So far a 50 million dollar contract has been signed to purchase several UAVs. Types include the Bird-Eye 400 mini-UAV, the tactical I-View MK150, and the Searcher MkII.
http://kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?fromsearch=486b3f0e-14c0-4b37-b018-3c4f3e197fdb&docsid=1151550
http://rian.ru/defense_safety/20090407/167324534.html
It's unclear how many will be purchased. It's clear from the size of the order that the amounts will be token, and the units bought will be used for experimentation and possibly training exercises. It seems to me unlikely that a larger follow-on order would introduce them to regular service, but the possibility is there.
I suspect that they will be a notable part in training units for using UAVs, while numbers of domestically produced UAVs remain small. Only one Tipchak complex and one Stroy-PD complex (each one with 10 UAVs, and support vehicles) will be bought annually according to the current re-armament plan. I hope that eventually the numbers purchased will be disclosed.
http://kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?fromsearch=486b3f0e-14c0-4b37-b018-3c4f3e197fdb&docsid=1151550
http://rian.ru/defense_safety/20090407/167324534.html
It's unclear how many will be purchased. It's clear from the size of the order that the amounts will be token, and the units bought will be used for experimentation and possibly training exercises. It seems to me unlikely that a larger follow-on order would introduce them to regular service, but the possibility is there.
I suspect that they will be a notable part in training units for using UAVs, while numbers of domestically produced UAVs remain small. Only one Tipchak complex and one Stroy-PD complex (each one with 10 UAVs, and support vehicles) will be bought annually according to the current re-armament plan. I hope that eventually the numbers purchased will be disclosed.