Russia Is to Launch Drones Into the Stratosphere
Russian developers are preparing a scaled-up unmanned aircraft designed to reach altitudes of up to 15 kilometers and carry payloads of as much as 500 kilograms.
In 2026, the Russian company Geron plans to present a scaled model of its stratospheric drone Khishchnik (Predator). The company’s chief executive, Vladimir Tabunov, said the aircraft is designed for long-duration operations at very high altitudes.
High and Long-Endurance
Khishchnik is being developed as a stratospheric unmanned platform capable of climbing to altitudes of up to 15,000 meters and carrying as much as 500 kilograms of onboard equipment. Aircraft of this class are designed for extended flights and operations over vast areas.
Stratospheric drones occupy a middle ground between conventional aircraft and satellites. They can remain airborne for weeks at a time, carrying out surveillance, communications, and data transmission tasks, without the need for daily takeoffs and landings.
Fully Domestic Components
According to Tabunov, about 80 percent of the project’s components are currently localized. The company aims to raise that figure to 100 percent by the time development is completed, meaning all key systems and assemblies would be manufactured in Russia.
The development of such an aircraft could give Russia its own platform for sustained operations in the stratosphere, enabling long-range monitoring, communications, and high-altitude reconnaissance using domestically developed technologies.
