The modernized Molniya-P drone has received several notable design changes – a new tail section and a three-engine propulsion system.
The Molniya-P is based on the Molniya drone family and represents a high-speed variant of the aircraft. Previously, its maximum speed was stated to be up to 270 km/h.
The new version features a redesigned tail section. Simultaneously, the design was equipped with three engines, which significantly distinguishes it from previously demonstrated variants. Changing the number of power plants can affect thrust-to-weight ratio, acceleration dynamics, and other flight characteristics, but there is no official data on the parameters of the new scheme yet.
Information about a multi-engine configuration has already appeared in open publications with footage of Molniya drones. One such material noted an unusual version of the aircraft with several engines. However, this data is not accompanied by a detailed description of the design and does not allow for reliably establishing the purpose of each modification.
The emergence of a new configuration shows that the Molniya-P design continues to evolve. However, the final characteristics of the three-engine variant can only be assessed after official technical data becomes available.