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Orlan-10

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Orlan-10
An Orlan-10 on display in 2022
Role Reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle
National origin Russia
Manufacturer Special Technology Center (STC)
Introduction 2011
Status In service
Primary users Russian Ground Forces
Ministry of Emergency Situations (Russia)[1]
Tatmadaw[2]
Kazakhstan State Committee for National Security[3][4]
Armed Forces of Kazakhstan[5]
Syrian Arab Army[6]
Wagner Group[7]

The Orlan-10 (Russian: Орлан-10) is a reconnaissance, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Special Technology Center (STC) in Saint Petersburg for the Russian Armed Forces.[8][9] The Orlan-10 features a composite fuselage that reduces its radar signature.[10]

Drones are usually deployed in groups of two or three; the first is used for reconnaissance at a height of 1,000 to 1,500 metres (3,300 to 4,900 ft), the second for electronic warfare and the third as a data relay.[11] One system can include up to five vehicles.[12]

In 2020, a larger Orlan-30 version was introduced, with a laser designator option to increase the effectiveness of other precision weapons, following testing in 2019.[13][14] Its export version was first presented in August 2023.[15]

Production history

Orlan-10 being carried by soldier

More than 1,000 Orlan-10s have been produced (2018), with 11 different variations.[16] More Orlan-10s and 30s were ordered in August 2022.[17] The price for one system (including 2 drones, a portable launch complex, a control station and a set of spare parts) was reportedly 5 million rubles ($150,000) in 2013.[18]

Over 50 Orlan UAVs were delivered for export in 2021 to Russia's allies.[19] It has seen action in Ukraine, Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh.[20][21]

In 2023, reports stated that components made in Ireland[22] and STMicroelectronics microchips were found in Orlan drones, in spite of the sanctions regime imposed on Russia.[23] On 3 January 2023, CBS News reported that Orlan-10 shot in the past 4 months contained U.S. and Swiss made microchips (Maxim, Microchip and U-Blok) used for their ability to connect to the GLONASS positioning system for navigation. These chips are also able to access the GPS and Galileo systems contributing to redundancy and increase accuracy for flying and targeting.[24]

In July 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that the supplies of Orlan-10 and -30 drones had surged 53 times since early 2022.[25] In February 2024, the manufacturer claimed an annual production of over 1000 Orlan-10.[26]

Orlan-30 at a 2022 trade show

Operational history

Ukraine

Orlan-10 on the launch catapult

War in Donbass

The Orlan-10 is reportedly being used in the Russo-Ukrainian War. In this conflict aerial reconnaissance by unmanned aerial vehicles is banned by the Minsk agreements.[11] Ukrainian officials have claimed to have had shot down or captured several UAVs of this type since 2014:

  • In May 2014, Ukrainian officials reported that they had shot down an Orlan-10 in Ukraine.[9][27]
  • In July 2014, Ukrainian forces shot down two UAVs of this type – No. 10212 near Zelenopillia[28] and No. 10237 near Amvrosiivka.[29]
  • In August 2014, another Orlan-10 (No. 10215) was shot down by the Ukrainian forces with Strela-10 SAM system.[30]
  • In April 2016, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) published a video of the UAV (No. 10264) which it claimed to have shot down near Avdiivka.[31]
  • In November 2016, Ukrainian officials stated that they had retrieved an Orlan-10 (No. 10332) drifting on the Azov Sea near Mariupol.[32]
  • In September 2017, an Orlan-10 (No. 11057) fell down on Ukrainian territory and was captured by Ukrainian forces.[33]
  • On 28 December 2017, Ukrainian troops shot down another Orlan-10 near Toretsk.[11]
  • On 10 January 2018, Ukrainian troops shot down another Orlan-10.[34]
  • On 13 October 2018, an Orlan-10 was shot down by a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter using gunfire near Lysychansk.[35][36]
  • On 19 November 2018, an Orlan-10 UAV was shot down by Ukrainian air defense forces.[37] RB-341V Leer-3 electronic warfare systems, which can control up to three Orlan-10 drones, were also spotted in Ukraine by OSCE in 2018 and 2020.[38][39]

