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UAV / drone

Russia

ZALA Aero Group

Orlan-10

A small catapult-launched reconnaissance and artillery-spotting drone that has become the most widely used unmanned aircraft in the Russian Armed Forces, valued for its low cost, modular payloads and difficult-to-intercept radar signature.

In service since 2010 · 1 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

150

km/h

140

km range

5,000

m ceiling

Several performance figures for Russia-origin systems are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification. Treat these specs as directional, not tested values.

Pricing: Estimated system unit cost, disputed public figures

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Russian state channel

Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.

Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)

Fielded & proven

Limited · 1 operator

In service since 2010. Status: active · ~2,000 built.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from.

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.: 150 km/h

Stronger than 22% of UAVs
Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station.: 110 km/h

Stronger than 25% of UAVs
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.: 140 km

Stronger than 28% of UAVs
Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.: 5,000 m

Stronger than 28% of UAVs
Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage.: 16 h

Stronger than 51% of UAVs

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span.: 3.1 m
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.: 16 kg
Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.: 0

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…: Piston engine, pusher propeller

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.: Electro-optical/infrared gimbal, photogrammetry camera

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 2,000

Stronger than 84% of UAVs
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 1

Stronger than 16% of UAVs

Specifications compiled from public ZALA Aero Group and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the top speed of the ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10? +

The ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10 has a maximum speed of 150 km/h.

What is the range of the ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10? +

The ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10 has a maximum range of 140 km.

How much does the ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10 weigh? +

The ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10 has a combat weight of 16 kg.

How many crew does the ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10 require? +

The ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10 requires a crew of 0.

What is the ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10 used for? +

The ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10 is a uav / drone typically used for isr.

How many countries operate the ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10? +

The ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10 is operated by 1 countries.

How much does the ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10 cost? +

ZALA Aero Group Orlan-10: Estimated system unit cost, disputed public figures. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.