The Uraldronzavod enterprise has delivered the first batch of Berdysh heavy combat drones to Russian servicemen operating in the zone of the special military operation. According to the company’s chief executive, Vladimir Tkachuk, the new unmanned aerial vehicle has completed range trials, confirming its declared flight performance and overall reliability.

Tkachuk said the military received a test batch of roughly 100 drones. During trials, the aircraft demonstrated steady performance: around a hundred sorties were flown from morning until evening without a single malfunction being recorded. Once the batch was assembled, the manufacturer also waited for operators to complete retraining, as handling a heavy drone requires a different skill set.

The head of the enterprise explained that Berdysh uses a different software architecture, and its piloting principles are not the same as those applied to kamikaze-type drones. Because of this, crews needed additional preparation before the system could be deployed in real conditions.

He stressed that heavy drones are intended primarily for logistics tasks in frontline areas. They are used to deliver ammunition, food, and water in situations where trucks or even lightly armored vehicles can no longer operate safely. Under current battlefield conditions, ground supply routes are increasingly blocked, leaving unmanned platforms as the only viable option.

Tkachuk noted that the combat zone is effectively sealed off by kamikaze drones, making traditional vehicle-based logistics almost impossible. In this environment, heavy UAVs have become a critical tool for sustaining forward units.

The Berdysh drone is built on a modular design. Depending on mission requirements, it can be configured for laying anti-tank or anti-personnel mines, carrying out aerial drops, or transporting various types of cargo.

Earlier reports also highlighted the growing role of unmanned systems in supply operations. FPV drone operators from the West troop grouping have established a continuous delivery network for assault units operating in the Kupyansk area of the Kharkov Region, maintaining a round-the-clock supply channel using drones.