For the first time, Russia has used the Pacer and Outpost reconnaissance and strike drones, which are part of the Lastochka complex. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were used to support the advancing troops during the Zapad-2021 exercises, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The support of the advancing troops was carried out for the first time in practice by attack drones, the defense ministry noted. The exercises involved reconnaissance and strike UAVs "Pacer" and "Outpost", equipped with reconnaissance and target designation systems, as well as armed with guided missiles.
The drones were able to hit the manpower and armored vehicles of a conditional enemy in an open area. Fragmentation and cumulative ammunition were used to destroy targets.
The UAV "Outpost" is a licensed copy of the Israeli reconnaissance UAV Searcher II. In 2019, the Russian Defense Ministry published a video of the flight of the modernized UAV "Outpost-R". The new version is distinguished by the use of Russian components and a take-off weight of 500 kilograms.
In turn, the medium-altitude UAV "Pacer" is a development of the Russian company "Kronstadt". The drone can carry guided and corrected aerial bombs, as well as guided missiles.
In June, it became known about the first use of weapons of the Altius drone during tests. The UAV successfully launched a bomb attack on a ground target. "Altius" uses the same complex of weapons that is integrated into the"Pacer".
Daniil Irinin
