Difference between revisions of "Orion"

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(Survivability and armour: ORION (revision))
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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Russian strike UCAV. It was introduced in [[Update "Drone Age"]].
+
The Orion is a family of Russian unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Kronstadt Group. Its first flight occurred in 2016 after a development process between 2011 and 2015. The drone was meant to be used in reconnaissance and strike missions, with an endurance of 24h and a maximum payload of 250 kg for medium altitude flights. The Strike variant operates small guided bombs or Vikhr-1V laser-guided antitank missile and has been seen in Syria in 2019 as part of its first deployment in combat. The exact number of Orions in service is unknown, but the number of units built in total is estimated at around 48 drones.
  
At its introduction, the Orion UCAV is the only drone with multiple types of loadouts to choose from when spawning.
+
Introduced in [[Update "Drone Age"]], the Orion is a very good choice for players in ground RB that have not researched any CAS and helicopter branches of the tech tree. The Orion can be fitted with 2 x 9M113M-2 or 9M113FM3 missiles. Both missiles are supersonic, have good manoeuvrability and can be used to destroy most MBTs. The first has a tandem warhead, which means that it has a high penetration but not so much post-penetration damage and requires aiming to parts of the tank with a higher ammo concentration or more crew members, like the turret. The second one uses a high-explosive warhead, and even though it may not be enough to destroy all tanks, with overpressure it will kill most MBTs with a well-placed shot in the roof of the vehicle, not to mention that most light targets, like IFVs and SPAAs, are extremely vulnerable to this kinds of warheads.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
 
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
 
|-
 
|-
| < ___ || < ___ || < ___ || > ___
+
| < 250 || < 250 || < 250 || >250
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
+
Aircraft survivability is quite an issue with most drone types, with drones being not only incredibly slow manoeuvring wise but also top speed wise.The structural integrity is also sub par with simple 7.7 mm MG's being able to take it out. One major benefit of drones is that you don't have a pilot to die as it is unmanned which means that you cant "black out: from G's either. There is no armour and the wings are quite fragile.
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
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* 2 x 9M133M-2 missiles
 
* 2 x 9M133M-2 missiles
 
* 2 x 9M133FM3 missiles
 
* 2 x 9M133FM3 missiles
 +
 +
The 9M133M-2 Kornet-М is a supersonic tandem warhead missile, good for destroying MBTs that players at this battle rating will commonly face. It has a good flight speed and decent maneuverability, so you can for the most part reach any target so long as it is within the missile's strike range.
 +
 +
The 9M113FM3 Kornet-М is a supersonic missile with a high explosive warhead. It penetrates as much as 61 mm of armour. The blast is enough to knock out most MBTs when hitting places that can trigger Overpressure, such as the turret or hull roof.
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
  
The Orion fills a good niche as the "everyman's CAS". It is available to everyone, which can be very beneficial to players who have not researched BR appropriate aircraft or helicopters. You start off by spawning at an altitude of 4000 meters above the battlefield. Your main priority is SPAA. They are usually found stationary at the enemy spawn. Destroying them will not only help your survival, but also enable your fellow helicopter/aircraft pilots to move in and provide better, uninterrupted CAS. If there are no SPAA around, your next target would be enemy tanks that are near/on the capture points. Once you fire both [[9M133M-2]] missiles, you have three options:
+
The Orion fills a good niche as the "everyman's CAS". It is available to everyone, which can be very beneficial to players who have not researched BR appropriate aircraft or helicopters. You start off by spawning at an altitude of 4000 meters above the battlefield. Your main priority is SPAA - they are usually found stationary at the enemy spawn. Destroying them will not only help your survival, but also enable your fellow helicopter/aircraft pilots to move in and provide better, uninterrupted CAS. If there are no SPAA around, your next target would be enemy tanks that are near/on the capture points. Once you fire both [[9M133M-2]] or [[9M133FM3]] missiles, you have three options:
  
