Ukrainian Paratroopers Down Russian Orion UAV Over Kursk Oblast

20 October, 2024 Russian Orion drone shot down in the sky of Kursk oblast.

20.10.2024. Russia. Footage from the video of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces

Ukrainian paratroopers managed to shoot down a Russian Orion drone in the Kursk oblast. Drone was shot down by a unit of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade, according to Ukrainian Air Assault Forces. Galician paratroopers shoot down a Russian Orion reconnaissance and strike a UAV in the sky over Kursk oblast.

Russia's newest reconnaissance and strike UAV, Orion, was landed by a crew of the Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system. "An unmanned aerial vehicle of this type is dangerous because it can not only conduct aerial reconnaissance, but also, armed with four air-to-ground missiles, is capable of striking ground targets," the paratroopers said.

The maximum takeoff weight of the Orion is about 1 ton, the maximum flight duration is 30 hours, and the altitude is about 8,000 meters. The unmanned vehicle can carry a payload of up to 200 kilograms. The declared arsenal of the drone includes Kh-50 guided small-gun aircraft missiles, KAB-20 guided bombs and anti-tank missile systems.

Orion UAV with a complex of radar aerial reconnaissance.

Photo: Kronstadt

According to the published footage, the downed Orion was armed with Kh-BPLA missiles (TKB-1030). The warhead of the Kh-BPLA is an aviation version of the Kornet anti-tank missile system, which allows the drone to hit even heavy armored vehicles.

The Russian Orion drone with the Kh-BPLA anti-tank missile system (TKB-1030) was shot down in the sky over Kursk oblast.

20.10.2024. Russia.

Footage from the video of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces

Russia also claimed that such "Russian drones have fighter capabilities and can destroy enemy drones."

As a reminder, back in 2022, Ukrainian air defense managed to shoot down this Russian Orion UAV.