Russian Military Testing Drone Swarms For The First Time

Orlan-10 drones, widely used by the Russian military, were part of the swarm exercise in Kavkaz-2020 Russian Ministry of Defence

Forbes: Russia Uses ‘Swarm Of Drones’ In Military Exercise For The First Time

Russian state news agency TASS reports that a swarm of drones was used for the first time in a military exercise.

The drone operation was part of the giant Kavkaz-2020 (Caucasus 2020) exercise now being held at training grounds of the Southern Military District, which involves some 80,000 personnel. Previous releases indicated that the focus of the exercise would be on drone warfare.

“At the Kapustin Yar proving ground a combined group of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) was created. It incorporated Southern Military District units armed with drones Forpost, Orlan-10, Eleron-3 and others," according to a Defense Ministry official quoted by TASS.

The various drones reportedly carried out reconnaissance from very low to high altitude, as well as hitting ground targets.

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Update: Swarm of drones used in Kavkaz-2020 exercise first time against enemy forces (TASS)

WNU Editor: Russia's military is trying to catch to what other countries are doing .... Russia To Field Long-Range Attack Drones In 2021 (Forbes).

Russia's Military Want To Make This Drone Into A Long-Range Interceptor

A Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle after the first joint flight with a Sukhoi Su-57 jet fighter. Photo by TASS

Business Insider: Russia is talking about giving its stealthy 'Hunter' drone an air-to-air combat mission as a long-range interceptor

* The Russian Ministry of Defense has proposed expanding the role of the stealthy new Okhotnik (Hunter) drone to include long-range intercept missions, Russian state media reported.
* The Okhotnik could be tasked with targeting not only approaching fighter and bomber aircraft, but also the tankers and airborne early warning planes that support them.
* An aircraft industry source told the state-run TASS that the drone will rely on artificial intelligence to achieve a certain degree of warfighting autonomy.
* Like Russia, the US military is pursuing several lines of effort to field AI-driven autonomous aircraft for manned-unmanned teaming in combat operations.

Russia is considering giving the stealthy Okhotnik (Hunter) combat drone an air-to-air combat mission as a long-range interceptor, Russian state media reported this week.

The Russian defense ministry has proposed a concept of operations that would see the drone deployed forward with long-range weaponry to "attack air targets before they approach the air defense zone," an aircraft industry source told the TASS news agency.

While development of the flying-wing Okhotnik unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) began years earlier, it was not until January of last year that the world saw the first pictures of the drone.

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WNU Editor: From what I have read so far, they are a long way from making this drone a long-range interceptor.

Russian Developers Reveal The Mission And Capabilities Of Their New Drones

Sputnik: ARMY-2020: Developers Reveal Mission, Capabilities of Three Brand New Russian Drones

Several new Russian drone designs were presented at the ongoing ARMY-2020 arms expo outside Moscow this week.

Developers have shared new details about the capabilities and purpose of several brand new Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designs, including the ‘Grom’ (‘Thunder’) and the Helios, created by unmanned aerial systems developer Kronstadt Group.

The Grom, which made its debut at ARMY-2020, is designed to provide support for the Sukhoi Su-35 and Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets, Nikolai Dolzhnekov, general designer at Kronstadt Group, told Sputnik.

The UAV weighs about 7 tonnes, and has a 500 kg payload, with its main mission being to help keep pilots and their aircraft safe by providing support in the destruction of enemy air defences, and in carrying out other combat operations.

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WNU Editor: These Russian manufacturers have embraced the future where drones will be used in warfare.

Russia's New Okhotnik Stealth Drone Is Being Ready for Combat

Okhotnik stealth drone. © Russian Defense Ministry/TASS

National Interest: Russia's New Okhotnik Stealth Drone Is Closer to Being Ready for Combat

One trial at a time.

Russia is pursuing additional tests, demonstrations and “familiarization flights” of its emerging Okhotnik stealthy heavy attack drone. These tests are intended to bring surveillance technology and stealthy assault mission options to this 5th generation aircraft.

The drone, which first emerged in August of last year, performed a joint flight with a Russian Su-57 last September. During that exercise, it “maneuver[ed] in the air in the automated mode at an altitude of around 1,600 meters and its flight lasted over 30 minutes,” according to a June 3rd report in TASS, Russia’s News Agency.

The upcoming tests and demonstrations are evolving, the paper explains, with a new Russian plan to insure the aircraft for more than $1.2 billion rubles in preparation for a new development phase. Additional exercises will include “engine runs, taxiing, ground-based work and system testing.”

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WNU Editor: These Russian drones even have insurance .... Russia’s top brass to insure latest stealth drone for over $18 mln (TASS).

