MAKS 2019: Kronstadt displays Orion-E, Frigate and Sirius UAVs.

The Kronstadt group of companies dsplaysa line of its drones, including the Orion-E reconnaissance UAV, intended for export.

Orion-E (Picture source: Air Recognition)

The modified Orion-E has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 1,000 kg and can carry a maximum payload of 200 kg, including four 50-kg aerial bombs. In the baseline configuration, the UAV carries one 50-kg guided bomb unit. It should be mentioned that Kronstadt has developed its own guided bomb unit for the Orion-E in order to maximize the combat performance of the vehicle. The Orion-E`s optoelectronic station features two thermal imagers, a wide-angle TV camera and a laser rangefinder/target designator. "This suite can be augmented by additional sensors, including an electronic intelligence system, high-resolution photo camera or radar," the source added. The updated Orion-E also has a maximum flight altitude of 7,500 m, a range of 250 km and an endurance of 24 hours.

Frigate UAV (Picture source: Air Recognition)

The UAV «Frigate» can be used to solve problems of air reconnaissance and delivery, will be able to carry up to 1700 kg payload at take-off of an aircraft and up to 1000 kg – with vertical takeoff. The maximum altitude will be 8000 meters, expectancy – about 10 hours.

Sirius (Picture source: Air Recognition)

Last but not least, the Sirius UAV. A full-size mock-up of the five-tonne  drone with a one-tonne payload was shown for the first time at the MAKS-2019 International Aviation and Space Salon. Previously, this device was presented as a promising drone without a specific name.

"There is confidence that we can take on most of the costs of this program. I think that we can get the first prototype by 2023. If we fail to find any strategic investor, we will do this work ourselves, and if we find one, then we will complete it faster" said Nikolai Dolzhenkov, the general designer of the drone's developer, Kronstadt Group.