russian High-Precision Systems holding company, a subsidiary of Rostec Corporation, has announced the early delivery of a new batch of weapons to russian occupation forces under the 2024 defense procurement plan. The shipment included the Verba man-portable air defense systems and Planshet fire control automation systems.
Additionally, the company confirmed the delivery of a batch of the Kh-BPLA missiles for unmanned aerial vehicles, produced by Instrument Design Bureau, as per approved schedule. However, no details regarding the size of this shipment, or previous and future deliveries, were provided. Notably, this is the only mention of these missile deliveries on the company’s official Telegram channel.
Read more: Israel Locates and Destroys Hezbollah’s DR-3 Cruise Missile Site in Lebanon, russia May Be Involved
Development of the Kh-BPLA missile began in 2021, and it is essentially an airborne variant of the Kornet-D anti-tank missile. The missile is designed for use with several russian reconnaissance and strike drones, including the Orion, Forpost and Altius, as well as future S-70 Okhotnik heavy attack drone. The missile has also been tested from the Ka-52M helicopter.
In addition to the (likely another) batch of the Kh-BPLA missiles delivered to russian forces, increased operational use of the Orion reconnaissance and strike UAVs in Kursk region has been observed. On August 31, the Ukrainian Air Force reported the downing of one such drone in the region. Russian forces also released footage allegedly showing the Orion drone strikes on Ukrainian tanks.
It is anticipated that the russian military will continue to deploy the Orion UAVs in a limited capacity. In 2023, reports indicated that russia was even enlisting shipbuilders to increase the production of the Orion strike drones. The limited appearance of the Orion drones in footage is attributed to the risk of operating near the front lines due to the threat posed by air defense systems. Like the Bayraktar TB2 drone, the Orion UAV is likely used primarily for reconnaissance purposes. The Kh-BPLA missile is believed to be based on the 9M133FM-3 missile, which has a range of 8-10 km. In 2023, russia demonstrated the missile on the Orion drone, and at the 2024 Army exhibition, it was showcased with an effective range of 2-8 km and a maximum launch altitude of 4,000 meters.
Read more: Invisible Drones Reportedly Destroyed russian S-300 Systems in Crimea
