Russia's Rostec Unveils 'Lightning 13' Drone with Over 2,200 Monthly Sorties

Russian defense industrial conglomerate Rostec has officially revealed the latest variant in its Molniya (Lightning) series — the Lightning 13 — showcasing significant upgrades in payload capacity and flight performance across the platform.

Lightning 13: Key Specifications

The Lightning 13's primary technical parameters are as follows:

• Operational radius: Up to 50 km
• Payload capacity: 13 kg
• Maximum speed: Approximately 120 km/h

Compared to its predecessor, the Molniya-2, the Lightning 13 features a larger airframe and four electric motors, increasing payload capacity from 10 kg to 13 kg. According to available documentation, the new drone made its first official public appearance in May 2026.

Interceptor Variant Lightning P Also Revealed

Alongside the Lightning 13, Rostec simultaneously unveiled the Lightning P interceptor drone, also designated Molniya-10 or the Molniya air-defense variant. This model is specifically designed to engage airborne targets and serves as the dedicated air-defense version within the broader Lightning family.

Rostec officially positions the Lightning series as a "civilian derivative" of the Molniya platform, with stated use cases including reconnaissance, cargo transport, and other non-combat missions. However, the public reveal of an interceptor variant underscores the system's considerable military potential.

Deployment Scale Now Exceeds Lancet Loitering Munition

According to open-source intelligence data through end of 2025, the operational footprint of Russia's Molniya drone series has expanded significantly. Monthly sortie estimates now stand at 2,000 to 2,200 sorties, reportedly surpassing Russia's better-known Lancet loitering munition — making the Molniya series one of the most heavily deployed drone platforms in the Russian military's inventory.

Source

This report is based on official releases from Rostec.

原文來源： 查看原文