Russian army receives Kh-BPLA missile: What makes it unique and how it is used
Photo: The Russian army has received an Kh-BPLA missile (Russian media)
The Russian army has received a supply of another batch of weapons, which includes the Kh-BPLA missile for unmanned aerial vehicles, according to Defense Express.
Russia began developing the Kh-BPLA missile in 2021, which is an aviation version of the Kornet-D anti-tank missile. Russia claims that the Kh-BPLA is intended for use with several reconnaissance-strike drones, such as the Orion, Forpost, and Altius. It can also be deployed with the future heavy strike UAV, the S-70 Okhotnik. The missile has been launched from the Ka-52M helicopter as well.
Reports suggest that the Kh-BPLA is likely based on the 9M133FM-3 missile, with a range of 8-10 kilometers. The missile was first demonstrated by Russia in 2023 on the Orion drone and was showcased again at the Army 2024 exhibition. During the exhibition, it was stated that its range is between 2 and 8 kilometers, with a maximum launch altitude of 4,000 meters.
In light of the recent arms deliveries, it is noteworthy that Russia has increased its use of reconnaissance-strike drones like the Orion in the Kursk region.
What is known about the Orion drone
The Orion UAV is a Russian medium-class strike-reconnaissance drone developed by the Kronstadt company under the Inagrav project, and it is part of the Inagrav-Ru complex. Its primary missions include reconnaissance, artillery fire adjustment, and strikes on ground targets.
Key specifications:
- Wingspan: 16 meters
- Weight: up to 1,000 kg
- Flight range: approximately 250 km
- Maximum speed: up to 200 km/h
- Flight duration: up to 24 hours
- Flight altitude: up to 7.5 km
The Orion UAV has variants for both reconnaissance and strike operations and is equipped with systems for launching guided bombs and missiles. The first units were introduced into the Russian Armed Forces in 2020 and have been actively used in various military conflicts, including the war in Ukraine.
Previously, RBC-Ukraine reported that Russia began developing a new missile for the Kornet anti-tank system, which resembles Ukraine's Corsar anti-tank guided missile system.
Additionally, there were reports that Russia likely used the modernized Pantsir-SM-SV anti-aircraft missile-gun system in combat conditions for the first time during tests.
