Profile
- Type
- Loitering munition
- Conflict side
- Russia
- Origin
- Russia
- Service note
- Introduced shortly before the full-scale Russia-Ukraine War and used during the 2022 invasion period
Aircraft & UAVs
ZALA Lancet
The ZALA Lancet is a Russian electric loitering munition with a distinctive dual X-wing layout, launched from a catapult and guided by an onboard television channel for terminal attack. In the Russia-Ukraine War it became one of Russia's prominent tactical strike UAVs, used against Ukrainian artillery, air-defense systems, armor, vehicles, and other battlefield targets.
- Conflict side
- Russia
- Built by
- ZALA Aero Group
- Built in
- Russia
Service History
- In service
- Russian service; documented in Ukraine from 2022
- Used by
- Russian Armed Forces
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Designer
- ZALA Aero Group
- Designed
- Presented in 2019
- Built by
- ZALA Aero Group
- Built in
- Russia
- Produced
- 2019-present
- Variants
- Lancet-1, Lancet-3, Izdeliye-53
Specifications
- Launch method
- Catapult launch
- Maximum takeoff weight
- Up to 12 kg
- Warhead or payload
- 1-3 kg warhead class; Lancet-3 payload reported as 3 kg
- Endurance
- Lancet-3 flight time reported as about 40 minutes
- Range
- About 40 km for Lancet-3 class systems
- Propulsion
- Electric motor
- Guidance
- Television guidance channel with optoelectronic targeting
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Russia
Russian forces have used ZALA Lancet loitering munitions in Ukraine for precision attacks on Ukrainian ground targets, including artillery, air-defense, armor, and vehicle targets.
ZALA Lancet Images
Related Weapon Systems
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ZALA Lancet Drone: The Spear of the 21st CenturyPublisher: ZALA Aero Group | Note: Supports manufacturer background, electric propulsion, dual X-wing layout, launch relationship to KUB-BLA, Lancet-1/Lancet-3 variants, 12 kg weight, 40-minute Lancet-3 flight time, 3 kg payload, and television guidance description. | Accessed: 2026-06-19Kamikaze Drones Successfully Used in Russia's Special Operation in UkrainePublisher: TASS | Note: Direct Russia-Ukraine War conflict-use source citing Rostec that KUB and Lancet drones were being intensively employed in combat operations in Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-06-19Russian Lancet-3 Kamikaze Drone Filled with Foreign PartsPublisher: Institute for Science and International Security | Note: Direct Russia-Ukraine War conflict-use source documenting Lancet-3 attacks against Ukrainian systems, including Western-supplied armor and artillery. | Accessed: 2026-06-19Lancet: The Russian Kamikaze Drone Blunting Ukraine's CounteroffensivePublisher: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | Note: Supports Russia-Ukraine War battlefield context, including Russian Lancet use against Ukrainian forces and high-value targets. | Accessed: 2026-06-19ZALA Lancet 1.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary ZALA Lancet image, listed as a CC0 file derived from a 2020 Army exhibition photograph. | Accessed: 2026-06-19