Russia successfully tested a new variant of its Orion unmanned aerial vehicle UAV in a 'drone-killer' role to shoot down a target drone during trials in Crimea.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the test proved that the predator-like Orion drone is capable of engaging other drones in combat.
A new air-launched version of the 9 M 113 Kornet anti-tank guided missile ATGM is seen firing on the state-owned TV channel, according to a video released recently by the Russian Ministry of Defence.
The two drones began about 60 miles apart, and the target was engaged at a distance of around 2.5 miles, the report said.
The Orion UAV has a turret that mounts electro-optical and infrared cameras. There is a laser target designator to deliver guided weapons against targets on the ground. The footage shows that a pilot in the ground control station uses these sensors onboard the drone to initially acquire the target and then command a missile launch. The Drive quotes Maj. Gen. Alexander Novikov, the head of the Russian General Staff's Office for UAV Development, who claims that the Orion can shoot down the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB 2 and other UAVs.
While the Bayraktar TB 2 has been praised as a game-changer in recent conflicts in Syria, Libya, and Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ukraine has also been operating it in combat.
For the same reason, many think it is suggestive that the latest missile test took place in Crimea, an area that Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014. Recently, the region has seen military actions, from amphibious landing drills to anti-ship missile exercises.
Russian officials pointed out that Orion's ability to shoot down TB 2 drones seems to be intended as a clear signal to Ukraine. It aims to lure in potential export customers of the Orion.
According to the report, unnamed sources claim that the missile has completed dozens of successful tests from the prototype Ka-52 M attack helicopter. It has a maximum range of 6.2 miles and can destroy both low-flying, low-speed aerial targets and armored vehicles.
An earlier report suggested that a version of the Vikhr-M missile would be tested on the Orion drone, but it is not clear if those plans have been superseded or if both missiles will be used in the UAV.