During the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, SOKIL-300 appeared in Ukraine's domestic strike-UAV development track rather than as a documented operational type; a 2023 King's College London analysis described the Luch ISR/strike UAV as not ready for serial production in publicly available information.
SOKIL-300 reconnaissance and impact UAV system
- Sokol-300
- Falcon-300
The SOKIL-300 is a Ukrainian Luch reconnaissance-and-combat UAV project designed for surveillance, target identification, strike missions, and sea patrol. Official materials give a 300 kg payload, radar and electro-optical payloads, four guided missiles, and a long-endurance configuration, while later analysis found no public evidence that the aircraft was ready for serial production by mid-2023.
Role in Conflicts
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- Ukraine
- Built by
- State Kyiv Design Bureau Luch
- Type
- Reconnaissance and combat UAV system
- Service note
- Unveiled in 2020; wartime Ukrainian strike-UAV development tracked during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
- Designer
- State Kyiv Design Bureau Luch
- Designed
- 2020
- Unit cost
- Not publicly documented; 2020 reporting estimated development cost at UAH 40-45 million.
- Produced
- Unveiled in 2020; serial production not publicly confirmed
- Number built
- Not publicly confirmed; a 2023 analysis said public information did not show the type ready for serial production.
Specifications
- Engine
- 140 hp reciprocating engine; official export materials also describe a Rotax 914UL (MW FLY B25R) long-range configuration
- Maximum takeoff weight
- 1130 kg
- Payload
- 300 kg
- Maximum speed
- 230 km/h
- Cruising speed
- 150 km/h
- Flight duration
- 26 hours
- Maximum range
- 3300 km
- Control range
- 150 km, or 300 km with retransmitter
- Wingspan
- 14 m
- Length
- 8.6 m
- Armament
- Four guided missiles; official brochure names RK-2P, RK-2M, and RK-10 missile options
- Sensor fit
- Optical aiming station, SAR, onboard radar, GNSS, and inertial navigation system
Variants
Public SOKIL-300 materials describe the air vehicle through engine and endurance configurations rather than separate combat subvariants.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| MC-500B configuration | Short-endurance baseline | Early reporting described an MC-500B-powered version with about three hours of endurance and 1,000 km flight range. Sources: Ukraine Unveils the Sokil-300, Its First Domestic Combat Drone |
| AI-450T2 configuration | Mid-range configuration | The AI-450T2 configuration was reported with about five hours of endurance and 1,300 km flight range. Sources: Ukraine Unveils the Sokil-300, Its First Domestic Combat Drone |
| Rotax 914 / MW FLY B25R configuration | Long-endurance configuration | Official export material emphasizes a 140 hp reciprocating-engine configuration with 26 hours of flight duration and 3,300 km maximum flight range. Sources: SOKIL-300 PDF catalog, Sokil-300 official export page |
System Composition And Sensors
Official materials present SOKIL-300 as a complete reconnaissance-and-combat UAV system rather than only an airframe. The package combines the air vehicle, ground control equipment, sensors, and missile preparation and launch equipment.
| Element | Documented detail |
|---|---|
| Mission set | Reconnaissance, target identification, strike at operational and tactical depth, artillery-fire adjustment, and sea patrol are described in official or specialist sources. |
| Air vehicle sensors | The brochure lists an optical aiming station, SAR, onboard radar, GNSS, and an inertial navigation system based on laser gyroscopes. |
| Radar payloads | The onboard radar is described for land or sea surface survey, target coordinate measurement, and radio-contrast object detection; the SAR is described for all-weather radar imaging. |
| Ground segment | The mobile control post includes operator workstations, communications antennas, power generation, climate-control equipment, and UAV/ammunition control functions. |
Missile Loadout
The official SOKIL-300 brochure names RK-2P, RK-2M, and RK-10 as guided missiles carried in transport-and-launch containers, with four missiles carried on the air vehicle.
| Missile | Maximum launch range | Missile weight | Warhead/TLC detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| RK-2P | 7 km | 29 kg | 9.8 kg warhead; transport-and-launch container up to 47 kg. |
| RK-2M | 5 km | 21.2 kg | 9.2 kg warhead; transport-and-launch container up to 40 kg. |
| RK-10 | 10 km | 44 kg | 7.5 kg warhead; transport-and-launch container up to 59 kg. |
Timeline
SOKIL-300 reconnaissance and impact UAV system Key Events
First public presentation in Kyiv
Ukrainian reporting from early November 2020 showed Luch presenting the SOKIL-300 prototype publicly in Kyiv during the war.
Sources: Ukraine Unveils the Sokil-300, Its First Domestic Combat Drone
International debut at IDEX 2021
Defence Blog reported the SOKIL-300's first international display at IDEX 2021 and noted the reported development-cost figure.
Sources: Ukrainian new combat drone makes international debut at IDEX 2021
Prototype timing remained uncertain
Militarnyi reported that a first prototype was expected by the end of 2022 and that the project was funded by Luch without finalized Ministry of Defense tactical-technical requirements.
Sources: Sokil-300 prototype expected by end of 2022
Not shown ready for serial production
King's College London analysis of Ukrainian strike-UAV production said publicly available information did not show SOKIL-300 ready for serial production.
Sources: Made in Ukraine: Ukrainian-made strike UAVs
Public Variant Split
Early reporting described three engine configurations, and the official export page later emphasized a long-range Rotax-powered configuration.
| Version | Engine | Flight time | Range | Cruise speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | MC-500B | 3 hours | 1,000 km | 335 km/h |
| Mid-range | AI-450T2 | 5 hours | 1,300 km | 275 km/h |
| Long-range | Rotax 914 | 26 hours | 3,300 km | 150 km/h |
Media
SOKIL-300 reconnaissance and impact UAV system Videos
SOKIL-300 reconnaissance and impact UAV system Images
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