S-70 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Fly With An Su-57 For The First Time (Video)

Warzone/The Drive: Watch Russia's S-70 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Fly With An Su-57 For The First Time

Russia says one of the primary goals of the program is to be able to operate both of these aircraft together in manned-unmanned teams.

Russia's S-70 Okhotnik-B, or Hunter-B, flying wing unmanned combat air vehicle, or UCAV, has flown together with a Su-57 advanced combat jet for the first time. The Russians see at least one of the S-70's future missions being to operate together with the Su-57 in a "loyal wingman" role, which could help mitigate some of the shortcomings of the latter manned aircraft's design and usher in new air combat synergies overall.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the test flight on Sept. 27, 2019, but did not say specifically where or when it had taken place. Video footage that the Kremlin released from the flight strongly suggests it occurred at the 929th Chkalov State Flight-Test Center in Russia's southwestern Astrakhan region, which is also likely where the S-70's first flight took place earlier this year. The flight reportedly lasted "more than 30 minutes," according to an official statement.

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WNU Editor: That is something that you do not see everyday.

Russia's Newest Drone Will Be More 'Stealthier' Than Its Previous Versions

Warzone/The Drive: Russia's Sukhoi Shows Off Stealthier Vision For Its "Hunter" Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle

We now know that Sukhoi intends to make its unmanned combat air vehicle very stealthy, which will help overcome some of the Su-57's shortcomings.

The existence of Sukhoi's S-70 Hunter-B (Okhotnik-B) unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) is among the biggest military aerospace developments to come out of Russia this decade. The aircraft initially appeared in a flyable form back in January, with its first flight occurring in early August. One of the biggest questions surrounding the large flying-wing drone is just how stealthy will it actually become. As it sits now, it has major design issues that preclude it from offering all-aspect low-observability. You can read our full analysis on this topic here. But pictures The War Zone has obtained from the Sukhoi pavilion at Russia's biennial MAKS air show and weapons expo on the outskirts of Moscow show us what the company envisions the Hunter to finally look like once it fully matures.

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WNU Editor: The Russian military is trying to catch up.

Russian Defense Ministry Posts Video Of Its Latest Drone

Sputnik: Russian Defence Ministry Posts Video of 6-Tonne Altius-U Drone's Maiden Flight (Video)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Defence Ministry has posted a video of the maiden flight of a 6-tonne Altius-U drone, capable of being in the air for more than 24 hours.

A 1 minute and 3 second video was posted on the ministry's YouTube channel. The video shows the drone's flight and manoeuvres in the sky, as well as landing.

Altius-U is the final form of this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), created as a result of the development and testing of a number of prototypes. The flight took place for 32 minutes at an altitude of up to 800 metres in fully automatic mode at one of the test aerodromes. All systems of the complex worked properly, the Ministry of Defence noted.

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Russia's Okhotnik Combat Drone Perform Its First Joint Flight With A Fighter (Video)

Daily Mail: Putin's 'undetectable' Hunter stealth drone takes to the skies with a manned fighter jet wingman for the first time

 * The new Okhotsk drone, meaning Hunter, only made its maiden flight this month
 * It will be capable of flying from Moscow to London and back on a single mission
 * Drone can be deployed as a spy in the sky but is also capable of firing missiles
 * Russia boasts the lethal new stealth drone will be almost invisible to enemy radar

Vladimir Putin's lethal new stealth combat drone has taken to the skies in tandem with a Russian fighter jet for the first time.

The Sukhoi-made Okhotsk - meaning Hunter - only made its maiden flight this month and Russia boasts it is 'almost undetectable'.

The unmanned flying vehicle can be controlled on missions by pilots in an accompanying warplane, or from the ground.

The drone will be capable of flying from Moscow to London and back on a single mission.

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WNU Editor: From RT .... While the drone’s properties are still classified, it is believed that it will have a takeoff weight of some 20-25 tons and operate at a supersonic speed of 1,400 km/h (870mph). It is also likely to carry surveillance gear as well as weapons in its internal bays.

Watch New Russian Stealth Assault Drone’s First Flight

Daily Mail: Russia reveals its new 'Hunter' stealth combat drone capable of flying from Moscow to London and back... that looks suspiciously like a US Lockheed craft unveiled 12 years ago

* A Kremlin propaganda video shows the Sukhoi-made drone on its maiden flight
* Moscow claims it is 'almost undetectable' and has a range more than 3,000 miles
* It looks similar to a Lockheed Martin-designed U.S. drone introduced in 2007

Russia's defence chiefs have unveiled a new stealth combat drone which they say is capable of flying from Moscow to London and back in a single mission.

