New unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Lightning series, have been developed in Russia, Rostec reported. The state corporation will present the new products at the UMEX unmanned systems exhibition in the United Arab Emirates.
The universal systems can be used for a variety of tasks, from rapid reconnaissance and cargo delivery to supporting search-and-rescue operations and border protection.
The lineup includes three models in total. The Lightning 2 is designed for delivering small cargoes and medical supplies, assessing the situation in emergencies, and practical operator training. The drone is capable of carrying payloads weighing up to 6 kg, while its range reaches nearly 50 km.
The Lightning P will be useful for monitoring, control, and terrain inspection. The aircraft has the highest maximum flight speed in the entire lineup, up to 270 km/h.
The Lightning R was created for round-the-clock multi-purpose monitoring in various climatic conditions. It is equipped with a video camera featuring 30x hybrid zoom on a gyroscopic gimbal, which makes it possible to conduct high-quality surveillance while maneuvering.
The international exhibition of unmanned systems, UMEX and SimTEX 2026, will take place in Abu Dhabi from January 20 to 22. The venue will bring together global leaders in the development and application of unmanned and autonomous technologies.