Russian Drones are a Jerry-Rigged Mess

One of the revelations from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is that some of its military hardware seems to be less than cutting edge. The latest example of Russia operating with jerry-rigged equipment comes from a video released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. In the video a Ukrainian soldier examines a Russian Orlan-10 UAV that had crashed. The soldier patiently discusses what each part is and his thoughts about them. Though the drones are reported to cost between $87,000 and $120,000 per unit, the innards look like they cost about $500 total. Maybe $1,000 if you include the usual level of invoice padding involved with military contracts.

In the video flagged by Petapixel, the most surprising reveal is the drone’s optical mechanism. Instead of it being some kind of military-grade, top secret, high-resolution optical device it’s a midrange Canon DSLR. Even stranger; it’s secured to a board with velcro. The camera is a Canon Eos T6i, which is a 24MP midrange model released in 2015. It’s a bit old by today’s standards, and you can buy one used online with an 18-55mm kit lens for around $500. In the video we see the knob that’s used to change the shooting mode is glued in-place, and it’s curiously set to shutter priority (Tv). The camera also seems to be using a 50mm prime lens instead of a far-reaching zoom, but that’s just our guess from eyeballing it. It looks to us like a 50mm f/1.8, which costs $125 on Amazon. For something made for surveillance from a distance this is not an ideal setup.

As the soldier continues his examination, the next thing he points out is what appears to be the fuel tank. Since both the cap and the part it screws onto are plastic, he theorizes that it’s probably a plastic water bottle. The cap is secured to the chassis with a wire, completing the “made in a garage” aesthetic. The soldier also notes the use of duct tape adjacent to the fuel tank.

Remember this low-tech drone is supposed to cost in the ballpark of $100K USD. A Ukrainian news agency reported previously on the capture of one in 2017, and wrote about their capabilities. The description provided previously does not match the “hobbyist” look this drone has. They are typically flown in packs of three. One provides surveillance, one does “electronic warfare,” and the third sends info back to HQ. The surveillance drone in the group reportedly flies at the lowest altitude. It flies at a height of one kilometer (3,280 feet) with the other drones above it, which just makes this drone’s antiquated parts all the more bizarre.

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