The device should be used for strikes on ground targets by equipping it with a warhead.
The Russian Federation is masking the sale of "Lightning" drones abroad: Defense Express reveals the details.
During the UMEX 2026 arms exhibition in the United Arab Emirates, Russians showcased three new versions of their "Lightning" series drones. In particular, the versions shown were: Lightning 2, Lightning P, and Lightning R.
According to Defense Express, in addition to the presentation at the exhibition, the translation of the drone's name into English also further indicates intentions regarding its future export abroad. All these new versions are a continuation of the "Lightning-2" version, which is equipped with two engines.
However, as analysts note, they have important differences: Lightning 2 is designed to deliver cargo weighing up to 6 kg over a distance of up to 50 km, with examples of such cargo including medical supplies. Its potential applications also include training UAV operators and monitoring during emergencies. However, it is evident that it should actually be used for strikes on ground targets by equipping it with a warhead.
"In turn, Lightning P is the fastest model, which has a maximum speed of up to 270 km/h, and is officially intended for operational terrain monitoring. Judging by the available photographs, it has a smaller wing area, which negatively affects the weight of the cargo it can carry. However, due to its quite high speed, Lightning P can be considered as an interceptor drone," the material states.
The third variant, Lightning R, as Defense Express writes, unlike all the others, is equipped with a powerful daytime and thermal imaging camera with 30x zoom, mounted on a gyroscopic suspension. Officially, this version is intended for monitoring and observation and is a reconnaissance variant.
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