Klin, Sarych-2 and Surprise: Ukrainian Forces Strike Drone Manufacturer Roboavia in Russia’s Rostov Region

Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a production and storage building belonging to Roboavia, a company that manufactures AI-equipped Klin kamikaze drones, near the settlement of Khutor Lenina in Russia’s Rostov region.

The strike was reported by the press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the General Staff, the strike on October 16 damaged the company’s infrastructure. Roboavia also manufactures Sarych-2 reconnaissance drones and Surprise quadcopters.

Roboavia

According to the Center for Investigative Journalism, the company currently operates four production sites and one training site in occupied Crimea and Russia. Investigators report that Roboavia LLC’s revenue rose from 450 million rubles to 1.7 billion rubles between 2023 and 2025, while its net profit increased fivefold in 2025.

The company began operating in 2015 at an aviation club at 62A Danylova Street in occupied Simferopol and continues to operate there. Database records list the software department and security service of Roboavia LLC’s Simferopol branch at this address.

Roboavia’s second production site in Simferopol is located at 133 Krylova Street. According to the Center for Investigative Journalism, the former sewing factory of the Ukrainian Society of the Deaf (UTOG) houses a polymer and composite products workshop, as well as several sections for machining, electronics, aircraft assembly and outfitting, configuration and testing, and payloads.

In December 2023, Roboavia changed its registered address from Simferopol to 1 Building 1, Stepova Street, Khutor Lenina, Aksai District, Rostov region. In 2024, reports said the company planned to invest more than 752 million rubles (about $8 million at the average 2024 exchange rate) in establishing a drone production facility in Aksai District, Rostov region.

According to open-source information, about 40 employees may work at the production facilities in Khutor Lenina. The staff at this site includes the company’s general director, deputy director for security, chief and lead engineers, process engineers, electronics specialists, and power engineers.

Roboavia’s largest production site is located at 9 Krasnoarmeyskaya Street in Rostov-on-Don. A defense and space company has operated at this address since the 1960s. It is now known as JSC Production and Design Enterprise IRIS and is subordinate to Roscosmos.

Sarych-2 is a Roboavia reconnaissance drone designed for aerial surveillance and target detection. It has a flying-wing configuration and is powered by an electric motor. Reports in 2023 said it had undergone trials with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Its stated takeoff weight is 14 kg, with a wingspan of 3.1 meters. It can fly at altitudes of up to 5 km and reach speeds of 108 km/h.

Klin kamikaze drones are designed to search for and strike ground targets. The manufacturer claims the drone can autonomously detect and attack targets using AI, has a tactical range of up to 120 km when a relay is available, and can remain airborne for about 80 minutes. Its takeoff weight is 13.5 kg, including a 5 kg warhead. The fuselage is 1.6 meters long, the wingspan is 1.9 meters, the stated flight speed is 108-300 km/h, and the maximum operating altitude is 2 km.

Surprise is a Roboavia strike quadcopter developed for Russia’s Ground Forces. It is designed to attack ground targets by dropping munitions. Its foldable design allows it to be carried in a backpack. The stated weight is 24 kg, with a maximum payload of 7 kg. Two 82 mm mortar rounds are listed as a possible armament option.