of the company – the developer of the drone ” Kronstadt ” did not comment on this information.
Earlier, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the first Orion complexes had already been handed over to the Military Space Forces. In the calendar for 2021 recently published by the department, the drone was officially shown for the first time with suspended weapons – KAB-20 corrected bombs.
“Orion” has been developed since 2011 as part of the “Pacer” development work. It belongs to the class of long-duration medium-altitude vehicles. The device can be in flight for up to a day, the maximum take-off weight reaches 1100 kilograms, the combat load is up to 250 kilograms.
The fact that the Ministry of Defense and the Kronstadt company signed the first serial contract for the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles became known at the Army-2020 forum. The first set of the unmanned complex was transferred to experimental military operation in April this year.
Source: Ria Novosti