Experts told how the Russian drones "Outpost" and "Orion" differ
The Russian Defense Ministry showed footage of the use of two drones during a special military operation in Ukraine - the strike-reconnaissance "Outpost", created on the basis of the Israeli IAI Searcher apparatus, and the Orion strike. "Newspaper.Ru" figured out what their similarities and differences are.
"The Outpost and Orion drones do not compete with each other, since the systems are in different classes, differ in flight duration, the mass of the target load carried, and so on," he told the newspaper.En" Denis Fedutinov, editor-in-chief of the Unmanned Aviation magazine.
According to him, the choice of the type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for arming certain combat units of the Russian army during the operation is "a matter of optimal use of available resources."
"If it is possible to solve a specific task using the Outpost, then it is unlikely that, having a choice, they will attract Orion. On the other hand, obviously, there will be tasks solved only by Orion and not solved by Outpost simply because of the differences in the capabilities of these two machines," the expert explained.
He said that the "Outpost" was adopted as a temporary measure in the absence of its own light drones, which is why it chose the path of licensed assembly of these devices from Israeli components. At the same time, the Israeli developer of the complex limited some functions of the device. However, the military liked the car, so they ordered a fully Russian version with advanced functionality, including shock functions.
The wingspan of the device is 16.3 m, length - 8 m, take-off weight - 1000 kg. The device can carry a combat load with a total weight of 200 kg (four aerial bombs or guided missiles) and move at a speed of up to 200 km / h. The claimed radius of application is 300 km, while the device is able to stay in the air for 24 hours.
Initially, an Austrian Rotax gasoline engine with a capacity of 115 hp was installed on it, but it went to the troops with the Russian APD-110/120 manufactured by Agat.
The Outpost is half the size of the Orion. Its wingspan is 8.55 m, length is 5.85, take-off weight is 436 kg. It is capable of carrying 120 kg of payload (two guided missiles). The device is equipped with a 47-horsepower engine and is capable of flying for 15-18 hours.
Editor-in-chief of the portal Avia.ru Aviation expert Roman Gusarov, in turn, explained to the newspaper.Ru", that Orion has more chances to get further distribution in the troops than the Outpost.
"The Orion drone is a more technologically advanced, more promising platform that has not yet revealed its potential both in terms of weapons and intelligence means. He is originally ours. The components that were already available were integrated into it, but now special new systems can be developed for them, more adapted for this kind of devices. There is a potential for continuous modernization in the Orion algorithm itself. He can, as they say, "learn" and develop," Gusarov said.
The era of drones in Russia is just beginning, and now there is a "definition of functions that will be entrusted to the UAV." "The operation in Ukraine will help Russia understand the role of combat drones. Reconnaissance drones, flying projectiles and attack drones are the approximate niches that are being installed now. Well, plus, of course, heavy "Hunters" who can act as part of a group with a Su-57 fighter, which direct them to the target. Different platforms are needed for each task," Gusarov concluded.
Denis Telmanov
