Orlan-10 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The Orlan-10 is a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system developed by the Russian Federation, designed primarily for reconnaissance and surveillance missions. The system is capable of carrying a range of mission payloads including electro-optical sensors, electronic and signals intelligence equipment, laser imaging, and electronic warfare systems.^【1】

Its manufacturer is the Special Technology Center (STC), based in Saint Petersburg. Developed for the Russian Armed Forces, the Orlan-10 was designed as a reconnaissance platform with its primary use associated with surveillance and reconnaissance functions.^【2】

The first flight of the Orlan-10 took place on 1 January 2011. The system entered service in 2011. There are various records and claims linking the Orlan-10’s operational use to conflicts in Ukraine beginning in 2014. Its operational deployment became evident alongside the conflicts in Ukraine from 2014 onward. Within the Donbas region, the Orlan-10 was employed for field surveillance, target identification, and artillery fire direction. Open-source reports from this period document multiple instances of Ukrainian forces downing Orlan-10 drones.

By 2015, the Orlan-10 was actively used by the Russian Ground Forces in the Syrian civil war. In this theater, the platform performed reconnaissance, aerial imaging, terrain analysis, and three-dimensional mapping missions. By 2018, more than 1,000 units of the Orlan-10 platform had been produced. It is stated that by 2018, the Orlan-10 family included 11 different variants.^【3】

In August 2022, additional orders were placed for the Orlan-10 and Orlan-30. The Orlan-30, a larger variant of the Orlan-10, was introduced in 2020. It was noted that after testing in 2019, the Orlan-30 was offered with a laser designator option. The export version of the Orlan-30 was first displayed in August 2023.

^{Orlan-10 UAV - Anadolu Ajansı}

The key technical specifications of the Orlan-10 are as follows. ^【4】

The Orlan-10 is a small, fixed-wing UAV with a conventional external design. The fuselage forms the main structural element running the length of the aircraft. The engine is mounted in the nose section and drives a two-bladed propeller to generate thrust. The wings are shoulder-mounted on the fuselage. The Orlan-10’s composite fuselage is designed to reduce radar signature.

Its maximum speed is approximately 150 km/h. The service ceiling is given as 16,400 ft (16,404 ft) and endurance is 16 hours. The platform’s mission payloads include a range of systems such as electro-optical sensors, electronic intelligence (ELINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), laser imaging, and electronic warfare (EW) equipment. These technical characteristics are evaluated alongside a profile designed to minimize detection and avoid engagement.

The tail unit consists of a single vertical stabilizer and two horizontal stabilizers. This configuration reflects a typical fixed-wing UAV layout for flight stability and control surface functionality. The Orlan-10 is launched using a rail catapult system and recovered via parachute. This method eliminates the need for a more complex and heavier landing gear system. The system is transported in a rugged carrying case and assembled at the launch site prior to flight.

^{Orlan-10 After Launch (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

The Orlan-10 has a wingspan of 3.1 metres. Two different length values are cited: 2.0 metres and 1.8 metres. The empty weight is 9 kilograms. The maximum takeoff weight is 16 kg, with a usable payload capacity of 6 kg. The maximum payload weight is also specified as 5.5 kg.^【5】

The Orlan-10 is powered by a single-cylinder, four-stroke, glow-fuel piston engine manufactured by Saito Manufacturing, model FA-62B. This engine produces an output of 0.71 kW (0.95 hp). Another propulsion option cited for the Orlan-10 is the A-95 series gasoline engine. The Orlan-10’s powerplant configuration consists of a nose-mounted power unit driving a propeller to generate thrust.

The Orlan-10 is a UAV operated via a ground control station (GCS). The mobile GCS used for the Orlan-10 has command and control capabilities to manage up to four UAVs simultaneously. The Orlan-10’s communication architecture is based on three separate radio signals, forming a system that transmits operator commands, video feeds, and navigation functions.

The Orlan-10 is a UAV equipped with electro-optical sensors among its mission payloads. It is a platform capable of carrying electronic intelligence (ELINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) payloads. The system can also perform missions using laser imaging and electronic warfare (EW) equipment.

The Orlan-10 operates using GLONASS. Its GPS infrastructure is described as a system with potential compatibility with Galileo and BeiDou.

For imaging, it is reported that the Orlan-10 uses a civilian Canon EOS 750D/EOS 800D digital SLR camera sourced from Western countries. The optical component paired with this camera is specified as the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens. For thermal imaging, the TM2005016-F19 Lynred PICO640gen2 infrared camera is used.^【6】

^{Orlan-10 Recovered in Gümüşhane, 2022 (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

The Orlan-10 is an unmanned aerial vehicle with Russia among its operators. The platform is also reported to be operated by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar. The Orlan-10 is listed as a system used by Myanmar and Russia for evaluation and operational purposes with their clients.