Albatros-M5
Reconnaissance that spots groups of people itself during flight
A Russian reconnaissance UAV that, according to Ukraine's National Guard, carries a neural network analysing imagery in flight and recognising concentrations of people in the search area. In October 2026 two of them were shot down on their approach to the city of Zaporizhzhia. Little is publicly known about the type; all data comes from a Ukrainian unit and has not been independently confirmed.
Learn more in the Drone Academy →Key data
- Role
- Reconnaissance (ISR); no armament reported
- Sensors
- Day and night cameras
- Endurance
- Up to ~4.5 hours
- Onboard AI
- Neural network that analyses imagery during flight and can detect groups of people
Relevance
- Shot down (Oct 2026)
- Drone pilots of the National Guard's 23rd 'Khortytsia' brigade intercepted two Albatros-M5s on their approach to Zaporizhzhia, probably with interceptor drones, according to the brigade's combat video — source: ArmyInform (24 Oct 2026), RU Mil Tracker e-20261025-s10; not independently confirmed
- Why relevant
- Onboard image recognition shortens the step from detection to target report, but did not protect the drone against interception — compare the AI evasion of the ZALA Z-16
- Uncertainty
- No dimensions, manufacturer or range known from open sources; figures come from the Ukrainian side only
News archive 1
Analysed reports from the RU Mil Tracker about this system, newest first. Archive since 2026-07-17.
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«Штучний інтелект не врятував»: біля Запоріжжя збили два російські «Альбатроси-М5» (ArmyInform: ''Artificial intelligence did not save them': two Russian Albatros-M5 drones shot down near Zaporizhzhia')
Drone pilots of the 23rd Public Order Protection Brigade "Khortytsia" of Ukraine's National Guard intercepted two Russian Albatros-M5 reconnaissance UAVs that were flying towards the city of Zaporizhzhia, ArmyInform reports, citing a combat video released by the brigade. Both drones were detected and destroyed while still on their approach to the city; the…