THOR OPERATOR: Ukrainian Mother Drone Presented in Poland

Ukrainian company Altair Technologies unveiled the THOR OPERATOR mother drone.

Militarnyi correspondents report that the presentation took place at the international defense exhibition MSPO in Poland.

The display featured an electric-motor version capable of carrying up to 6 kg of payload and covering a distance of 170 km. The drone can operate for 60 minutes with a maximum takeoff weight of 17.5 kg.

A version with an internal combustion engine offers a longer range of up to 400 km and can carry up to 8 kg. Its flight autonomy reaches 240 minutes, with a takeoff weight of up to 28 kg.

Both versions feature two suspension points for drones or munitions.

Although developed in Ukraine, most components are imported, with only a few domestic parts included in the design.

The UAV can perform reconnaissance missions, though another model with a retractable camera, higher resolution, and a stabilization system is better suited for this role. The current version focuses on supporting FPV drones and acting as a signal repeater.

The platform has a modular design, allowing internal components to be swapped according to customer needs.

In combat, THOR has successfully intercepted FPV drones and HE grenade rounds. It has not yet engaged Shahed drones, though a dedicated under-wing interceptor is planned. It is not designed to pursue reactive targets but is effective against conventional drones.

The UAV supports automatic, semi-automatic, and manual control modes. If communication is lost, it switches to autonomous flight with an auto-return function.

The airframe is made of composite materials using matrix molding, providing both lightness and strength.

The U.S. military has expressed interest in the platform, particularly after identifying gaps in countering Shahed-type drones.