Replica of Russian MQ-9 Reaper drone gets express delivery that could pose ‘Sirius’ problem for Ukraine » Today Latest Stories
After losing three Su-34s in a Ukrainian “air defense ambush”, possibly with a US-origin PAC-3 Patriot operated by Ukraine, the Russian defense industry has hinted that it has completed all deliveries of an unknown air weapons system that also poses a threat. Dangerous. A real threat to Ukrainian land sites.
Russia will retire the world’s largest nuclear-powered battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy; Sister ship for Arctic service
While media reports from Russia quoting developer representatives have not identified the system, the Russian Air Force’s (RuAF’s) past operational history, press coverage around its ongoing programs, and the framing of the report itself strongly suggest it is a Sirius drone. Combat air vehicle (UCAV).
It has long been reported that Russia has a shortage of medium-high-altitude endurance (MALE/HALE) drones such as the US MQ-9 Predator. Such platforms offer enormous quasi-strategic advantages by combining long flight times with air-to-ground strikes using guided missiles and bombs.
Russia introduced some Sirius units earlier this year, but the larger fleet allows a larger area of the 600-kilometre front line in eastern and southern Ukraine to be covered.
Russia recently Lost Three Su-34s were used to launch FAB-500 and other unguided dropped bombs with Universal Unit Planning and Correction (UMPC) units converting them into smart glide bombs.
the Ordnance Cause a And it’s bad Influencing Ukrainian positions for nearly three months. This was particularly complicated by the fact that they were invulnerable to any known Soviet or Western air defense system with Ukraine, since there were no missile exhaust or electromagnetic emissions that surface-to-air missiles could attach to.
Sirius drone
Reconnaissance and strike drone Sirius It is a further development of the Orion UAV and is powered by two turbofan engines, in contrast to the Reaper’s single power plant, with a claimed flight time of around 20 hours.
The maximum altitude is 7,000 meters (23,000 ft), with a cruising speed of 180 km/h and a range of up to 3,000 km. Various sources also claimed that this drone will be equipped with its own satellite communications system.
Drone developer delivers unidentified drones ‘ahead of schedule’
a TASS The report cited a statement issued by the St. Petersburg-based Kronstadt Joint Stock Company (JSC), which developed the Sirius UCAV, also known as Inokhodets-RU. The airline merely claimed that it had fulfilled its requests with the Russian army, without revealing the nature of the “deliveries.”
JSC Kronstadt “announced” that it had “completed deliveries under the State Defense Order ahead of schedule.” The report added, “The organization refused to clarify information about the products supplied.” “Thanks to coordinated work, Kronstadt enterprises, including the Dubna Machine-Building Plant, completed deliveries within the framework of the State Defense Order ahead of schedule,” the company said.
Dubna is likely to be involved in the manufacture of components, advanced assemblies, subassemblies and precision parts of the system – presumably Sirius UCAV. It is not clear whether it is a Kronstadt vendor or an assembly and integration plant that assembles the final product.
The report then concludes by outlining the nature of the projects at Kronstadt and naming Sirius in this context, but not with reference to the latter system it claims to have fulfilled. “JSC Kronstadt is a full-cycle production enterprise for creating unmanned aerial systems. The company is the developer and manufacturer of the Orion attack drone, also known as Pacer.
The fact that the unspecified weapons platform is the Sirius UCAV can also be confirmed by taking a closer look at the Dubna. It is noteworthy that Dubna was placed under international sanctions, among dozens of Russian bodies and officials, after following the war. the site Open penalties JSC lists Dubna (or Dubnensky) as a sanctioned entity that “fully contributes to the Russian military-industrial complex.”
“The company is developing Orion reconnaissance and attack drones, as well as naval drones for the Russian Armed Forces. UAVs manufactured by Dubnensky Machine-Building Plant JSC are equipped with guided missiles. The website said that between February and April 2022, there were six confirmed deaths in Ukraine with Russian Orion drones manufactured by Dubnensky Machine-Building Plant JSC.
Company’s own websitewhich identifies itself as the Pelcom Dubna Machinery Building Plant, says it specializes in… “Mechanics, electrical engineering, hydraulics, pneumatic automation, electricity, electronics, software and laser technology development. These systems constitute drones and aircraft.
Sirius drones will always be in the sky
Former Eurasia Times newspaper condition Describe how MALE/HALE-class UAVs significantly enhance Russian ground operations by giving early warning of any Ukrainian field maneuvers while collecting targeting data for both air strike platforms and ground formations.
According to Russian doctrine, Sirius forms a “reconnaissance and fire network circle” with Su-34 and Su-25 attack aircraft, Ka-52 and Mi-28 heavy attack helicopters, artillery batteries and ground units by remaining safely behind the front lines. .
As more of these drones become active, Ukraine will find it more difficult to launch surprise ground raids using infantry or artillery on Russian positions along the entire front line, not just certain areas where Sirius drones are not operating.
Kyiv succeeded restricted Russia’s ability to use UMPC-enabled fighter-bombers such as Su-34s. But the victory also coincided with Russia’s failed efforts to compensate for its weakness in the drone field and boost its drone sector, which is beginning to bear fruit.
