Russia still has sights set on Orion
The Orion MALE UCAV has been combat-tested in Syria. (Photo: Russian MoD)
Russian Minister of Defence claims more homemade MALE UCAVs will be delivered in 2021.
The Russian MoD is set to take on strength up to seven Orion MALE UCAV systems in 2021, Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu announced in early March during a visit to privately owned manufacturer Kronstadt.
During his factory tour, Shoigu was shown Orion and other UCAV developments such as the high-speed Grom and Inokhodets-RU (which also has a reconnaissance capability), as well as the Helios-RLD, which Russian defence analysts tout as an airborne early warning platform.
Kronstadt began the development of Orion in 2011 as part of the Russian MoD-funded Inokhodets programme. The MoD required a new UAV capable
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