Molniya

The Molniya is a Russian family of fixed-wing, short- and medium-range loitering munitions. First reported around November 2024, the drone is manufactured by the Atlant Aero plant in Taganrog. It is designed for low-cost, decentralized manual assembly in large numbers. The airframe is constructed from plywood, plastic, cardboard, and tape, which provides a low radar signature. The drone has a wingspan of approximately 1.5 meters, a maximum take-off weight of about 10 kg, and an endurance of up to 40 minutes. Depending on the variant, propulsion is provided by either single or twin electric motors, or gasoline-powered piston engines. The estimated unit cost ranges from 300 to 1,000 USD.

Design

The drone has a range of 30 to 50 km, with some versions reaching 60 km, and operating speeds between 90 km/h and 160 km/h. It carries a typical payload of 3 to 5 kg, but can accommodate heavier munitions including a 7 kg RPG-7 warhead or a 10 kg TM-62 anti-tank mine. The Molniya occupies an operational niche between first-person-view (FPV) quadcopters and larger loitering munitions like the Lancet.

Operational History

In combat, the Russian military deploys the Molniya to strike logistics, rear positions, and equipment clusters beyond the immediate line of contact. It is frequently used in coordinated attacks alongside Geran and Italmas drones, particularly targeting the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian intelligence estimates production rates of up to tens of thousands of units per month.

Variants

• Molniya-1: A strike variant of the loitering munition.
• Molniya-2: A larger strike variant powered by gasoline-fueled piston engines.
• Molniya-2R: A reconnaissance variant documented by Ukrainian defense intelligence.