Western analysts have taken note of the appearance of the Russian Molniya (Lightning) strike unmanned aerial vehicle. In an article in the American magazine Popular Mechanics, author David Hambling noted the unusual approach to the design of the device and compares it to the AK-47 in the world of strike drones: a cheap, reliable, and mass-produced weapon that can spread quickly.
A weapon made of scrap metal, styrofoam, plywood, and duct tape is comparable to the AK-47
As the publication notes, the design of the device features a simplified manufacturing technology. The body is made of plywood, the wings are made of polystyrene foam. The wing frame and spars are made of aluminum tubes, and the elements are joined using hot melt adhesive. According to the author, the assembly of the device is done manually using basic tools, takes two to four hours, and the cost of the set of materials does not exceed 500 US dollars.
The aerodynamic design of the wing is focused on providing high lift and low stall speed, while the device is not designed for high-speed flight or intense maneuvers.
It is noted that the low-altitude flight path makes it difficult to detect and intercept the device with standard anti-aircraft weapons. In addition, the material mentions the system's resistance to some types of electronic warfare.
David Hambling concludes that this approach to creating devices from available materials makes them potentially very effective in large quantities.