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STC Orlan-10

2014 MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY

STC Orlan-10 History

The Russian defense industry has recovered well from the dark period after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The country has made significant strides in fifth-generation fighter jets, advanced bomber designs, infantry light weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Its ongoing war with neighboring Ukraine has provided Russia with an active battlefield on which to test its various new developments - the STC Orlan-10 is a prime example, a well-known intelligence, surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) drones were used in the war in the Donbass.

The Orland-10 uses A-95 series gasoline engines. It is launched with a catapult (orbital) and retrieved by a simple parachute delivery operation.

The aircraft can reach speeds of nearly 150 km/h and stay in the air for up to 16 hours, providing ground operators with real-time data at ranges up to 600 km. The system works at an altitude of about 5,000 meters.

With a take-off weight of 15kg, the aircraft can carry 6kg of sensors and optical payloads.

Its exterior design is traditional, like a fixed-wing drone. The fuselage forms its length, and the engine is attached to the nose section, driving a two-bladed propeller unit. The main wing aircraft is mounted on the shoulder in the middle of the fuselage. The rear wing features a simple single-fin arrangement with two low-mounted horizontal planes. Since the drone uses orbital launch and parachute recovery, it does not require complex landing gear to operate.

Aircraft are transported in hard cases and assembled before takeoff. This includes attaching the main and tail surfaces to the fuselage and adjusting all payload options. The catapult rail system also requires light assembly.

As already mentioned, the Orlan-10 series was actively used in the fighting of Russian elements and Ukrainian troops in the Donbass. Ukrainian forces have shot down several aircraft since operations in the region began in or around 2014.