# '''Loiter over the battlefield and provide reconnaissance:''' Just because you can no longer use your missiles doesn't mean you can't help your team! Fly around the battlefield and scan the area with your amazing optical camera. Once you spot any enemy vehicles that pose a threat to your team, quickly mark them on the map and tell your teammates using the in-game chat (alternatively if you have any squad mates, you can work with them and point out enemies nearby using the squad marker)
+
# '''Loiter over the battlefield and provide reconnaissance:''' Just because you can no longer use your missiles doesn't mean you can't help your team! Fly around the battlefield and scan the area with your amazing optical camera. Once you spot any enemy vehicles that pose a threat to your team, quickly mark them on the map and tell your teammates using the in-game chat (alternatively if you have any squad mates, you can work with them and point out enemies nearby using the squad marker)
# '''Land and rearm:''' Once the two ATGM's are used, reduce your throttle and glide towards the airbase. Once you land, begin any repairs and necessary rearming so you can take off. It should be worth noting that the Orion UCAV suffers from a low speed and a horrid climb rate, making the return to base and return to the battlefield incredibly lengthy. Altitude is also the only saving grace of the Orion, as helicopters/attack aircraft will generally be at lower altitudes and SPAA's will have no trouble sending a very slow target back to the hangar screen. Consequently, fighting at low altitudes should be regarded as a suicide mission.
+
# '''Land and rearm:''' Once the two ATGMs are used, reduce your throttle and glide towards the airbase. Once you land, begin any repairs and necessary rearming so you can take off. It should be worth noting that the Orion UCAV suffers from a low speed and a horrid climb rate, making the return to base and return to the battlefield incredibly lengthy. Altitude is also the only saving grace of the Orion, as helicopters/attack aircraft will generally be at lower altitudes and SPAAs will have no trouble sending a very slow target back to the hangar screen. Consequently, fighting at low altitudes should be regarded as a suicide mission.
# '''Bail out of the vehicle and spawn in a more capable vehicle:''' While it feels counterintuitive to bail out of a vehicle that cost 750 spawn points, it is the fastest and best way to get you back into the battle. Using the spawn points you accumulated, you can get enough to spawn another tank, an attack aircraft, or a helicopter. The advantage of this is that you should have cleared the path for you or other pilots to make some damage, as the SPAA's and anti air threats are no longer there.
+
# '''Bail out of the vehicle and spawn in a more capable vehicle:''' While it feels counterintuitive to bail out of a vehicle that cost 750 spawn points, it is the fastest way to get you back into the battle. Using the spawn points you accumulated, you can get enough to spawn another tank, an attack aircraft, or a helicopter. The advantage of this is that you should have cleared the path for you or other pilots to make some damage, as the SPAAs and anti-air threats are no longer there.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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* Spawns at altitude (4000 meters)
 
* Spawns at altitude (4000 meters)
* Access to two devastating [[9M133M-2]] or [[9M133FM3]] missiles
+
* Access to two devastating [[9M133M-2]] or [[9M133FM3]] missiles
* Exceptional optical camera
+
* Exceptional optical camera with 2nd Gen thermals
 
* Hard to counter by SPAA
 
* Hard to counter by SPAA
 
* Available for everyone to use
 
* Available for everyone to use
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* Low maximum speed
 
* Low maximum speed
 
* Terrible climb rate
 
* Terrible climb rate
* Access to only two ATGM's for a price higher than most helicopters and attack aircraft (which can carry more ATGM's)
+
* Access to only two ATGMs for a price higher than most helicopters and attack aircraft (which can carry more ATGMs)
 
* A large amount of time will be spent going from spawn to the airfield to rearm and back - better off bailing out and spawning another tank, aircraft, or helicopter
 
* A large amount of time will be spent going from spawn to the airfield to rearm and back - better off bailing out and spawning another tank, aircraft, or helicopter
* Small launch window.
+
* Small launch window
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
''Kronstadt began the development of Orion in 2011 as part of the Russian MoD-funded Inokhodets programme. In 2013-2015, the company revealed the first layout of the Orion. In May 2016, RIA Novosti reported that test flights of the drone had begun.''
+
[[File:Orion UCAV- Army-2020-209.jpg|thumb|Strike Version of the Orion in a demonstration]]
 +
The Orion UCAV (also known as '''Kronshtadt Orion''') is a family of unmanned vehicles developed by the Russian company Kronstadt Group. The development of the Orion platform can be traced to 2011 as part of the Russian MoD-funded Inokhodets program. The company later revealed the first layout of the Orion with its first flight being reported to happen in 2016. The Orion was idealized from the start to be a multipurpose weapon, capable of reconnaissance and strike missions.
  
''On 24 August 2021, it was reported that the Russian MoD and Kronshtadt signed a deal for the procurement of 5 combat groups of an upgraded version of Orion, Inokhodets-RU (also known as Sirius). Each group will have several drones; delivery is scheduled for 2023.''
+
The armed variant, was developed to be able to carry a payload weight of 250 kg with a maximum payload of 4 missiles or bombs. It was meant to be fitted with the Vikhr-1V laser-guided anti-tank missile and when it's used for combat operations that is its primary loadout.
  
