Lead

Russia is considering localizing the production of its Orlan reconnaissance drones abroad, according to a statement made by a spokesperson for the Special Technology Center (STC), the manufacturer, at the Defense Services Asia (DSA) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"Currently, one of the main requirements for almost all potential foreign partners is the availability of service or production centers for our equipment in their countries," the spokesperson said, as reported by TASS. "All work is based on the principle that if a country acquires such equipment, it seeks to gradually localize its production. I hope that the Orlan drone production will eventually expand to other countries. Currently, our drones are not manufactured abroad, but the corresponding negotiations are underway."

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, provided the primary coverage of the DSA exhibition, which ran from April 20-23 at the Malaysia International Exhibition Centre. The agency reported that Russia's joint exhibit, organized by arms exporter Rosoboronexport (part of the state tech corporation Rostec), focused on unmanned systems with what it described as "extensive combat experience" in Ukraine.

According to TASS, the exhibition featured over 400 Russian military products, including 39 prototypes. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reportedly visited the Russian booth on the opening day. TASS also noted that Russian companies held meetings and negotiations with delegations from Malaysian defense agencies and other participating countries.

The reports emphasized Russia's deployment of these systems in the conflict in Ukraine, with TASS describing the equipment as "currently deployed in the special military operation zone" and having "extensive combat experience." A separate TASS report quoted Rosoboronexport as stating that the company would present both reconnaissance systems and loitering munitions with "the most extensive operational track record to date."

Key Claims

  • Orlan production localization: The possibility of manufacturing Orlan drones abroad was disclosed by an STC spokesperson at the DSA exhibition. This claim, reported by a single outlet (TASS), was framed as a prediction rather than a confirmed plan. The spokesperson indicated that negotiations are ongoing and that no foreign production currently exists.
  • Orlan exports: Russia supplies Orlan UAVs to more than 20 countries, according to Rosoboronexport. This figure was reported in multiple TASS articles and was not disputed in the available coverage.
  • Lancet-E and other systems showcased: The Lancet-E reconnaissance and strike system from ZALA, the Rus-PE system, the KUB-2E loitering munition, and the Skat 350M UAV were displayed. These systems were described as combat-proven, with TASS noting that the Lancet-E is "used daily" in the Ukraine conflict.
  • Su-57E mockup: A mockup of the Su-57E fifth-generation multirole fighter was also presented, though TASS provided no further details in the available extracts.

Perspectives

Russian state perspective: TASS's coverage framed the exhibition as an opportunity to showcase Russian military technology, particularly unmanned systems, highlighting their effectiveness in real combat conditions. The emphasis on combat experience serves to bolster the credibility of the systems in export markets.

Foreign partners perspective: The STC spokesperson's comments suggest that potential buyers are increasingly demanding local production or service capabilities. This reflects a broader trend in defense procurement where technology transfer is a key condition for arms deals.

Analyst perspective: While the claims about localization are speculative, the reported interest in the systems may be significant. However, independent verification of the export figures or combat performance claims was not available in the provided coverage. The exhibition itself served as a platform for Russia to maintain defense ties with Southeast Asian nations despite international sanctions.

This article is based on reports from TASS. The statements from STC and Rosoboronexport were not independently verified as of this writing.