The UAV can fly at an altitude of more than 7 km and stay in the air for almost a day. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has not confirmed the information about the strike at the moment.
A video allegedly from the Russian Ministry of Defense appeared on the Web, which shows preparations for the flight of the combat UAV “Orion” (“Pacer”). Pro-Russian propagandist Yury Podolyaka announced this on his website.
What they say in Ukraine
“A strike is announced on the command and observation post of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the post says.
However, no information on this subject was received from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
What is known about the drone “Orion” (“Pacer”)
This Russian drone was developed by the Kronstadt company. According to the developers, it can fly at an altitude of more than 7 km and stay in the air for almost a day. Pacer/Orion can carry up to four air-to-ground missiles or 20 kg or 50 kg air bombs.
Initially, the UAV was created for civilian missions, but it was converted to attack Ukraine
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Photo: Social networks
Initially, the drone was equipped with an Austrian-made engine, but after the Russian attack on Ukraine, it had to be replaced with a locally produced unit. For the first time, Russia used the Pacer in the war in Syria, but the drone was also noted in the Donbass.
In addition to the combat “stuffing”, the drone can carry various reconnaissance and radar systems on its board, i.e. be used as a reconnaissance drone.
It is worth noting that the drone was designed even before the seizure of the Crimea and Donbass by Russia, and its main function was civilian missions in the Arctic or assistance in extinguishing forest fires. However, the manufacturer, having made changes by order of the RF Ministry of Defense, made a military drone out of a civilian one.
At the moment, none of the military experts and analysts can say with accuracy how many Pacer/Orion drones are in the service of the occupying army. But, given the fact that videos with him appear once a year, this indicates a small number of UAVs of this model produced.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation allegedly published a video with the preparation of the drone “Pacer / Orion”
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Earlier, Focus wrote that the Russian special forces are using a “smart” system with kamikaze drones against the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
