Russia Created a Mothership Drone Controlled via Starlink

The Russian company KB Valkyriya demonstrated at the exhibition the RD-8 mothership drone, which, in addition to the usual radio channels, can be controlled via Starlink or mobile networks.

The VD: Enemy Intelligence community, which monitors Russian developments, noticed the presentation of the drone.

Judging by the Russian developer’s website, a whole series of drones is offered that can be controlled via Starlink or mobile networks – RD-7, RD-8, RD-10, and RD-12. The massive use of this technology will greatly simplify the use of drones for the Russian military in the Ukrainian rear, as Starlink works in Ukraine, unlike in Russia.

The Russian manufacturer positions its drones as a multi-purpose platform that can be a reconnaissance drone, a mothership drone, and a repeater, including for interceptor drones.

Drone characteristics

The RD-8, presented at the exhibition, is claimed to be a drone to support assault troops and isolate the line of combat to a depth of 150 km. It is designed to clear strongholds before an assault using FPV.

The drone has a wingspan of 3.8 m, is equipped with two electric motors with a hybrid power plant, and has a tank that holds 5 liters of gasoline. Takeoff weight is 30 kg in the scout configuration and 35 kg as a mothership drone; flight duration is up to 4.5 and 3 hours, respectively; maximum altitude is up to 3 km; range is up to 150 km; cruising speed is 80 km/h, maximum speed is 200 km/h.

The drone can carry two FPV drones with a warhead of 3 kg each. The scout is equipped with day and night cameras. The daytime camera has a 30x zoom, and the night camera has a thermal imager with a 640×512 pixel matrix.

The largest drone offered by the developer is the RD-12, which has a wingspan of 5 meters, is equipped with two electric motors with a hybrid power plant, and a tank that holds 15 liters of gasoline. The takeoff weight is 60 kg for the scout and 45 kg for the mothership drone. Flight duration – up to 20 hours for the scout and 7 hours for the mothership; flight altitude – up to 5 km; range – 800 km for the scout and 400 km for the mothership; cruising speed – 90 km/h, maximum speed – 200 km/h.

The drone can carry two FPV drones with a warhead of 3 kg each. The payload of the reconnaissance drone is not specified, but it is said that it can carry 20 kg of payload.

Russian companies or individuals are not allowed to sell Starlink, but there is a smuggling market that meets the needs of the Russian military and civilians.

Most terminals are sold via Telegram. One of the chat rooms offers the terminal itself and a connection for only $1,000. The service is free. Each client receives recommendations on how to avoid blocking, as well as videos in which Russian military personnel who are already using the terminals share their experiences.

To do this, service companies are looking for those who can “lend” their data. Users in Telegram customer support chats say that it is not difficult to buy and register a terminal abroad. This is mostly done in Europe and delivered via the United Arab Emirates.

One chat warns not to activate the terminal in Russia. Another supplier warns that terminals purchased in the EU may be blocked 90 days after activation. But there is also a way out: register it using Ukrainian data.