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russia Unveils "New Drone Technology," but It's Really Just Another UAV Mothership

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Bee UAV mothership / Illustrative photo
Bee UAV mothership / Illustrative photo

What russian media present as a "new technology" is, in fact, a concept already widely used on the battlefield. Still, it's worth noting that the enemy continues to work on expanding its drone capabilities

russian propaganda outlets report that the Moscow-based company Kingpro, which specializes in unmanned aerial systems, has unveiled an "air-launch system of aircraft type."

The new system, dubbed Siekira Prizrak (Ghost Axe), consists of two drones — the multirotor Siekira and the Prizrak (Ghost) fixed-wing UAV.

Read more: ​New Drone Mothership Presented in russia Instead of Faulty Pchelka UAV Carrier

"The multirotor drone lifts the fixed-wing UAV into the air, from where it launches mid-flight. This new approach not only saves up to 20% of the battery charge normally spent during takeoff but also makes the launch process safer. After releasing the aircraft, the flying droneport can additionally function as a relay station," the russian developers claim.

russian Orlan drone used as an FPV carrier seconds before being hit by a Ukrainian anti-aircraft drone
Illustrative photo: russian Orlan drone used as an FPV carrier seconds before being hit by a Ukrainian anti-aircraft drone / Photo credit: Come Back Alive

According to available specifications, the Prizrak drone can cover distances of up to 120 kilometers and carry a payload (warhead) of up to 3 kilograms.

However, the real "novelty" of this system is questionable — it appears the manufacturer is simply trying to promote its product amid other similar projects.

In essence, this is just another "drone mothership" used to carry and deploy smaller UAVs — a concept already familiar to both russian and Ukrainian forces. For instance, the russians have previously adapted their Orlan-30 reconnaissance drone for the same role.

Ukraine, for its part, also employs comparable solutions — both domestically developed systems such as the Hornet Queen and foreign platforms like Quantum Systems' Sparta, capable of delivering drones to ranges of up to 200 kilometers.

Hornet Queen heavylift FPV drone
Hornet Queen heavylift FPV drone / Screenshot credit: Wild Hornets

Still, it's worth noting that the enemy continues to search for new ways to expand and diversify its delivery platforms — enabling UAV operations tens or even hundreds of kilometers behind the front line.

Read more: Quantum Systems Transforms Reliant Unmanned Aerial System into Advanced Mothership for the U.S.