Russia’s $10M Copy of an American Combat Drone Crashes Into Residential House During Test

A Russian long-range combat drone, identified as the “Altair” (also known as “Altius-U”), crashed into a residential property in the city of Kazan, Tatarstan, during a test flight on July 8, 2025.

The incident occurred at approximately 09:10 local time following a reported loss of control. No casualties were reported.

Initially, Russian media and local authorities claimed that a civilian aircraft had fallen on a private house in the Derbeshki area of Kazan.

However, subsequent investigations and footage from the scene confirmed that the aircraft was in fact a heavy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Russia’s Simonov Design Bureau, a branch of the Kazan-based Sokol Experimental Design Office.

According to residents and eyewitnesses, the drone fell near a garden cooperative known as “Dubki,” approximately one kilometer from the runway of the Borisoglebskoye airfield — a facility used by the Kazan Aviation Plant.

The crash caused a fire, which local civilians initially attempted to extinguish before emergency responders arrived. The fire was later contained with no spread to adjacent structures.

Local media, including Business Online, reported that parts of the drone—particularly one wing measuring approximately five meters—were clearly visible at the crash site. Eyewitnesses also noted markings in Russian on the wreckage, further confirming the aircraft’s military origin.

The drone involved is reported to be the “Altair,” one of Russia’s most technologically advanced UAVs. Designed for intelligence gathering and strike missions, it is often described as Russia’s answer to the US MQ-9 Reaper.

The drone features a composite airframe with a V-shaped tail, a wingspan of 28 meters, and an estimated takeoff weight of 6 tons. It is equipped with an optoelectronic targeting system and a side-looking AESA radar.

Altair is designed for extended-range operations, with a stated flight endurance exceeding 24 hours and a range of up to 10,000 kilometers. The platform can carry up to 1,000 kilograms of guided munitions and is controlled via satellite link at distances of up to 800 kilometers.

Despite its capabilities, the drone remains in limited production, with an estimated unit cost of $6–10 million, according to defense analysts.

The Altair program, launched in 2011, is part of Russia’s broader effort to develop medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned systems for reconnaissance and combat missions.

The project has faced multiple delays and redesigns, including cooperation with the Kronstadt Group under the Altair-M research initiative.

Earlier on July 1, a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber crashed during a training flight near the Savasleyka airbase in Nizhny Novgorod region. The aircraft went down in a wooded area, and both pilots ejected.

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