Ukraine to get New Artillery Adjusting Drone Even as Russia Claims Success with its Orlan-E UAV

Ukraine will receive a new artillery fire adjusting and reconnaissance drone, the locally-made Leleka-10, which is expected to guide the fire of its artillery and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) such as the American-made HIMARS.

The Leleka-10 procurement comes as Russia has claimed success with its Orlan-E UAV in guiding artillery fire of its Smerch MLRS which has a range of 70-100 kms.

A batch of 25 Leleka-100 drones worth UAH 36 million ($1.215 million) will be handed over to the Ukraine Army soon, Come Back Alive Foundation posted on its official Facebook page July 6.

“We purchased 25 Leleka UAVs for the Armed Forces, each costing UAH 1,440,000 (about $48,590) and consisting of two aircraft and a ground control station. The Foundation already handed over the first systems to the military, and by the end of summer, we expect a total of 50 aircraft and 25 ground stations to (be delivered to) them,” the Foundation said.

The contract covers crew training package, spare parts, tools, accessories, consumables, service, and maintenance.

Leleka-100 can reportedly reach a speed of up to 140 kmph and adjust the fire of the Ukrainian artillery on enemy targets at a range of up to 50km. It can also perform air reconnaissance, patrolling and mapping of the area, and also has the ability to transmit operational information and obtain accurate geographical coordinates in real-time. The system is adapted to work in a complex radio broadcasting environment, in the intentional interference mode, or under the satellite navigation systems blocking.

The same day that the Foundation announced its drone procurement, the Russian defense ministry published footage of the Smerch MLRS destroying Ukrainian targets using Orlan-10 on its official Zvezda media outlet.

“The crews of the Smerch MLRS inflicted a fire defeat on the enemy. The peculiarity of this MLRS lies in the range of its firing. According to this indicator, it is several times superior to Grada and Hurricanes. After the receipt of the combat mission, the crews moved to combat positions in a matter of minutes, deployed, aimed and hit the enemy positions. Combat work is carried out continuously, both at night and in the daytime,” said Svyatoslav, head of the calculation of the Smerch MLRS.

Adjustment of fire and control of the destruction of enemy targets was provided by the crews of Orlan-10 UAVs, the report said.