Molniya (drone)
| Molniya-1/Molniya-2 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Loitering munition |
| Place of origin | Russian Federation |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2024 – present |
| Used by | Russian Armed Forces |
| Wars | Russo-Ukrainian war |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Atlant Aero (Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, Russia) |
| Unit cost | Estimated cost $300 to $1,600 USD(depending on configuration) |
The Molniya-1 and Molniya-2 (Russian: Lightning-1/Lightning-2)[1] is a Russian made FPV 'fixed-wing' strike and reconnaissance drone(UAV), operated by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. It utilizes a low-cost "flat-pack" design, allowing it to be disassembled and transported inside backpacks and other lightweight transports, manufactured out of plywood, foam, plastic and aluminum. The Molniya serves as a low-cost platform capable of on-site field assembly and mass production.[2] The drone is currently being used in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Specification
Wingspan: ~1.5 meters
Weight(Max): 10 kg
Range: 30–50 km
Speed: 90–150 km/h
Endurance: ~40 minutes
Payload: 3–5 kg
Tactical role
Noted for its multi-role capability, serving as both surveillance and one-way attack, targeting logistics centers, supply lines, vehicles, and fortified positions.[3]
Payloads and usage
-TM-62 (Anti-Tank Mine) and other standard Anti-Tank/Anti-Personnel Munitions: taped or bracketed directly to the lightweight fuselage or wing mounts.[4]
-RPG-7 warheads, modified 82mm Mortar Rounds and various hand grenades rigged with custom impact-detonation or electrical trip-wire fuses.[5]
-On-site 'improvised' munition(s) e.g. bundles of explosives packed with loose steel ball bearings, nails, or cut rebar to maximize anti-personnel fragmentation effects over open terrain and trenches.[6]
Specialized variants
-A 'Mothership carrier' role transporting a smaller FPV strike drone to target areas before release.[7]
-Fiber-Optic or AI Guidance capability.[8]
-Reconnaissance variants, utilizing optical or digital camera equipment configured for surveillance rather than a one-way attack.[9]
Differences
Molniya-1: Fixed-wing layout with a single electric motor (distinguishing it from the twin-motor Molniya-2)
Molniya-2/Molniya-2R: Advanced variants utilize AI-powered machine vision for attacks in radio silence, also capable of being fitted with integrated satellite communication terminals (like GLONASS and Starlink)[10][11] to resist standard electronic interference.
Operational history
The Molniya-1/Molniya-2 drone has been used extensively since 2024 in operations in Ukraine.
References
- ↑ "ODIN - OE Data Integration Network". odin.t2com.army.mil.
- ↑ "A Russian Drone That Takes off Every Minute Along Ukraine's Front. How do You Stop Molniya?". 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Cheap and dangerous. How the Molniya plywood drone turned into a big problem for the Defense Forces".
- ↑ "A new Molniya every four minutes: How Ukraine is fighting back against Russia's drone onslaught on cities and logistics".
- ↑ ""A kamikaze with a 10-kg mine made of sticks." Everything you need to know about the Russian Molniya drones, with which the enemy has been terrorizing Kharkiv in recent months".
- ↑ "Russia Once Put Anti-Tank Mines on Drones. Now Those Mines Are Being Sawn in Half". 17 June 2026.
- ↑ "Russia Deploys "Molniya" Drone Carrier To Launch FPV Strikes on Kharkiv". UNITED24 Media. October 26, 2025.
- ↑ Cranny-Evans, Sam (July 2, 2026). ""This is a bad sign": Russia's Molniya strike drones now fully autonomous".
- ↑ "Russia loaded its cheap 'Molniya' strike drones with extra batteries and high-def cameras, turning them into recon tools". Business Insider.
- ↑ "Russia equips Molniya drones with Starlink terminals". 14 January 2026.
- ↑ "Russia is using Starlink to make its killer drones fly farther | CNN". CNN. 29 January 2026.