2022 invasion of Ukraine

Orlan-10 used during the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

An upgraded strike version of the Orlan-10 able to carry four high-explosive fragmentation projectiles was reportedly used in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[40] According to the Ukrainian Military, at least 85 have been shot down in combat during the war,[41][42][failed verification][when?] including by a UK-supplied Martlet missile.[43] A version called Moskit is used for EW.[44]

In December 2022, Colonel Yurii Solovey, head of air defense for the Ukrainian ground forces, stated his units had destroyed more than 580 Orlan-10s since the invasion began, and the lack of drones affected Russian forces' ability to recon for artillery and counterbattery fire. Alternative drones were employed to fill the Orlan-10's role, but they are difficult to procure due to dependence on components originating from countries that have imposed sanctions.[45] However, in July 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that the supplies of Orlan-10 and -30 drones had surged 53 times since early 2022.[25]

On 17 October 2023, Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the Ukrainian 3rd Assault Brigade, said that the Orlan was an issue for Ukrainian forces due to its resistance to jamming and ability to help with artillery fire and reconnaissance.[46]

On 27 April 2024, an Orlan-10 was shot down by the crew of a Ukrainian Yakovlev Yak-52 sport aircraft. As the Yak-52 is unarmed, it is believed that the drone was disabled by the Yak-52's second crew member, likely by firing at it with a machine gun from the plane as it approached the drone.[47]

Syria

Orlan-10 drone with on-board orange parachute

The Orlan-10 is being actively used by the Russian Ground Forces in the Syrian Civil War for either reconnaissance, collecting aerial imagery or 3D-mapping in support of humanitarian convoys and S&R operations.[48]

In November 2015, an Orlan-10 located the surviving member of a downed Russian Su-24M2 bomber and facilitated his speedy recovery.[48]

On 10 March 2020, an Orlan-10 drone was shot down by Syrian rebels in Suluk, Raqqa Governorate.[49]

On 9 June 2021, an Orlan-10 killed a prominent HTS member known as Abu Khalid al-Shami.[50]

Belarus

In early February 2022, an Orlan-10 drone crashed near Brest.[51][52]

Romania

On 13 March 2022, an Orlan-10 was found on a field in Bistrița-Năsăud County, Romania. It was initially thought to be a drone owned by a private person in Romania, however it was soon identified as a Russian-made Orlan-10. The investigation is ongoing.[53][54] According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the drone belongs to the Russian army.[55]

Mali

On 16 July 2022, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara shot down an Orlan-10 in Ménaka Region operated by Wagner Group.[7]

Specifications

Orlan-10 before slingshot launch with soldier in attendance

The Orlan-10, while not sophisticated, is cheap and simple to operate. It flies too high to be vulnerable to short-range air defences, but is too inexpensive to justify using costly long-range defences. It provides a sufficient view of the battlefield to identify targets.[56]

Data from [citation needed]

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 6 kg (13 lb) payload
  • Max takeoff weight: 15 kg (33 lb)
  • Launch method: folding catapult platform
  • Landing method: parachute recovery
  • Max. wind speed at launch: 10 m/s
  • Operational temperature range: −30 to +40 °C
  • Powerplant: 1 × Saito Manufacturing FA-62B single-cylinder four-stroke glow fuel piston engine, 0.71 kW (0.95 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn)
  • Combat range: 110 km (68 mi, 59 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 600 km (370 mi, 320 nmi)
  • Endurance: 16 hours
  • Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,000 ft)

