Kronshtadt weaponises Orion-E UAV, outlines HALE UAV development

摘要

Russia's Kronshtadt Group, a subsidiary of Joint-Stock Financial Corporation Sistema, has unveiled a strike-capable variant of the Orion-E medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV). The weaponised Orion-E was showcased with a new 50 kg guided missile developed by the company. "It is a demonstrator of a smart munition for the Orion, and its weight can be increased to 100 kg," a company source said. "Thus, a single UAV can carry four 50 kg or two 100 kg munitions. "In the baseline configuration, the UAV carries one 50 kg weapon," the source added. The Orion-E has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 1,000 kg and can carry a payload of 200 kg. It has a maximum flight altitude of 24,606 ft, a range of 250 km, and an endurance of 24 hours. The air vehicle's electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) turret features two thermal imagers, wide-angle TV camera, and a laser rangefinder/target designator. "This suite can be augmented by additional sensors, including an electronic intelligence system, high-resolution photo camera, or radar," the source explained. The air vehicle can be disassembled and transported - along with its technical support systems - in a container.