Russia has transferred an Orion drone to the Crimea, which is inferior in its capabilities to the Ukrainian Bayraktar TV2 of Turkish production, Defense Express writes.
The Ukrainian information and consulting agency claims that in terms of size, mass and range, as well as electronic and optical equipment, the Turkish drone surpasses the Russian one. Other advantages of Bayraktar TV2 over Orion in the publication are the repeated use of the first in real combat conditions, in particular, in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh. The only possible advantage of the Russian drone, according to Defense Express, is its low cost.
Also in the publication, Orion is compared with other "market owners" besides Bayraktar TV2 — the American MQ-9 Reaper, the Israeli Hermes 900 and the Chinese Wing Loong. According to Defense Express, the American and Israeli drones are superior to the Russian ones in terms of tactical and technical characteristics.
In November 2020, the agency, citing the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Ruslan Khomchak, reported that Kiev will buy five Turkish Bayraktar TB2, which, in particular, will be used for reconnaissance and targeting purposes along the borders with Russia.
In July of the same year, the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the first time tested Bayraktar TV2, with the help of which [...] Russian-made anti-aircraft missile and gun systems "Pantsir" were destroyed in Syria and Libya.
Ivan Potapov
