# Orion-E attack drone – premiere at MAKS-2021

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/08/orion-e-attack-drone-premiere-at-maks-2021/
- Published: 2021-08-03T09:34:00+01:00
- Author: Military Africa

The Kronshtadt company has unveiled at the MAKS-2021 airshow the Orion-E medium-
altitude long endurance (MALE) reconnaissance/strike unmanned aerial vehicle with
satellite data link. As the main Russian UAV developer reports, the talks on the
Orion-E’s delivery have been conducted with more than a number of [potential customers](https://www.aviaport.ru/digest/2021/07/28/684109.html),
including those from Africa, from the Middle East and from South-East Asia.

![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Orion-E-attack-drone-maks-2021-1-
scaled.jpg)

Russia has recently started the market promotion of the Orion-E drone in the reconnaissance/
strike configuration, thus entering the UCAV league dominated before by a [very limited number of countries](https://roe.ru/press-centr/press-relizi/rosoboroneksport-predstavit-ves-spektr-sovremennoy-rossiyskoy-oboronnoy-produktsii-na-vystavke-defea/).
The Orion-E is intended for performing missions in a wide range of climate zones.

The maximum take-off weight is 1.1 t, the maximum payload weight is 250 kg. The 
maximum flight duration is 30 hours, and the speed is up to 200 km/h.

According to the [official presentation](https://roe.ru/catalog/vozdushno-kosmicheskie-sily/bespilotniki/orion-e/)
of the Orion-E UCAV, its major advantages include the capability to conduct reconnaissance
round-the-clock in optical, IR and radio bands, high-level automation of data processing
and transmission, self-sustainability, versatile flight modes (autonomous or under
operator’s radio control). From one ground control point up to 4 UAVs can be simultaneously
controlled.

![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Orion-E-attack-drone-picture-maks-
2021-1024x576.jpeg)

The Orion-E is equipped with replaceable payloads based on modular principle. There
are three hard points for aerial weapons. The drone is also able to use the radio-
electronic warfare equipment.

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At MAKS-2021 the Orion-E was showcased along with the Vikhr air-launched guided 
missile. As the missile’s producer [Kalashnikov Group has reported during the airshow](https://kalashnikovgroup.ru/press-center/news/gk-kalashnikov-obyavila_o_vozmozhnosti_primeneniya_raket_vikhr_na_bpla_i_noveyshikh_vertolyetakh),
it is continuing work on adapting the Vikhr air-launched guided missiles for use
on various platforms.

![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Vikhr_Photo-Kalashnikov-scaled.jpg)

Vikhr air-launched guided missile.

“At the moment the Kalashnikov specialists are considering the possibility of adapting
the Vikhr for use on the latest Mi-28NE, Mi-35P helicopters, as well as on the Orion-
E unmanned aerial vehicles”, said the Kalashnikov.

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According to the company, the Vikhr is capable of hitting targets at a distance 
of up to 10 kilometers, its speed is more than 600 meters per second. Thickness 
of homogeneous armor behind dynamic protection penetrable by the tandem shaped charge
warhead – 750 mm.
Earlier, in May, Kalashnikov Group announced, that Russia successful
flight trials of the Vikhr missiles had been conducted with a series of missile 
launches performed by a Ka-52 Alligator reconnaissance/attack helicopter.

Earlier, in May, Kalashnikov Group [announced](https://en.kalashnikov.media/video/weapons/gk-kalashnikov-uspeshno-ispytal-upravlyaemye-rakety-vikhr),
that Russia successful flight trials of the Vikhr missiles had been conducted with
a series of missile launches performed by a Ka-52 Alligator reconnaissance/attack
helicopter.

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