At the Red Square parade in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, Russia showed off combat drones that its forces are using against Ukraine, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and more than two dozen other foreign leaders watched as trucks carrying various Russian drones passed by as part of the parade.
The commentator on the live broadcast of state television pointed out that the drones have been widely and effectively used during what he said was a special military operation in Ukraine and that this year they were part of the parade for the first time.
Among the drones that were shown during the parade to mark the victory over Nazi Germany were models such as “Lancet“, “Orlan-10“ and “Orlan-30“.
The “Orlan“ drones are used for reconnaissance and targeting. The “Lancet“ is a homing munition that is used for both strike and reconnaissance and which, according to media reports, has been used to destroy numerous units of Ukrainian military equipment, including tanks and military aircraft.
“Geran-2“ is a Russian kamikaze drone developed in Iran, where its older version was produced. It is used to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and Kiev accuses Moscow of using this type of drone to strike residential buildings. Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians.
Also for the first time this year, the parade included models of the TOS-2 "Tosochka" heavy flamethrower system and the "Malva" artillery system, TASS reported.
The T-34 tank, which in Russia is considered one of the symbols of victory in World War II, traditionally led the column of vehicles. A column of wheeled vehicles consisting of multi-purpose armored vehicles, including the BTR-82A, armored vehicles "Titan", "Phoenix", "Linza", "Spartak" and "Tiger-M", BMP-1AM "Basurmanin", BMP-2M "Berezhok", BMP-3 with additional protection, promising BMP "Kurganets-25", BMD-4M with additional protection and BTR-MDM "Rakushka".
The S-400 "Triumph" anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as the "Yars" mobile missile system, were also demonstrated.
The parade ended with flyovers by the aerobatic groups "Russian Knights" on Su-30SM aircraft and "Swifts" on MiG-29 aircraft. Finally, a formation of Su-25 aircraft flew over, painting the sky in the colors of the Russian tricolor.