Avionics

Orlan-10 system in use during the Slavic Brotherhood 2018 war games

See also

References

  1. ^ @UAWeapons (30 April 2022). "#Ukraine: Another Orlan-10 drone of the Russian Forces crashed. However, this one is unusual- it has markings indicating that it is from the Ministry of Emergency Situations" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "First Export of Russian Orlan-E Drones Goes to Myanmar". Defense world. 22 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Kyrgyzstan to acquire Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey". Jane's.
  4. ^ "ЦАМТО / Киргизия заказала 6 БЛА "Орлан-10Е" и 3 "Байрактар TB2"". Arms trade.
  5. ^ "Russia delivers combat aircraft, missile systems to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan this year". Taß.
  6. ^ "Various military formations in the Syrian Arab Army have begun to establish specialized units using various types of drones. The units are conducting training and operations against terrorists in Idlib" بدأت مختلف التشكيلات العسكرية في الجيش العربي السوري بإنشاء وحدات متخصصة باستخدام المسيرات بمختلف أنواعها، وتقوم الوحدات بتدريبات وعمليات ضد الإرها-بيين في إدلب.
  7. ^ a b "WATCH: ISIS militants in Mali shoot down drone of Russia's mercenary Wagner Group". euroweeklynews. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Russia to produce its own unmanned vehicles". Unmanned. July 20, 2011. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  9. ^ a b Ostrovsky, Simon (30 May 2014). "Ukraine Says it Shot Down a Russian Spy Drone". Vice. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Russia: Northeastern Forces operate Orlan-10 drones". Air recognition. Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  11. ^ a b c Ukrainian troops shoot down Russian drone in ATO zone, UNIAN (29 December 2017)
  12. ^ "ЦАМТО / Новости / В Приморском крае мотострелки ВВО получили завершающую партию комплексов БЛА "Орлан-10"". Arms trade.
  13. ^ Ripley, Tim (3 October 2019). "Russia to bring new Orlan UAV variant into service next year". Jane's 360. IHS. Archived from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  14. ^ "Russian army to get Orlan-30 drone in 2020". Army Recognition Group. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Russia starts promoting Orlan drone with laser target designation system". TASS. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Уникальная отечественная разработка: эксклюзивные кадры с испытаний "Орланов" под Петербургом". Zvezda (TV channel). 2018-03-09. Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2019-05-18 – via You tube.
  17. ^ "ЦАМТО / Главное / На форуме «Армия-2022» подписаны 7 и вручены 29 госконтрактов с 26 предприятиями ОПК".
  18. ^ "Forbes высоко оценил экспортный потенциал беспилотника "Орлан"". Фронт-инфо [Front-info] (in Russian). 2013. Archived from the original on 2022-05-19.
  19. ^ "Russia's state arms exporter to offer kamikaze drones, heavy UAVs to foreign customers". Taß.
  20. ^ "Russian UAV recovered in Libya". Jane's. Archived from the original on 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  21. ^ "Russian peacekeepers use latest drones, video conferencing systems in Karabakh".
  22. ^ Mooney, John (15 January 2023). "Weapons used by Russia in Ukraine contain parts made in Ireland". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  23. ^ Pacella, Mattia (5 May 2023). "Come migliaia di chip "elvetici" finiscono ancora in Russia". Radiotelevisione svizzera di lingua italiana, succursale della Società svizzera di radiotelevisione.
  24. ^ Livesay, Chris; Lyall, Erin (4 January 2023). "Russia is bombarding Ukraine with drones guided by U.S.-made technology, and the chips are still flowing". CBS News. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Orlan drone supplies skyrocketing — Russian defense minister". TASS. Moscow. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Russia increases output of Orlan drones several times". TASS. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  27. ^ "У зоні проведення АТО припинено несанкціонований політ російського безпілотника" (in Ukrainian). Security Service of Ukraine. 30 May 2017. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  28. ^ Seleznev, Vladislav (2014-07-13). "Post by SBU official regarding a shot down Orlan-10". Facebook (in Russian). Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  29. ^ "Під Амвросіївкою військові збили черговий російський безпілотник" (in Ukrainian). Espreso TV. 23 July 2017. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  30. ^ "(Official Facebook post)" (in Ukrainian). Press-centre of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) of Ukraine. 2014-08-01. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  31. ^ "У районі Авдіївки збито безпілотник російських військових" (in Ukrainian). Security Service of Ukraine. 8 April 2017. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  32. ^ Russian drone retrieved from Azov Sea near Mariupol coast (photos, video) Archived 2016-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, UNIAN (7 November 2016)