A Kremlin propaganda video shows the Sukhoi-made Okhotnik, meaning Hunter, on its maiden 20-minute flight.

A special coating makes the unmanned flying vehicle 'almost undetectable', the Russian military claims.

The new gadget looks similar to a U.S. Air Force drone manufactured by Lockheed Martin which was introduced as long ago as 2007.

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More News On Russian Stealth Assault Drone’s First Flight

WATCH Russia’s secretive ‘Okhotnik’ stealth drone during maiden flight -- RT
Watch New Russian Stealth Assault Drone’s First Flight -- Sputnik
Russian drone Okhotnik makes maiden flight -- DW
Video: Russia’s New Su-70 Okhotnik-B or “Hunter-B” Drone Makes First Flight. -- The Aviationist
Russia’s latest stealth attack drone to perform several test flights in 2019 -- TASS

Russia's Kalashnikov Unveils A New And Deadly Kamikaze Drone

Daily Mail: Kalashnikov's kamikaze drone: Russia unveils unmanned weapon capable of carrying a 6.6lb bomb at up to 80mph and 'bypassing air defence systems'

* The KYB (Cube) drone showcased for first time at IBEX arms exhibition in Dubai
* Drone from Kalashnikov can 'bypass air defence and deliver 6.6lbs of explosives'
* Clip shows unmanned military flying machine exploding as it reaches its target

Russia has unveiled its new and deadly kamikaze drone after it 'successfully completed' trials.

The latest precision weapon from arms giant Kalashnikov 'delivers explosives to any terrain, bypassing systems of air defence', officials claim.

The KYB (Cube) drone - with a maximum flying time of just 30 minutes - was showcased for the first time at the international IBEX arms exhibition in Dubai.

A video shows the unmanned military flying machine exploding as it reaches its target.

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More News On Kalashnikov's New Kamikaze Drone

WATCH Kalashnikov's Kamikaze Drone Slam Into Enemy Targets -- Sputnik
Russia’s Kalashnikov unveils kamikaze drone -- Defense News
Kalashnikov Is Getting into the Business of Self-Destructing Drones -- Popular Mechanics
The company behind the AK-47 just unveiled a new kamikaze drone -- Task & Purpose/National Interest

Russia Adopts U.S. Rules In Regulating Drones

Russian drone shot down over Turkey. (Photo: Twitter Photo Section)

Popular Science: Russia's New Drone Rules Look A Lot Like America's

Imitation is the sincerest form of global leadership

Cheap drones are a worldwide phenomenon, and governments across the globe are struggling to adapt to the small unmanned flying machines. In the United States, the FAA recently required that every drone over half a pound be registered by February 19th. Last week, Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a bill regulating drones, too. With almost the same regulations as America.

The law is an amendment to Russia’s Air Code. Here’s how Sputnik, a Russian state-owned news organization, describes it:

The law introduces norms on certification and registration of drones and specifies requirements on the security of their flights. All the drones with maximum take-off weight of 0.55 pounds should be registered. According to the explanatory note to the law, the bill aims to provide legal basis for usage of UAVs to meet the requirements of different economic sectors and to solve different tasks in the sphere of security and defense.

WNU Editor: These new rules and regulations are for Russian civilians and their drones. As to Russian rules of engagement for its military drones .... that is still unknown. The problem is that the Russian military is still years behind the U.S. when it comes to drones .... and it will be awhile before Russia uses drones in the same manner as the U.S. and its allies.

Russia Is Developing Its First Long-Range Drone Aircraft Capable Of Attack Missions

Russian military prepare a pilotless reconnaissance drone for launch from a pad at a position in Khasavyurt region in Dagestan near the Chechen.(Reuters)

Russia to Deploy Long-Range Attack Drone by 2016 -- Washington Free Beacon

Altius-M is Moscow’s first missile-firing UAV

Russia is developing its first long-range drone aircraft capable of conducting ground attack missions, but lags behind other militaries in building unmanned aerial combat vehicles, according to U.S. officials.

The new drone is being developed in secret and was first revealed in online images earlier this year.

U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reports said the drone is being called the Altius-M and work is being done at the Sokol Design Bureau in Tatarstan, a Russian republic.

Recent analysis of images of the propeller-driven aircraft indicates the drone will be a medium or high-altitude strike aircraft, based on its long wingspan and V-shaped tail, the officials said.

The aircraft appears similar to the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper missile-firing UAV.

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My Comment: This is a first for me .... tried to find a photo or image of the Russian drone Altius-M .... and found nothing.