About 15 countries want to purchase the Russian Orion-E reconnaissance and strike drone. This was announced on Wednesday, July 21, by the head of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev.
Rosoboronexport is currently processing applications from more than 20 countries for the Orlan-10E and about 15 applications for the Orion-E reconnaissance and strike aircraft, recently launched on the world market, "he said.
In addition, Mikheev noted that Orlan-10E already has signed contracts and some of them have already been fulfilled. According to him, "the enterprises are loaded for the coming years, including contracts for the state defense order."
Earlier, on July 20, it was reported that Rosoboronexport is implementing a contract for the supply of Orion-E reconnaissance and observation aircraft (UAVs). Mikheev noted that at the moment the image of the export-oriented Orion-E attack UAV is being formed, which, according to him, will be presented in the near future.
"Orion-E" is designed for conducting aerial reconnaissance in the light and dark, in simple and difficult weather conditions, as well as determining the coordinates of objects and transmitting relevant data. It is equipped with a universal complex of aviation weapons that allow you to destroy both stationary and moving ground targets, armored vehicles, vehicles and enemy manpower with high efficiency. The maximum take-off weight of the drone is 1 t, and the maximum payload weight is 200 kg. At the same time, the duration of the flight with a standard load is 24 hours, the horizontal flight speed is up to 200 km / h.
The variant for the Russian Armed Forces is called "Pacer", the export version of the name is "Orion-E". The Ministry of Defense has been testing the Orion-E since 2019, the strike version of the drone was tested in Syria.
On July 20, the MAKS-2021 International Aerospace Salon opened in Zhukovsky, near Moscow. During the presidential screening on the first day, the audience could see the flights of Ka-226 and Mi-171 helicopters, Su-57 and MiG-35 fighters and an experienced passenger aircraft MS-21-310.