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Reçu aujourd’hui — 15 septembre 2025
✇Euromaidan Press

Ukraine downs Russia’s rare cruise missile-capable heavy drone Orion in Kursk Oblast using interceptor UAV (video)

Par :Yuri Zoria
15 septembre 2025 à 05:10

Thermal camera view from a Ukrainian interceptor drone moments before it strikes Russia’s Orion heavy drone near Totikino in Kursk Oblast. Source: 414th Separate Drone Systems Brigade of Ukraine.

Ukraine confirmed on 14 September that its drone forces shot down a rare heavy Russian Orion UAV near the border in Kursk Oblast. The Orion is a cruise missile-capable heavy combat drone, rarely used by Moscow due to its limited availability and vulnerability to Ukrainian air defense, Militarnyi reports.

Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, Russia has steadily intensified its aerial attacks against Ukraine. With conventional air defense systems gradually depleting, Ukraine has been forced to innovate—developing interceptor drones to counter the threat. These drone-versus-drone tactics rely on deploying multiple UAVs to target both low-flying, small drones and larger, faster drones operating at higher altitudes.

Ukrainian drone units intercept rare Orion UAV

According to the Commander of Ukraine’s Drone Systems Forces, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, the 414th Separate Drone Systems Brigade successfully destroyed the Russian Orion drone using an interceptor UAV. This marked the first time the brigade brought down an Orion model, despite having previously intercepted nearly 1,500 enemy drones. These included various types such as Orlan, ZALA, SuperCam, Shahed, and Lancet, with larger targets like Merlin and Forpost among the most significant until now.

OSINT experts geolocated the interception site to the area around Tyotkino, in Kursk Oblast, Russia, just next to the Ukrainian border. The coordinates were confirmed as 51.2862, 34.3813. This location lies just across the border from Ukrainian territory.

A coordinated strike by multiple Ukrainian units

Before the final blow, the Orion UAV had already sustained damage from interceptor drones operated by Ukraine’s 95th Air Assault Brigade. The final strike was delivered by the Ptakhy Madyara team of the 414th brigade. 

The Russian military has rarely deployed Orion drones in combat due to both their limited numbers and high susceptibility to Ukraine’s layered air defense network, Militarnyi noted. 

Background on the Orion drone program

The Orion UAV was developed by the Kronstadt Group beginning in 2011. The first prototype was completed in 2015, with operational testing drones handed over in April 2020. Serial production began in August 2020.

The Orion drone has a wingspan of around 16 meters, a length of about 8 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of roughly 1.2 tons, and a payload capacity of up to 200 kg. It can reach altitudes up to 7 km and fly continuously for up to 24 hours, with a range of 1,000–1,500 km.
Russia's Orion heavy drone. Photo via Telegram/Madyar.
Russia’s Orion heavy drone. Photo via Telegram/Madyar.

According to Militarnyi, Orion can be armed with guided munitions including Kh-50 missiles, KAB-20 bombs, and other types such as UPAB-50, KAB-50, FAB-50, and the Kh-BPLA missile. It is also capable of launching the compact S8000 Banderol cruise missile.

Only nine confirmed losses of Orion drones have occurred since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, according to Oryx blog.
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