Emerging
May 26, 20262
Kalashnikov unveils Fortis UAV system that can carry FPV drones at Moscow Region forum
Kalashnikov Group has presented its Fortis UAV system for the first time at the 1st International Security Forum in the Moscow Region. The company says the drones can carry FPV drones, relay control signals to extend range, and perform surveillance and logistics missions.
Kalashnikov says the system has communications up to 100 km, can stay airborne for eight hours, and comes in three versions with different payload, speed and altitude capabilities.
Quick Facts
- Presented the Fortis unmanned aerial system for the first time
- Showed UAVs that can carry FPV drones and relay control signals
- Described three Fortis variants with different specifications
- Kalashnikov Group
- TASS
Kalashnikov Group said it is showing a new unmanned aerial system, the Fortis, for the first time at the 1st International Security Forum in the Moscow Region. The company said the vertical takeoff and landing UAVs in the system can serve as carriers for FPV drones, relaying control signals from a ground station after release to extend their operational range.
According to the statement provided to TASS, the Fortis UAV is designed for a range of tasks including aerial monitoring and logistics. The system is said to maintain stable communications at distances of up to 100 km, carry payloads of up to 18 kg, and remain airborne for up to eight hours.
Kalashnikov said it has developed three versions of the system: the Fortis-30, the Fortis-50 and the Fortis-100. The company said the models differ in payload capacity, speed and altitude, with the largest version able to carry up to 18 kg and fly at an altitude of 3,000 m.
The forum, held under the auspices of the Russian Security Council, is being used by Russian defense firms to showcase new equipment. Kalashnikov said a single Fortis system can include up to four UAVs and can be supplemented with training and diagnostic equipment at the customer's request.
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Why This Matters
This signals that Russian defense manufacturers are pushing modular UAV systems that combine carrier, relay, and mission roles in one platform. For readers tracking drone warfare or procurement, the key takeaways are the system’s claimed 100 km communications range, eight-hour endurance, and multiple variants, which indicate a focus on longer-range, more flexible unmanned operations.
Timeline & Sources
May 26, 2026
WireTASS reported that Kalashnikov Group was displaying the Fortis UAV system for the first time at the 1st International Security Forum.