''The large-scale Russian-Belarusian exercise Zapad in September 2021 included Orion drones.''
+
The Orion has other variants and has also been through different upgrade programs. The Orion (Inokhodets) is the base version of the Orion family and the one currently in use by the Russian Armed Forces, this version also was adapted to export, through the Orion-E variant. The Orion-E is an export variant of the reconnaissance version of the Orion, that has not found any client yet. The Orion-2 (Helios) is a larger version of the Orion, meant to be used for longer flights in high altitudes, instead of the medium altitude flights of the base Orion. This version is meant to have a flight time of around 30h, with a weight of 5 tons and is still in development, with the first flight originally intended to be in 2023. Finally the Inokhodets-RU (Sirius) was an upgraded version of the Orion with a bigger and different design. With two engines instead of one, it increased the total payload to 450 kg and the cruise speed to 295 km/h, with a flight time of 40h. While not currently in mass production, it was successfully tested in 2022 in joint operations with piloted aircraft and its first flight occurred in 2023.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
Line 135: Line 140:
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
  
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
* [[wikipedia:Kronshtadt_Orion|[Wikipedia] Kronshtadt Orion]]
* ''other literature.''
 
  
 
{{AirManufacturer Kronstadt Group}}
 
{{AirManufacturer Kronstadt Group}}
 
{{Strike UCAVs}}
 
{{Strike UCAVs}}

Revision as of 06:34, 21 December 2023

Rank VII | Premium | Golden Eagles
Challenger DS Pack
Orion
ucav_orion.png
GarageImage Orion.jpg
Orion
Show in game

Description

The Orion is a family of Russian unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Kronstadt Group. Its first flight occurred in 2016 after a development process between 2011 and 2015. The drone was meant to be used in reconnaissance and strike missions, with an endurance of 24h and a maximum payload of 250 kg for medium altitude flights. The Strike variant operates small guided bombs or Vikhr-1V laser-guided antitank missile and has been seen in Syria in 2019 as part of its first deployment in combat. The exact number of Orions in service is unknown, but the number of units built in total is estimated at around 48 drones.

Introduced in Update "Drone Age", the Orion is a very good choice for players in ground RB that have not researched any CAS and helicopter branches of the tech tree. The Orion can be fitted with 2 x 9M113M-2 or 9M113FM3 missiles. Both missiles are supersonic, have good manoeuvrability and can be used to destroy most MBTs. The first has a tandem warhead, which means that it has a high penetration but not so much post-penetration damage and requires aiming to parts of the tank with a higher ammo concentration or more crew members, like the turret. The second one uses a high-explosive warhead, and even though it may not be enough to destroy all tanks, with overpressure it will kill most MBTs with a well-placed shot in the roof of the vehicle, not to mention that most light targets, like IFVs and SPAAs, are extremely vulnerable to this kinds of warheads.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 1 000 m220 km/h
Turn time22 s
Max altitude7 500 m
EngineSNECMA Atar 9C
Type
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight1 t

The Orion has a low top speed. As a propeller-driven UCAV, its climb rate and manoeuvrability are also sub-par. Despite this, it still can carry a devastating loadout of 9M113M-2 or 9M113FM3 missiles.

Max speed
(km/h at 1,000 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
220 220 7500 22.0 22.0 2.5 2.5 250

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X X X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
390 450 N/A N/A N/A ~__ ~__
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 250 < 250 < 250 >250

Survivability and armour

Crew0 people
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear450 km/h

Aircraft survivability is quite an issue with most drone types, with drones being not only incredibly slow manoeuvring wise but also top speed wise.The structural integrity is also sub par with simple 7.7 mm MG's being able to take it out. One major benefit of drones is that you don't have a pilot to die as it is unmanned which means that you cant "black out: from G's either. There is no armour and the wings are quite fragile.

Armaments

Suspended armament

Main articles: 9M133FM3, 9M133M-2

The Orion can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • 2 x 9M133M-2 missiles
  • 2 x 9M133FM3 missiles

The 9M133M-2 Kornet-М is a supersonic tandem warhead missile, good for destroying MBTs that players at this battle rating will commonly face. It has a good flight speed and decent maneuverability, so you can for the most part reach any target so long as it is within the missile's strike range.

