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.
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.
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 Stronger than 40% of UAVs
- Cruise speed
Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station.
- 150 km/h Stronger than 54% of UAVs
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 250 km Stronger than 43% of UAVs
- Service ceiling
Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.
- 7,500 m Stronger than 50% of UAVs
- Endurance
Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms — higher means longer persistent coverage.
- 24 h Stronger than 68% of UAVs
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Hardpoints
External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts.
- 4 Stronger than 43% of UAVs
- Weapons payload
Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.
- 250 kg Stronger than 43% of UAVs
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 Stronger than 15% of UAVs
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
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.
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