Solar-powered high-altitude pseudo-satellite UAV by NPO Lavochkin. Upper wing covered in solar panels powering two electric motors, with batteries for night flight, targeting year-round non-stop flight at 15-22 km for surveillance or comms relay. Stratospheric tests in 2017.
| Country | Russia |
|---|---|
| Subcategory | Fixed-wing |
| Subtype | Solar HAPS / pseudo-satellite UAV |
| Role | persistent surveillance / comms relay |
| Russian-made | true |
| Class | HALE/HAPS |
| Classification | HAPS / HALE (solar pseudo-satellite) |
| Mission | surveillance, communications relay, ISR |
| Variants | LA-252 |
| MTOW (kg) | 125 |
| Operators | Russia |
| Frame type | Fixed-wing |
| Propulsion | solar-electric (2 electric motors, battery for night) |
| Wingspan (m) | 23 |
| Combat-proven | No |
| Autonomy level | autonomous |
| Year introduced | 2017 |
| Max payload (kg) | 25 |
| Standard sensors | surveillance / comms payload |
| Production status | experimental/testing |
| Notable engagements | 2017 stratospheric tests |
| Service ceiling (m) | 22000 |
| Airframe / lift type | Fixed-wing |
| Control / autonomy level | Fully autonomous (human-off-the-loop, AI-navigated) |
| Domain | Aerial (UAV/UAS) |
| Mission / use case – military | Comms relay, ISR |
| Origin / supply chain | Military-grade |
| Propulsion | Electric (LiPo / Li-ion), Solar-augmented |
| Signature / detectability | RCS – small |
| Strike depth / operational role | Mothership / relay (carrier drone launching FPVs or extending link range) |
| Threat vector | Surveillance / reconnaissance |
| Weight / class | Class I – Small (20–150 kg), FAA >25 kg (Part 137 / waiver) |