Russian Ministry of Defence and Kronshtadt have signed a deal to start delivery of Russia’s first armed medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone. The UAV will be an upgraded variant of “Orion”, capable of carrying air-to-ground munitions. The delivery of the first heavy “Orion” drone for the Air Force is scheduled before the end of 2020. According to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the deal was announced by Kronshtadt chief engineer Nikolai Dolzhenkov.

Russian Air Force is expected to operate an UAV capable of carrying up to one ton of payload. Other characteristics of the new aircraft, such as size and endurance, are not yet announced.

Russian Air Force have already used prototypes of the original light-weight “Orion” for reconnaissance in Syria in 2018.

Earlier, a number of Russian high-level military officials claimed that first deliveries of Russian MALEs were expected in 2021. A drone named “Altius”, was named as the most likely candidate for that position.