Aircraft & UAVs

Orlan-10

Also known as
  • Orlan 10
  • Orlan-10 UAV
  • Orlan-10 UAS
  • Orlan-10E
  • Orlan 10E
  • Orlan-10 complex
  • Orlan-10 unmanned aircraft system

The Orlan-10 is a Russian medium-range unmanned aircraft built by Special Technology Centre for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, electronic warfare, and data-relay missions. It became one of Russia's most important tactical UAVs in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, while separate sources document Russian use in Syria and a recovered Orlan-type UAV tied to the LNA side in Libya.

Orlan-10, Medium-range reconnaissance and electronic-warfare UAV, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: File:Orlan-10 (2).jpg

Role in Conflicts

2014 Second Libyan Civil War
Role in conflict
Recovered reconnaissance UAV attributed to LNA-aligned forces

Janes reported an Orlan-10-like Russian-made UAV recovered east of Sirte in April 2019 and linked the operator attribution to the LNA faction then trying to capture Tripoli; the public evidence is strongest for fielding or recovery, not specific sortie details.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Type
Medium-range reconnaissance and electronic-warfare UAV
Service note
Introduced in 2010; heavily used during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Designer
Special Technology Centre
Designed
Introduced in 2010
Unit cost
Approximately $87,000-120,000 per system, according to RUSI
Produced
2010s-present

Specifications

Role
Medium-range multipurpose UAV for reconnaissance, EW, and data relay
Range
150 km command-link range
Endurance
16 hours
Speed
110 km/h
Maximum altitude
5,000 m
Wingspan
3.1 m
Orlan-10E takeoff weight
18.6 kg maximum takeoff weight in Rosoboronexport export data
Orlan-10E payload
Up to 4.5 kg target load in Rosoboronexport export data
Payloads
Electro-optical, infrared, thermal, LIDAR, SIGINT, ELINT, EW, and data-relay payloads
Mission Configurations

The Orlan-10 is best understood as a small UAV complex with interchangeable mission payloads. Public reporting separates the airframe from the targeting, surveillance, electronic-warfare, and relay tasks it can support.

ConfigurationDocumented equipment or roleOperational context
ISR and artillery spottingElectro-optical, infrared, thermal, and mapping payloadsRUSI and T2COM describe Orlan-10s in Ukraine finding targets and passing positions into Russian fire-control and strike workflows.
Electronic warfare and signals collectionSIGINT, ELINT, EW, and communications-relay payloadsRUSI describes Orlan-10 payload categories that extend the aircraft beyond visual reconnaissance into electronic-warfare and data-relay missions.
Export reconnaissanceOrlan-10E with payload options for monitoring and aerial reconnaissanceRosoboronexport markets the Orlan-10E as an export UAV system, while the related Orlan-30 adds heavier target-designation payloads for laser-guided weapons.
Variants

Public sources treat the Orlan-10 as a payload-flexible STC Orlan-family UAV, with Orlan-10E as the export designation and Orlan-30 as a heavier related aircraft optimized for laser target designation.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Mission payload configurationsISR, EW, SIGINT/ELINT, mapping, and data relay

RUSI and DVIDS/T2COM describe the Orlan-10 complex as a payload-flexible system rather than a single fixed sensor fit.

Sources: The Orlan Complex: Tracking the Supply Chains of Russia's Most Successful UAV, ORLAN-10 UAS - ThreatMinutes

Orlan-30, Reconnaissance and laser target-designation UAV, Aircraft & UAVsOrlan-30Larger Orlan-family reconnaissance and target-designation UAV

T2COM treats Orlan-10 and Orlan-30 as the two primary Orlan UAS types seen in Ukraine, with Orlan-30 carrying heavier payloads including laser designators.

Sources: Russia Struggling To Integrate Its Most Effective Unmanned System

Timeline

Orlan-10 Key Events

  1. Orlan-type UAV recovered in Libya

    Janes reported photographs of a recovered Russian-made UAV east of Sirte and identified the type through comparison with Orlan-10 recoveries in other conflict zones.

    Sources: Russian UAV recovered in Libya

  2. T2COM threat profile recorded

    The DVIDS/T2COM ThreatMinutes profile records Orlan-10 mission grouping, command-vehicle context, performance figures, and the 2010 introduction date.

    Sources: ORLAN-10 UAS - ThreatMinutes

Media

Orlan-10 Videos

Orlan-10 Images

Orlan-10, Medium-range reconnaissance and electronic-warfare UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: File:Orlan-10 on the launch catapult.jpg
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Sources

The Orlan Complex: Tracking the Supply Chains of Russia's Most Successful UAVPublisher: Royal United Services Institute | Note: Supports STC manufacturer background, payload types, unit-cost estimate, and 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use: used by Russian forces for reconnaissance and targeting support. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Russia Struggling To Integrate Its Most Effective Unmanned SystemPublisher: U.S. Army T2COM G2 Operational Environment Enterprise | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use: used by Russian forces in the reconnaissance complex and artillery targeting workflow. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Russian UAVs in SyriaPublisher: Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War direct conflict-use: used by Russian forces for target reconnaissance, strike assessment, artillery spotting, aerial imagery, 3D mapping, and search-and-rescue support. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Russian UAV recovered in LibyaPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports 2014 Second Libyan Civil War direct conflict-use: recovered Russian-made UAV east of Sirte, comparison to Orlan-10 recoveries, and attribution context pointing to the LNA faction during the Tripoli campaign. | Accessed: 2026-06-29ORLAN-10 UAS - ThreatMinutesPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports WEG-derived performance figures, mission grouping, command vehicle context, and 2010 introduction date. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Orlan-10E - RosoboronexportPublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export product page supporting Orlan-10E designation, reconnaissance and monitoring role, maximum takeoff weight, target load, endurance, payload options, and export configuration context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29File:Orlan-10 (2).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance source for the primary Orlan-10 image; file page attributes the photo to Mil.ru under CC BY 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-29File:Orlan-10 on the launch catapult.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance source for the gallery launch-catapult photo; file page attributes the photo to Mil.ru under CC BY 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-29