Origin: Russia | Manufacturer: Special Technology Center (STC)
Role: Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) / Electronic Warfare (EW)
Overview:
The Orlan-10 is the workhorse of Russia’s tactical drone fleet. Developed by the St. Petersburg-based Special Technology Center (STC), the Orlan-10 emerged from Russia’s post-2008 military reform as a solution to a long-standing ISR gap. By the time of the 2014 Crimea operation, Orlan drones were flying dozens of sorties per day, often in mixed “drone flocks” with other UAVs like the Eleron-3. What makes the Orlan-10 significant is the doctrine behind its operational use and the changes that it reflected in the pre-Ukraine view of Russia’s armed forces on drone warfare. Russian forces continue use it to spot artillery targets, jam communications, and feed real-time video to battalion-level units and above. It became infamous during the early stages of the 2022 Ukraine War for its role in deadly “reconnaissance-strike complexes“ where Orlans spot targets for immediate fire missions.
With costs a central consideration for Russia, it’s designed for mass deployment, not survivability. Teardowns of captured drones have revealed a Frankenstein assembly of COTS parts: Canon DSLR cameras, plastic fuel tanks, and off-the-shelf electronics, a testament to Russia’s focus on scalability and expediency over high-tech elegance.
Key Specifications (Orlan-10):
| Metrics | Value (Estimated) |
| Entered Service | 2010 |
| Wingspan | ~3.1 m |
| Range | ~120 – 600 km (relay dependent) |
| Max Endurance | 16 – 18 hours |
| Weight | 18 kg |
| Payload | EO/IR Camera, EW Modules, Communication Relay |
| Launch Method | Pneumatic Catapult |
| Recovery Method | Parachute or Airbag system |
| Cost Estimation | ~ $100,000 |
