IAI Forpost

The Forpost is a reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) produced in Russia, derived from the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Searcher Mk II. Following the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, Russia sought to acquire unmanned systems from Israel. In 2012, a licensing agreement was established for the domestic Russian production of the Searcher Mk II under the designation Forpost. After Israel revoked the licensing and ceased part deliveries in 2016 following international sanctions, Russia developed the Forpost-R, a version utilizing domestic components. The Forpost-R performed its first flight in August 2019, with the Russian Ministry of Defence ordering 10 systems. Production included 30 original Forpost systems, each consisting of three aircraft.

The aircraft features a twin-boom configuration with a rear-mounted 35 kW (47 hp) Limbach L 550 piston engine driving a three-blade adjustable-pitch propeller. It has a wingspan of 8.55 meters, a length of 5.85 meters, and a gross weight of 450 kg. The airframe carries a maximum payload of 120 kg. Performance specifications include a maximum speed of 201 km/h, a loiter speed between 110 and 150 km/h, and a service ceiling of 6,100 meters. The Russian-licensed version has a specified range of 250 km and a flight endurance of up to 20 hours.

The Forpost-R variant functions as an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of carrying munitions for strike missions. Armament includes the X-BPLA anti-tank missile and other guided missiles. In 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defence released footage of the Forpost-R destroying a multiple launch rocket system in Ukraine from an altitude of 3,000 meters.

Operational deployment of the Forpost includes participation in the Zapad 2021 military exercises. In combat operations, Russia has utilized the platform in Syria, where it was used in June 2024 to strike militants. During the invasion of Ukraine, the Forpost-R has been employed for both reconnaissance and strike roles. Reported losses include an aircraft found in the Golan Heights in 2018 and another shot down in the Zhitomir Oblast in March 2022. Ukraine claimed the first interception of a Forpost by an interceptor drone at an altitude of 4 km in April 2025.

Main Variants

• Searcher 1: The initial reconnaissance version introduced in 1992 to replace the Mastiff and Scout UAVs.
• Searcher 2: An enlarged variant introduced in 1998 featuring updated avionics and increased flight endurance.
• Forpost: A Russian-licensed copy of the Searcher Mk II produced with Israeli-supplied components.
• Forpost-R: A Russian-developed version featuring a fully domestic supply chain and strike capabilities.

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Missiles payload:

• Anti-Tank X-BPLA anti tank missile