A Ukrainian interceptor drone has destroyed a Russian ‘Orion’ drone, which may be capable of carrying ‘Banderole’ missiles
A Ukrainian interceptor drone shot down a Russian ‘Orion’ drone, which can be used to carry S8000 ‘Banderole’ cruise missiles.
The drone was shot down by servicemen from the ‘Pribultsi’ unit of the 115th Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
This is the second confirmed instance of an ‘Orion’ drone being destroyed by an interceptor drone. Units supported by the ‘Come Back Alive’ Foundation as part of the ‘Dronopad’ project were involved in both successful interceptions.
The ‘Orion’ drone is capable of carrying a payload of up to 200 kilograms and has a combat range of up to 250 kilometres. Its maximum flight duration is up to 30 hours, and its service ceiling reaches around 8,000 metres.
It is with the ‘Orion’ drones that Russian forces have begun to deploy the new S8000 ‘Banderole’ cruise missile. Its maximum speed is 620–650 km/h, whilst its cruising speed is 520–560 km/h.
The missile uses a Chinese Swiwin-manufactured turbojet engine weighing 8.5 kilograms. The engine’s maximum thrust at 65,000 revolutions per minute is 81.6 kgf. With these specifications, the missile’s range reaches 500 kilometres.
The rocket is equipped with an OFBCh-150 warhead with a total mass of 114.3 kilograms, of which 49.5 kilograms is explosive material. The explosive used is octogen mixed with aluminium powder, and the plasticiser is cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine.
