At the IDEF 2025 defense exhibition in Istanbul, Azerbaijani defense tech developer RD Smart debuted its latest tactical innovation: the Qirghi Strike UAV, a lightweight, agile combat drone engineered for electronic warfare and GPS-denied environments.
Weighing just 850 grams, the Qirghi carries a 210g C4-class warhead, boasts an operational range of 5 kilometers, and delivers 20 minutes of flight time. With a top speed of 140 km/h and a maximum ceiling of 3,500 meters, the drone is designed for fast, high-risk strike missions. The entire platform, including a backpack-sized transport container (60x50x15 cm), a 470g controller, and a 305g headset, enables single-operator rapid deployment in challenging environments from -40°C to +60°C.
Built with experience gained from Azerbaijan’s Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, Qirghi fills a critical tactical gap. Unlike large drones like Bayraktar TB2 or loitering munitions such as Harop, Qirghi is tailored for urban and close-quarters operations, where walls, interference, and jamming often pose serious limitations. It uses proprietary sensors and algorithms to avoid obstacles and resist electromagnetic interference, giving it a unique edge in electronic warfare-heavy scenarios.
While many drones in its class prioritize loiter time or range, the Qirghi emphasizes maneuverability and survivability under jamming conditions. It supplements heavier platforms by providing platoon-level precision strike support in complex terrain—urban, forested, or mountainous. Compared to basic quadcopters used by irregular forces, Qirghi offers superior altitude, speed, and EW resistance, proposing a cost-effective, expendable solution to both NATO and non-NATO militaries alike.
Strategically, the unveiling of the Qirghi sends a strong message: Azerbaijan is emerging as a serious player in the global drone market. The Qirghi represents not only a technological leap in the realm of lightweight strike UAVs but also a shift in modern warfare doctrines, where electromagnetic survivability is becoming as vital as payload or flight time. As the demand for resilient, portable drones rises, especially in gray zone and hybrid warfare theaters, platforms like Qirghi are positioned to reshape tactical operations worldwide.
