Name: Russia Enters Military Drone Export Market With Sale To Myanmar
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Russia Enters Military Drone Export Market With Sale To Myanmar

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BETAThis is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by&nbsp;Jan 25, 2021,Russian news media are reporting a to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The transaction with a military widely condemned represents Russia’s first step into the unmanned aircraft market.“Before, it was all hints that ‘foreign customers are interested,’”, an expert on the Russian defense scene, and adviser to both the and told Forbes. “Now we are seeing Russia sell its combat-proven workhorse.”The has been in service since 2010; it is hardly cutting-edge technology but has performed well in action. The drone has a wingspan of 10 feet and a maximum takeoff weight of about 35 pounds, including a 10-pound payload. It can cruise for up to 18 hours at 70 mph, and can be controlled from about 90 miles away. The modular payload bay can take various sensor options including assorted daylight and thermal imaging cameras and 3D mapping gear, as well as laser designators. Russian military sources say , though there are no reports such attacks yet.Instead, the Orlan-10 has been widely used in Syria, Armenia, Ukraine and elsewhere in the reconnaissance role. In particular, it is one of the drones used for artillery spotting: its long range means it can locate and pinpoint targets for weapons like the , which can rain down 12 1,800-pound rockets from 80 miles away. Often the only warning opponents had was a drone sighting before highly-accurate fire hit their positions.“Moscow is officially entering a very competitive and crowded drone export space,” says Bendett. “Once Burma finally acquires these drones, we may expect other countries to follow.”Myanmar already operates various drones, including Chinese CH-4 Rainbows which allegedly been used to The new purchase will strengthen their forces. It has been suggested that other operators have been unhappy with Chinese-made drones – Jordan attempted rather than using them — and perhaps Myanmar is interested in alternatives.MORE FOR YOUThis brings Russia into a highly contested market. U.S. leadership has been challenged not only by China but also by Israel and Turkey, whose Bayraktar TB-2 drones last year. A U.S. move last year to means Reaper drones can be sold abroad – paving the way for , and now .Russia fields a variety of small and medium drone systems besides the Orlan, and is working apace to field larger drones for long-range strikes, aiming to get the first of them .&nbsp;But, as Bendett points out, it makes sense to start with a battle-proven system to help build a reputation as a supplier of robust, reliable unmanned aircraft. There is also another reason for staring with the Orlan-10.“An Orlan complex — three drones, a truck and a ground-control station – is relatively cheap,” says Bendett.It is questionable just how advanced the Russian drone industry is at this time. One study reported that the , suggesting that Russia, unlike China, simply does not have the electronics infrastructure to compete.&nbsp;However, the fundamental design of the Orlan seems sound — sound enough to be copied by Syrian rebels. What appear to be garage-built copies of the Orlan-10, reverse-engineered from crashed drones, &nbsp;the Russian air base at Khmeimim in Syria since 2018. Exporting them increases the chance of this type of blowback.Even in Myanmar, anti-government Wa forces&nbsp;; it is not known whether these are imported or locally assembled. This could lead to an increasing number of conflicts where drones are used on both sides.Russia has been highly successful in exporting relatively low-tech, low-cost equipment in the past. Analysts will be watching keenly for signs that they can repeat the achievement in the highly competitive high-tech world of military drones..&nbsp;my&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;some of my other work&nbsp;.&nbsp;

BETAThis is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by&nbsp;Jan 25, 2021,Russian news media are reporting a to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The transaction with a military widely condemned represents Russia’s first step into the unmanned aircraft market.“Before, it was all hints that ‘foreign customers are interested,’”, an expert on the Russian defense scene, and adviser to both the and told Forbes. “Now we are seeing Russia sell its combat-proven workhorse.”The has been in service since 2010; it is hardly cutting-edge technology but has performed well in action. The drone has a wingspan...

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Author of 'Swarm Troopers: How small drones will conquer the world,' following cutting-edge military technology in general and unmanned systems in particular. New science fiction collection 'Time Loopers: Four Tales From a Time War' out now in paperback and Kindle.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/#b840f416c11e

David Hambling

Official account of Forbes, the world’s leading voice for entrepreneurial success and free enterprise, and home to breaking news, business, money and more.

Russia Enters Military Drone Export Market With Sale To Myanmar

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