The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine published a three-dimensional diagram of the Russian “Orion” drone and data on 43 enterprises involved in its production.
The information was posted on the War&Sanctions portal in the “Means of Strike” section under “Components in Weapons.”
The “Orion” (also known as “Inokhodets”) is a strike-reconnaissance UAV produced by the sanctioned Russian group of companies “Kronstadt,” the Intelligence Agency explained.
The platform weighs about one tonne, has a straight wing and V-tail, and can carry up to 250 kg of payload, which may include aerial photography systems, radio-technical intelligence modules, electro-optical systems, guided aerial bombs GAB-20, Kh-50 missiles and X-UAVs. In addition, the “Orion” carries a new Russian cruise missile, the S8000 “Banderol.”
The Orion’s range is up to 250 km (up to 300 km with a relay), and its flight endurance is up to 30 hours. According to theMain Intelligence Directorate, Russian media loudly dubbed it the “Bayraktar killer” because of these tactical-technical characteristics and its competitive price.
The Intelligence Agency also published data on 43 Russian companies that participate in the Orion’s production cooperation.
A third of those firms are currently not under sanctions by any country in the sanctions coalition, which creates a real possibility of continued supplies of critical components and the prolongation of the war against Ukraine.
Among the identified enterprises are manufacturers of electro-optical systems, ground communications stations, and polymer-composite materials for the airframe.
The Intelligence Agency emphasized that developments like the Orion pose a threat not only to Ukraine but to the civilized world as a whole: technologies and components can be transferred to Russia’s allies, including Iran and the DPRK, expanding the risk of their military use in other regions.
The Intelligence Agency stressed that companies supplying products to the Russian military-industrial complex must be cut off from international supply chains for raw materials and components.
“Synchronization of sanctions and enforcement control are the key mechanisms that can deprive the aggressor of access to critical technologies and slow down its military capabilities,” the Intelligence Agency said.
