Russia is promoting an export version of the Garpiya-A1 strike UAV, designated Garpiya-A1E, on the international market.
The Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport announced this, claiming it launched an international marketing campaign for the system in August.
The manufacturer says it is ready not only to export the systems but also to localize their production in Russia-friendly countries.
The export version of the drone is planned to be demonstrated to potential foreign customers at exhibitions in Vietnam and China.
According to the Russian corporation, Almaz-Antey has already established serial production of the Garpiya-A1E and allegedly has sufficient capacity to fulfill domestic and export orders simultaneously.
Meanwhile, production of the basic Garpiya-A1 involves enterprises of the Almaz-Antey concern, including the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant (IEMZ) Kupol.
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence also links the Russian company VNIIR-Progress to Garpiya-A1 production. The company manufactures jam-resistant navigation modules of the Kometa family.
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence lists the following characteristics for the Garpiya-A1:
- maximum takeoff weight of up to 300 kilograms;
- maximum speed of 185 km/h;
- range of up to 1,500 kilometers;
- ability to carry up to 150 kilograms of payload.
However, images of the Garpiya-A1E show a different navigation antenna configuration, visually identifiable as a four-element Kometa-M4.
Russian forces have used a modified Garpiya-A1 series KK during strikes against Ukraine and in Mali.
Militarnyi previously reported on the use of engines from the Chinese manufacturer Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine in Garpiya drones.
Source: Militaryni
