Kalashnikov Unveils Skat-220 Drone and Fortis UAV Systems at Moscow Security Forum

Lead

The Kalashnikov Group, Russia's prominent arms manufacturer, has begun delivering its latest Skat-220 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to customers, while also unveiling new drone systems at the International Security Forum currently taking place in the Moscow Region, according to multiple reports from TASS.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the sole source of reporting on these developments, delivered a series of articles between May 25 and June 1, each focusing on different aspects of Kalashnikov's drone portfolio. One report highlighted the initial deliveries of the Skat-220, while others detailed the company's participation in the security forum, presenting both the Skat-220 and the newly developed Fortis vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) systems.

All reports consistently attributed information to the Kalashnikov Group itself or to TASS correspondents on the ground. The tone remained informative across the articles, emphasizing technological specifications and intended applications. No conflicting information arose from the sources, though the reports varied in the level of detail provided for each system.

Key Claims

According to TASS, the Kalashnikov Group has begun delivering its Skat-220 UAV, which the company described as being based on its Skat-350M drone but with a smaller wingspan of 2.20 meters and a lighter weight of 12 kilograms. TASS reported that these adjustments allow the drone to reach speeds of up to 160 km/h, a figure the company called "record" for its class. The Skat-220 is equipped with an electric engine, can remain airborne for more than 150 minutes, launches from a catapult, and is adapted for parachute landing, according to the same reports.

The Skat-220 was first showcased at the International Security Forum in the Moscow Region, which ran from May 26 to 29. The forum was held under the auspices of the Russian Security Council at the Live Arena venue in Novoivanovskoye, as stated by Kalashnikov's Telegram channel and reported by TASS.

The company also presented its new Fortis VTOL drone systems at the same event, as per a TASS report. The Fortis UAVs are designed to carry FPV drones and control them after release, relaying signals from a ground control station to extend the operational range of FPV drones, according to the company. TASS cited Kalashnikov as saying the Fortis drone provides stable communications over up to 100 kilometers and can deliver payloads of up to 18 kilograms, while remaining airborne for up to eight hours, capable of simultaneously conducting aerial monitoring and logistics operations.

Kalashnikov has developed three Fortis versions: the Fortis-30, which carries up to 5 kg payloads at speeds up to 90 km/h at altitudes up to 2,500 meters; the Fortis-50, which handles up to 7 kg at 100 km/h and up to 3,000 meters altitude; and the Fortis-100, which lifts up to 18 kg at a cruising speed of up to 110 km/h and operates at 3,000 meters. A single Fortis system can include up to four UAVs, with optional additions like flight simulators and diagnostic stands, as reported by TASS.

In addition to the Fortis and Skat-220, the Kalashnikov exhibit at the forum featured the Skat-350M system, the Kub-2E loitering munitions, including the Kub-10E, Kub-10ME, and Kub-E modifications, and the Rus-PE portable reconnaissance and strike system, per a TASS correspondent's report.

Perspectives

The Kalashnikov Group presents these systems as advancing UAV technology, stressing performance metrics like speed, endurance, and versatility. The Skat-220's intended applications, as stated by the company, include security, environmental protection, agriculture, and monitoring of fuel and energy infrastructure, transport, and power lines—positioning the drone for multiple civilian and military uses.

The Russian Security Council's sponsorship of the forum signals the state's interest in promoting domestic drone development. While TASS is a Russian state news agency, and this reporting may reflect official messaging, all technical assertions derive from the company's own announcements as relayed by TASS. No independent verification of the performance figures or the status of deliveries has been provided.

As the forum took place in late May 2026, the reported timeline suggests rapid progress from showcase to delivery, which some observers might note, but no external commentary was available in the reviewed material. The reports themselves do not offer independent analysis or contrasting opinions, remaining descriptive of company statements and on-site exhibits.