The 9M113FM3 Kornet-М is a supersonic missile with a high explosive warhead. It penetrates as much as 61 mm of armour. The blast is enough to knock out most MBTs when hitting places that can trigger Overpressure, such as the turret or hull roof.

Usage in battles

The Orion fills a good niche as the "everyman's CAS". It is available to everyone, which can be very beneficial to players who have not researched BR appropriate aircraft or helicopters. You start off by spawning at an altitude of 4000 meters above the battlefield. Your main priority is SPAA - they are usually found stationary at the enemy spawn. Destroying them will not only help your survival, but also enable your fellow helicopter/aircraft pilots to move in and provide better, uninterrupted CAS. If there are no SPAA around, your next target would be enemy tanks that are near/on the capture points. Once you fire both 9M133M-2 or 9M133FM3 missiles, you have three options:

  1. Loiter over the battlefield and provide reconnaissance: Just because you can no longer use your missiles doesn't mean you can't help your team! Fly around the battlefield and scan the area with your amazing optical camera. Once you spot any enemy vehicles that pose a threat to your team, quickly mark them on the map and tell your teammates using the in-game chat (alternatively if you have any squad mates, you can work with them and point out enemies nearby using the squad marker)
  2. Land and rearm: Once the two ATGMs are used, reduce your throttle and glide towards the airbase. Once you land, begin any repairs and necessary rearming so you can take off. It should be worth noting that the Orion UCAV suffers from a low speed and a horrid climb rate, making the return to base and return to the battlefield incredibly lengthy. Altitude is also the only saving grace of the Orion, as helicopters/attack aircraft will generally be at lower altitudes and SPAAs will have no trouble sending a very slow target back to the hangar screen. Consequently, fighting at low altitudes should be regarded as a suicide mission.
  3. Bail out of the vehicle and spawn in a more capable vehicle: While it feels counterintuitive to bail out of a vehicle that cost 750 spawn points, it is the fastest way to get you back into the battle. Using the spawn points you accumulated, you can get enough to spawn another tank, an attack aircraft, or a helicopter. The advantage of this is that you should have cleared the path for you or other pilots to make some damage, as the SPAAs and anti-air threats are no longer there.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Spawns at altitude (4000 meters)
  • Access to two devastating 9M133M-2 or 9M133FM3 missiles
  • Exceptional optical camera with 2nd Gen thermals
  • Hard to counter by SPAA
  • Available for everyone to use

Cons:

  • Low maximum speed
  • Terrible climb rate
  • Access to only two ATGMs for a price higher than most helicopters and attack aircraft (which can carry more ATGMs)
  • A large amount of time will be spent going from spawn to the airfield to rearm and back - better off bailing out and spawning another tank, aircraft, or helicopter
  • Small launch window

History

Strike Version of the Orion in a demonstration

The Orion UCAV (also known as Kronshtadt Orion) is a family of unmanned vehicles developed by the Russian company Kronstadt Group. The development of the Orion platform can be traced to 2011 as part of the Russian MoD-funded Inokhodets program. The company later revealed the first layout of the Orion with its first flight being reported to happen in 2016. The Orion was idealized from the start to be a multipurpose weapon, capable of reconnaissance and strike missions.

The armed variant, was developed to be able to carry a payload weight of 250 kg with a maximum payload of 4 missiles or bombs. It was meant to be fitted with the Vikhr-1V laser-guided anti-tank missile and when it's used for combat operations that is its primary loadout.

The Orion has other variants and has also been through different upgrade programs. The Orion (Inokhodets) is the base version of the Orion family and the one currently in use by the Russian Armed Forces, this version also was adapted to export, through the Orion-E variant. The Orion-E is an export variant of the reconnaissance version of the Orion, that has not found any client yet. The Orion-2 (Helios) is a larger version of the Orion, meant to be used for longer flights in high altitudes, instead of the medium altitude flights of the base Orion. This version is meant to have a flight time of around 30h, with a weight of 5 tons and is still in development, with the first flight originally intended to be in 2023. Finally the Inokhodets-RU (Sirius) was an upgraded version of the Orion with a bigger and different design. With two engines instead of one, it increased the total payload to 450 kg and the cruise speed to 295 km/h, with a flight time of 40h. While not currently in mass production, it was successfully tested in 2022 in joint operations with piloted aircraft and its first flight occurred in 2023.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

External links


Kronstadt Group
Drones  Orion

Strike UCAVs
USA  MQ-1
USSR  Orion
China  Wing Loong I