Ukrainian forces intercept and seize a nearly intact Russian Orłan-30 drone for analysis

The Ukrainian forces likely intercepted the Russian unmanned aircraft using electronic warfare systems. It's reported that the Orłan-30 landed in the so-called gray zone, an area between the Russian and Ukrainian forces.-

Subsequently, the Ukrainians moved the drone closer to their positions using a ground robot - a piece of machinery recently identified and discussed by the German journalist Julian Röpcke, who pointed out the progressively prominent use of ground drones in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian forces' robot proved useful in towing the Russian Orłan-30 drone to a safe location occupied by the defenders. The successful interception and retrieval of the almost intact drone is a valuable gain for the Ukrainians. This capture allows the soldiers to closely examine the enemy's technologies, which in turn prepares them better for potential attacks, and enables them to devise effective countermeasures against such threats.

The intercepted Orłan-30 drone features prominently in Russian reconnaissance and artillery fire control. An evolution of the Orłan-10 model, it houses several enhancements which increase its range and payload capacity.

Capable of carrying small, multi-kilogram loads over a range of up to 186 miles, the Orłan-30 is mainly used for artillery fire control. It employs a laser target indicator that works in conjunction with systems such as 2B11 Sani, 2S9 Nona, 2S3 Akacja or 2S4 Tulipan. The laser beam enables high-precision shelling of enemy positions, with target coordinates determined using GLONASS and GPS satellite navigation.

The Orłan-30 drone has a power of 1 HP and sizeable dimensions, with almost 13 feet of wingspan and a takeoff weight reaching 66 pounds. The unmanned Russian vehicle can achieve a maximum speed of 105 mph and a cruising speed of 93 mph. It operates at altitudes of up to 2.8 miles and has a maximum flight time of 18 hours.