Russia Kronshtadt Group
Orion (Inokhodets)
Russia's principal medium-altitude long-endurance armed reconnaissance drone, broadly comparable in class to the MQ-1 Predator, used for ISR and precision strikes in the war in Ukraine. Publicly available figures on production numbers are limited estimates.
In service since 2019 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
200
km/h
250
km range
7,500
m ceiling
250
kg payload
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed; production figures are disputed public estimates
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2019. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Orion (Inokhodets) can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 200 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 150 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 250 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 7,500 m |
| Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage. | 24 h |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 4 |
|---|---|
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 250 kg |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 8 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 16.3 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 1,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 0 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Rotax 914 piston engine |
|---|---|
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Piston, pusher propeller |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | Electro-optical/infrared targeting turret |
|---|---|
| Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement. | LOS datalink, SATCOM |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Kronshtadt Group and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Turkish Aerospace Industries ANKA-S 
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets)? +
The Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) has a maximum speed of 200 km/h.
What is the range of the Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets)? +
The Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) has a maximum range of 250 km.
What is the weapons payload of the Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets)? +
The Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) can carry up to 250 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) weigh? +
The Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) has a combat weight of 1,000 kg.
How many crew does the Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) require? +
The Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) requires a crew of 0.
What engine does the Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) use? +
The Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) is powered by the Rotax 914 piston engine.
What is the Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) used for? +
The Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) is a uav / drone typically used for isr, close air support.
How many countries operate the Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets)? +
The Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets) cost? +
Kronshtadt Group Orion (Inokhodets): Unit cost not publicly disclosed; production figures are disputed public estimates. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
Similar systems
Turkish Aerospace Industries
Aksungur
Turkish Aerospace Industries
ANKA-S
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
Wing Loong II
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
CH-5 (Caihong-5)
Related coverage
