Kronshtadt Group
Russian manufacturer of UAVs and cruise missiles.
The Kronshtadt Group, also written as Kronstadt, is a Russian company that builds unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles. The firm started work on its Orion drone in 2011 under a Russian Ministry of Defence program called Inokhodets; the Orion resembles the American Predator/Gray Eagle and the Chinese Wing Loong in both design and purpose, and is sold to domestic and foreign buyers. In 2019, Kronshtadt showed a scale model of its Sirius drone at the MAKS-2019 air show, and the Sirius first flew by August 2023. At the Army-2020 forum, the company unveiled a full-size mockup of the Grom UCAV. Kronshtadt was a major exhibitor at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. In 2022, the United Kingdom sanctioned the group as part of measures against participants in the war in Ukraine. In 2023, Sistema withdrew its investment, causing financial trouble for the company. In May 2025, Ukraine’s HUR intelligence agency revealed that Russia was using a new Kronshtadt cruise missile, the S8000 Banderol, which is launched from the Orion and contains electronic parts from China, Japan, the US, and South Korea. On the morning of May 28, 2025, Ukrainian drones attacked Kronshtadt’s factory in Dubna, scoring eight hits on the roof. The company’s products include the Helios-RLD, Grom, Orion, Sirius, and S8000 Banderol.
- Founded
- Not stated
- Headquarters
- Not stated
- Key products
- Kronshtadt Orion, Kronshtadt Sirius, Kronshtadt Grom, Kronshtadt Helios-RLD, S8000 Banderol
- Notable events
- Orion development began in 2011; Sirius first flight by August 2023; Grom mockup unveiled at Army-2020; sanctioned by UK in 2022; factory attacked on May 28, 2025
Lore & Background
Kronshtadt began developing the Orion in 2011 as part of the Russian MoD-funded Inokhodets programme. The Orion is similar in design and role to the American Predator/Gray Eagle and the Chinese Wing Loong, and is targeted at both domestic and export markets. A scale model of the Sirius was first presented at the MAKS-2019 air show, and it made its first flight by August 2023. A full-size mockup of the Grom UCAV was unveiled at Army-2020.
The Kronshtadt Group was a major exhibitor at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. In 2022, the Group was sanctioned by the United Kingdom as part of a package targeting participants in the war with Ukraine. Sistema pulled their investment in the group in 2023, leading to financial difficulties. In May 2025, HUR revealed that Russia was using a new cruise missile produced by Kronshtadt called the S8000 Banderol, with the agency recovering electronic components from China, Japan, the US, and South Korea. The Banderol is air-launched, with the Orion being the primary launch platform. On the morning of May 28, 2025, their factory in Dubna was attacked by Ukrainian UAVs, with eight hits recorded on the roof.
Reader's Guide
The Kronshtadt Group's significance lies in its role as a Russian manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles, with its Orion UAV drawing direct comparison to the American Predator/Gray Eagle and Chinese Wing Loong. The article highlights the group's involvement in the Russian MoD-funded Inokhodets programme and its targeting of both domestic and export markets. The group's history includes a major presence at the 2021 Dubai Airshow, followed by UK sanctions in 2022 and financial difficulties after Sistema withdrew investment in 2023. The group's legacy is further shaped by the May 2025 revelation of the S8000 Banderol cruise missile, which incorporated electronic components from multiple countries, and the subsequent attack on its Dubna factory by Ukrainian UAVs. These events place Kronshtadt at the intersection of international sanctions, military technology development, and the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Did You Know?
- The S8000 Banderol cruise missile is air-launched with the Orion as the primary launch platform.
- The Kronshtadt factory in Dubna was attacked by Ukrainian UAVs on May 28, 2025, with eight hits recorded on the roof.
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