The Orlan-30 is a Russian Orlan-family unmanned aircraft built around reconnaissance, electro-optical surveillance, and laser target designation for precision weapons. Official export material describes an eight-hour UAV system with a laser rangefinder-designator, while U.S. Army operational analysis identifies its Ukraine role in Russian sensor-to-shooter workflows for Krasnopol artillery rounds and Kh-38ML missile strikes.
Russian forces have used Orlan-30 UAVs in Ukraine for reconnaissance and target designation, including laser designation for Krasnopol artillery rounds and reported Kh-38ML guided-missile strikes from Su-34 aircraft.
The Orlan-30 sits in the same STC Orlan UAV family as the smaller Orlan-10 and the heavier Orlan-50, with the Orlan-30 distinguished in public sources by its laser target-designation payload.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Smaller Orlan-family reconnaissance and EW UAV | T2COM treats Orlan-10 and Orlan-30 as the two primary Orlan UAS types seen in Ukraine, with the Orlan-30 carrying heavier payloads including laser designators. Sources: Russia Struggling To Integrate Its Most Effective Unmanned System |
| Orlan-50 | Heavier Orlan-family UAV | War & Sanctions lists Orlan-50 alongside Orlan-10 and Orlan-30 among STC LLC Orlan-family products. Sources: Orlan-30 - War & Sanctions |
The Orlan-30 does not fire these munitions; public sources describe it as the airborne target-designation node that can illuminate targets for laser-guided weapons.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Semi-active laser-guided artillery projectile | T2COM describes Orlan-30s designating targets for Krasnopol artillery rounds in Ukraine, improving Russian artillery accuracy when the sensor and firing unit are successfully integrated. Sources: Russia Struggling To Integrate Its Most Effective Unmanned System |
Open operational reporting separates the Orlan-30's laser-designation role from the weapons that actually fire or release the munition.
| Workflow | Orlan-30 role | Documented context |
|---|---|---|
| Krasnopol artillery fire | Laser target designation | T2COM describes Orlan-30s designating targets for laser-guided Krasnopol rounds used by Russian artillery in Ukraine. |
| Kh-38ML missile strikes | Airborne laser illumination | T2COM says September 2023 Kh-38ML strikes from Su-34 aircraft against bridges in Kharkiv were guided by Orlan-30 laser designators. |
| Conventional artillery and one-way attack drones | Reconnaissance and target handoff | T2COM says the wider Orlan complex more commonly passes target positions to Russian cannon artillery, rocket artillery, Lancet-3 operators, and Shahed-136 operators. |
Open defense reporting said Russian Ministry of Defence flight trials had been completed and batch production had begun, with first deliveries expected in 2020.
Sources: Russian army to get Orlan-30 drones
Rosoboronexport published an official video presenting the Orlan-30 system and its aerial reconnaissance and laser target-designation role.
Sources: Orlan-30 - Rosoboronexport
U.S. Army analysis says Russian Kh-38ML missile strikes on bridges in Kharkiv were guided by laser target designators carried by Orlan-30 UAVs.
Sources: Russia Struggling To Integrate Its Most Effective Unmanned System
EDR Magazine reported Rosoboronexport presenting the Orlan-30 in Baku and described its reconnaissance, laser-illumination, payload, range, and ground-control-station details.
Sources: ADEX 2024 - Rosoboronexport showcases the Orlan-30 UAV
