Posted On Saturday, 19 March 2022 18:46
According to a video published on the YouTube account of the Russian MoD (Ministry of Defense) on March 16, 2022, Russia has used Kronshtadt Orion also called Inokhodets, unmanned aerial vehicles armed with guided missiles to destroy fortifications and armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Orion drone also called Inokhodets armed with guided missile used to destroy military targets in Ukraine. (Picture source Screen Shot Video footage Russian MoD)
In December 2021, it was reported that Russia has successfully conducted the launch of a new air-launched version of the 9M113 Kornet Anti-Tank Guided from Orion Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) over the Ukraine border. During the test, the Orion has launched a guided missile to destroy a drone with a rotary-wing. Citing a Russian source, the drone is able to detect another target at a range of 96 km and can fire at a range of 4 km from the target.
The 9M133 Kornet, NATO reporting name AT-14 Spriggan, is the second generation of Russian-made man-portable anti-tank guided missile. It has an operational firing range from 100 to 5,500 m. The missile is designed to defeat armored vehicles and tanks fitted with explosive reactive armor (ERA).
The Orion drone has been developed by the Kronstadt Group of Russia. Its first flight was conducted in 2016 and in 2020 it was formally inducted into the Russian Army. Russia has so far manufactured 30 units of it.
According to Russian media reports, the Orion drone can reach a top speed of up to 200 km/h. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,000 kg and a payload of 200 kg. It has a range of 250 km and can be operated up to a maximum altitude of 8,000 m.
The Orion UAV is fitted with radar mounted at the rear. It also has an electro-optical, laser target finder, and infrared camera. With all these payloads, the drone is able to destroy ground targets using guided missiles.
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