Russian firm STC showcases expanded Orlan drone production and counter-UAV systems at Malaysia arms fair

Lead

The Russian Special Technology Center (STC) has expanded production capacity for its advanced Orlan-series reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles and is displaying related training programs, counter-drone systems and detectors at the Defense Services Asia (DSA) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, according to statements by a company spokesperson carried by TASS. The exhibition runs from April 20 to 23. STC products form part of the joint Russian display organized by state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, itself a unit of the Rostec state technology corporation. A company representative told TASS that once domestic contracts are met, the firm has capacity to supply Orlan systems abroad, with final decisions resting with Rosoboronexport. TASS earlier reported that Russia has already supplied Orlan unmanned aerial vehicles to more than 20 countries.

Coverage Comparison

All available reporting on the STC presentations comes from multiple dispatches by the Russian state news agency TASS filed between April 21 and 23 from Kuala Lumpur. The dispatches share a consistent factual core: STC’s participation in the Rosoboronexport joint exhibit, the April 20–23 dates of the DSA show, and the presence of Orlan-related equipment. Individual TASS reports emphasize different products and talking points. One focuses on the newly demonstrated virtual training program for Orlan operators. Another highlights the company’s claim of expanded Orlan production capacity and readiness for export. Separate pieces describe an interactive model of the RB-504A-E counter-drone system, assert “major” or “significant” interest in the Silok and RB-504A-E systems among potential foreign customers, and promote the Filin-I drone detector. A further dispatch links heightened interest in Orlan-series UAVs to the conflict in the Middle East. Because the material is drawn exclusively from TASS, independent corroboration from other outlets is not present in the provided sources; the accounts reflect official company statements relayed through the state agency.

Key Claims

• STC has expanded its production capacity for advanced Orlan reconnaissance unmanned aerial systems and now has the ability to supply them to foreign countries once domestic contracts are fulfilled, with export decisions made by Rosoboronexport, according to an STC spokesperson quoted by TASS.
• Russia has previously supplied Orlan unmanned aerial vehicles to more than 20 countries, TASS reported.
• A training program for Orlan-series UAV operators is being demonstrated for the first time at the STC booth; it allows users to learn assembly, launch and maintenance procedures virtually without consuming operational resources, the spokesperson told TASS.
• An interactive model of the RB-504A-E counter-drone system is on display; the system comprises a ground-based mobile radio-monitoring and electronic-countermeasure station, a drone radio-monitoring and electronic-countermeasure system, a ground-based mobile command post, and Orlan-10 and Orlan-30 UAVs, and it detects, identifies and interferes with drone control channels and navigation systems, according to TASS.
• STC’s Silok and RB-504A-E counter-drone systems are generating major interest among potential foreign customers; Silok has both civilian and military applications while RB-504A-E can target military equipment, the spokesperson said via TASS.
• The conflict in the Middle East is heightening interest in Russia’s Orlan-series UAVs among potential foreign customers, according to the STC spokesperson quoted by TASS.
• The Filin-I drone detector is described by the company as one of the best devices for attack-detection versatility because it operates across a continuous frequency range and can detect UAVs on non-standard bands; when a threat is detected it emits an audible signal imitating the hoot of an eagle owl, TASS reported.
• All STC products at the show are presented within the joint Russian exhibit of Rosoboronexport, a point repeated across the TASS dispatches.

Perspectives

From the vantage point of STC and the statements relayed by TASS, the exhibition serves to demonstrate technological maturity and export readiness. Company representatives emphasize expanded manufacturing capacity, sophisticated multi-sensor counter-drone architectures that combine radio reconnaissance and radar detection, and practical training tools that preserve airframe life. They present the Filin-I’s continuous-frequency coverage and distinctive owl-hoot alert as operational advantages in contested environments, and they attribute growing foreign inquiries partly to ongoing conflict in the Middle East and broader demand for energy-efficient systems. Export authority is consistently framed as resting with Rosoboronexport rather than the manufacturer itself.

The reporting itself is uniformly sourced to TASS, a state-owned agency whose coverage of Russian defense industry events typically aligns with official messaging. No dissenting technical assessments, competing manufacturer claims, or independent verification of production figures, export volumes or system performance appear in the provided material. Potential foreign customers are described only through the company’s assertion of “major” or “significant” interest; specific nations, contract talks or procurement timelines are not named. The Middle East conflict is cited by the spokesperson as a demand driver, yet the dispatches offer no further geographic or operational detail. Readers are therefore left with a single-channel account centered on the manufacturer’s promotional narrative at an international arms fair.

Temporal context is limited to the April 20–23 window of the DSA exhibition. Earlier reporting referenced by TASS notes prior Orlan deliveries to more than 20 countries, but no dates or recipient lists are supplied in the current dispatches. No corrections or retractions are indicated in the source material.