Russian Drone Aircraft in Modern Warfare

Russian drone aircraft have become a crucial component in modern warfare, offering unparalleled surveillance capabilities and precision strikes.

The first recorded use of Russian drone aircraft dates back to 1994, during the First Chechen War.

Russian drone aircraft have been used in various military conflicts, including the 2008 South Ossetia War and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Su-24MP drone, for example, is a Russian reconnaissance aircraft that has been used to gather intelligence and conduct surveillance missions.

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The Russian military has been using drones in Ukraine since 2013, with the Orlan-10 being one of the most abundant models in their arsenal.

The Orlan-10 has a relatively short lifespan, lasting only 10-20 flights, and has been largely replaced by more advanced drones like the ZALA 421-16 and SuperCam S350.

Russia had an estimated 1,500 Orlan-10s before the full-scale war started, but has lost around 200 of them as of early April.

The ZALA 421-16, manufactured by the ZALA Aero Group, has a range of 50-70 kilometers and was initially sold for civilian use before being adopted by the Russian military.

The Russian military has lost around 50 ZALA 421-16s since the start of the full-scale war.

The SuperCam S350, with its larger wingspan of 3.5 meters, is considered more resistant to electronic warfare, but its range and flight duration are similar to smaller drones.

The Orlan-10 is a small drone that's been a major part of Russia's drone arsenal since 2013. It's cheap and simple to produce, with some sources suggesting it only lasts 10-20 flights.

The Russian military uses Orlan-10s in conjunction with jammers to disable cellular networks as part of their Leer-3 electronic warfare system. This drone has also been used for reconnaissance and artillery fire adjustment.

Estimates suggest Russia had around 1,500 Orlan-10s before the full-scale war started, but as Ukraine ramped up its drone countermeasures, the Orlan-10 became virtually obsolete.

The Russian military has been using drones like the ZALA 421-16 since May 2022, with a range of 50-70 kilometers.

These drones were initially sold for civilian use, but the Russian military picked them up after phasing out the Orlan-10s.

It's estimated that around 50 ZALA 421-16s have been lost since the start of the full-scale war.

The SuperCam S350, manufactured in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, has a wingspan of 3.5 meters and is considered more resistant to electronic warfare.

However, its range and flight duration are similar to that of smaller drones.

By the end of 2023, it's estimated that 15-20% of the Russian military's drones at the front in Ukraine were SuperCam S350s.

As of early April, verified losses of SuperCam S350s amount to 23 drones.

The Eleron-3, produced by Enics, has been part of Russia's tactical drone arsenal since 2012.

It was extensively used during the initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014, but was virtually unused during the first months of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

The Russian military likely had 200 Eleron-3s at the start of the full-scale invasion and have lost three dozen thus far.

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Kamikaze drones are a type of loitering munition that "commit suicide" by crashing into a target. They differ significantly from traditional reconnaissance drones.

Russia uses two main types of kamikaze drones: the tactical ZALA Lancet and the strategic Shahed-131 and -136. Russia sources Shahed drones from Iran.

Shahed drones are used extensively to destroy military and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, as well as to inflict casualties. They are used by Russia in Ukraine.

Iran also produces the Mohajer-6, which has a television, thermal imaging cameras, and a laser rangefinder. It can carry up to four small guided bombs or missiles.

Russia has used Mohajer-6s on the front, mainly in southern and coastal Ukraine. Three have been reported destroyed.

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The S-70 Okhotnik drone is a game-changer in terms of stealth capabilities. Russia claims it's virtually invisible to radar.

Stealth is achieved through careful shaping of the airframe and the use of special materials that absorb radar waves.

The S-70 drone is made with special materials and coatings that make it practically invisible to radars, according to Russian officials.

New metamaterials are being used in current stealth research, which can potentially make an "invisibility cloak".

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The Russian drone industry has seen significant growth in recent years, with many companies investing heavily in research and development.

Russia has developed its own line of drone aircraft, including the Orion and the Forpost.

These drones are designed for a variety of tasks, including surveillance and reconnaissance.

The Orion, in particular, has a long endurance and can stay in the air for up to 24 hours.

This makes it an ideal choice for long-term surveillance missions.

Russian drone production is adapting to counter electronic warfare. By using optical navigation systems, drones can enter reconnaissance areas undetected.

The range of Russian tactical drones is increasing, even for small ones. This expansion in capabilities is likely to make them more effective on the battlefield.

Russia has significantly scaled up drone production to supply its troops with as many drones as possible. This highlights the importance of air defense systems for Ukraine to protect its military and civilians from drone attacks.

The Russians hit the crash site of the S-70 drone with an Iskander ballistic missile, a scarce and expensive resource, suggesting the wreckage was a high priority target.

This was likely done to prevent Western engineers from recovering the drone wreckage and gaining valuable insights into its stealth capability.

The S-70 was designed alongside the Su-57, Russia's showpiece next-generation combat aircraft, and likely uses the same stealth materials and techniques.

If the West can see how S-70 stealth works, they could get a pretty good insight into how to defeat the Su-57 too.

The Russians may be trying to hide the fact that their stealth technology is non-existent, as suggested by the way they reacted to the downed drone.