  33. ^ "Украина опубликовала фото упавшего "российского беспилотника"" (in Russian). TV Rain. 17 September 2017. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  34. ^ Another Russian drone downed by Ukraine troops in Donbas, second since Christmas truce, UNIAN (12 January 2018)
  35. ^ "Official Facebook post" (in Ukrainian). Press-centre of Joint Forces Operation of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  36. ^ "Ukrainian Mi-24 Takes Down Russian Drone with Cannons". Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  37. ^ "Ukraine's air defense unit shoots down Russian Orlan-10 drone in Donbas (Photo)". Archived from the original on 2019-04-28. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  38. ^ OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (11 August 2018). "Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 10 August 2018". www.osce.org. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  39. ^ "Daily Report 60/2020". OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  40. ^ "МО РФ впервые показало кадры работы ударной версии БЛА "Орлан-10" в ходе спецоперации" [The RF Ministry of Defense for the first time showed footage of the strike version of the Orlan-10 UAV during a special operation] (in Russian). Taß. 17 May 2022.
  41. ^ "The Russians increased the flight altitude of the Eagles to 5500–6500 meters – Commander of the 58th Brigade". Ukrainian Military Center. 2022-01-09. Archived from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  42. ^ Oryx. "Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  43. ^ "First Russian drone destroyed by a new British Martlet missile in Ukraine". AreoTime. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  44. ^ "ЦАМТО / / Расчеты беспилотников "Москит" ЦВО выполняют боевые задачи в зоне проведения СВО".
  45. ^ Russian invaders likely running out of Orlan-10 drones – media reports. The New Voice of Ukraine. 2 December 2022.
  46. ^ "Russians are much ahead of us in using operative-tactical UAVs – founder of Azov regiment". News Yahoo!. Ukrainska Pravda. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  47. ^ Cenciotti, David (2024-04-27). "Ukrainian Yak-52 Equipped With Machine Gun Shoots Down Russian UAV - Reports". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  48. ^ a b Anton Lavrov. "Russian UAVs in Syria". cast.ru.
  49. ^ "Opposition factions shot down a Russian reconnaissance plane in the countryside of Raqqa" (in Arabic).
  50. ^ "Russian UAVs in Syria". bmpd.livejournal.com. 3 May 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  51. ^ "The Insider: Przechwycony na Białorusi dron jest rosyjski, a nie ukraiński".
  52. ^ "Zwiadowczy dron rozbił się na poligonie przy". 3 February 2022.
  53. ^ "Reports of Russian drone landing in Romania". Ukrinform. 14 March 2022.
  54. ^ Cristiana Sabău (14 March 2022). "Cazul "drona căzută la Tărpiu" va fi cercetat de Parchetul de pe lângă Curtea de Apel Cluj". TimpOnline (in Romanian).
  55. ^ Cosmin Stăniloiu (15 March 2022). "Aviația ucraineană spune că drona căzută lângă Bistrița e a armatei ruse. O alta, care a survolat Polonia, e fost doborâtă". Libertatea (in Romanian).
  56. ^ Watling, Jack (18 September 2022). "Russia's underperforming military capability may be key to its downfall". The Guardian.
  57. ^ Bill Bostock (11 April 2022). "Video shows Ukrainian soldier taking apart a Russian drone and discovering its components include a plastic bottle top for a fuel cap". Business Insider. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  58. ^ David Hambling (11 April 2022). "Russia's Deadly Artillery Drones Have A Strange Secret". Forbes. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  59. ^ a b "Unboxing" of Russian "Orlan" on YouTube
  60. ^ "PICO640Gen2".
  61. ^ David Baker (12 April 2022). "Ukrainians discover Canon DSLR in camera array of dismantled Russian drone". DIY Photography. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
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