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Moscow Finds First Foreign Buyer for Orion-E Combat Drone in Africa
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ethiopia has acquired Russian-made Orion-E reconnaissance and strike drones, marking the first publicly verified export of the medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) system, Defence Blog reported following the Aviation Expo 2026.
The Orion-E was displayed at the Ethiopian Air Force stand during the event, signaling that the system is now operational under Ethiopian markings. This is the first instance of the drone being confirmed in service outside of Russia, despite several years of international marketing by its developer, Russia’s Kronshtadt Group.
The Orion-E is an export version of the Orion drone that was first flown in 2016 and has since been deployed by Russian forces in Syria and Ukraine. The full system includes the UAV itself, a ground control station, and associated support equipment.
According to Defence Blog, the drone on display was configured for both reconnaissance and strike missions. The platform is equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors and can carry precision-guided air-to-ground munitions.
Russian materials state that the Orion-E is capable of flying at altitudes up to 7,500 meters, with endurance exceeding 24 hours, depending on payload and mission configuration.
The Orion platform has seen combat use by Russian forces, primarily for reconnaissance, target acquisition, and strike missions. Open-source intelligence group Oryx has visually confirmed the loss of at least nine Orion drones during the war in Ukraine. The losses point to vulnerabilities when operating in contested airspace, particularly against modern air defense systems and electronic warfare capabilities.
Despite these challenges, the Orion family continues to be developed and promoted. Russia has advertised upgraded variants with improved avionics and communications equipment for foreign customers, although detailed specifications remain limited.
The Orion-E has been presented as a cost-effective alternative to Western systems such as the MQ-1 Predator, with fewer export restrictions. While the drone has been featured at multiple international defense exhibitions, no foreign operators had been identified publicly before this transfer.
Earlier, Ukraine confirmed a strike on a key Russian defense facility linked to the production of Orion unmanned aerial vehicles and S8000 “Banderol” cruise missiles. Strike drones hit the Kronshtadt-operated UAV plant in the Moscow region city of Dubna.
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