The Russian defense industry has said it has supplied the army with a Sirius unmanned (drone) aircraft that would pose a huge danger to targets on Ukrainian land. This news comes after Ukraine claimed that they had destroyed three Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers.
Sirius "is a medium- and high-altitude long-endurance reconnaissance attack drone similar to the American MQ-9 Reaper. This type of unmanned aircraft can operate in the sky for a long time, and can be equipped with navigation devices to carry out precision strikes on targets on land, which plays a certain auxiliary strategic significance. Russia did not have this type of u** before, only small, and much less powerful "Orion" reconnaissance-strike integration.
Sirius" is very different from the American "Reaper" in appearance.
The unmanned aircraft, called Sirius, uses two turboprop engines and can fly for up to 20 hours at an altitude of 7,000 meters, sail at a speed of 180 km h, and sail for 3000 km. It has been learned that the aircraft is also equipped with a satellite communication system that can carry out remote control and data transmission.
Although Russia has not officially announced the delivery of the drone, Taser quoted a statement from a company about the program, saying that it "delivers ahead of schedule in accordance with U.S. defense directives." This company is the St. Petersburg-based Kronstaad Consortium, which develops and produces the Orion unmanned aerial vehicle. Although the Russian Air Force does not provide detailed information about its deliveries, it can be assumed from its practical experience, reports and statements in the context of its actual operation that it is a product of the Sirius type U**, aka inokhodets-ru.
Dubna AG also plays an important role in this project, and they will work on the manufacture of parts, assemblies and assemblies for the drone. This company was once considered a member of the Russian military-industrial union, and six of the Orion drones created by it were destroyed on the territory of Ukraine. According to the company's website, the company is developing for unmanned aircraft in the fields of mechanics, electronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, software, as well as lasers.
The Sirius drone will pose an even greater threat to Ukraine due to its ability to carry out long-term reconnaissance and attacks on the front line more than 600 kilometers east and south of Ukraine, as well as its ability to effectively cooperate with other Russian air and land forces. It will be very difficult for Ukraine to use its infantry regiments or artillery units to attack Russian strongholds without Sirius drones.
Ukraine has previously claimed that its air defenses have "ambushed" three Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers that have attacked Ukrainian positions with FAB-500s and other unguided aerial bombs equipped with a gliding missile that can turn them into dexterity.
MPK-FAB-500-M62, weight 500 kg. Through social media.
For more than three months, this missile has caused great losses to Ukraine, and it is difficult for Ukrainian air defense to intercept it due to the absence of missiles and electromagnetic signals. The Su-34 fighter-bomber is typically capable of carrying 4-6 of these gliding missiles, or a larger FAB-1500, gliding for about 30 km depending on the altitude, and under GLONAZ navigation, can only hit stationary targets.
Ukraine's counter-air campaign may reduce Russia's demand for organic fighters such as the Su-34, but it will also force Russia to accelerate the development of unmanned aerial vehicles to fill its own shortcomings. If Sirius is indeed supplied to the Russian army, Ukraine will face an even more difficult adversary, one that will always be in the sky.