{
  "id": "forposts",
  "name": "Forposts",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "RUS",
  "category": "Reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 2014,
  "operators": [
    "IND",
    "RUS",
    "SYR"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 3,
  "summary": "This is the Russian designation for Searcher Mk II UAVs being produced domestically. According to the Urals Civil Aircraft Plant, which builds the systems, the Forpost has a flight endurance of 17.5 hours, maximum takeoff weight of 1,000 lb (454 kg) and a max payload of 130 lb (60 kg).",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "State Factory Russia",
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 5.85,
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 8.55,
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Wingspan"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 1.25,
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 350,
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Empty weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "APD-85 engine",
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "47 hp",
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Endurance",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "17.5 hours",
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_kmh",
      "v": 210,
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_km",
      "v": 400,
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Cruise speed",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "111 km/h",
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "ceiling_m",
      "v": 3600,
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Line of Sight Radio (UAV & Ground Crew)",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Direct Line-of-Sight (LOS) data link",
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Beyond Line of Sight Radio (UAV & Ground Crew)",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "UAV airborne data relay for beyond LOS missions & Ground-based data relay for beyond LOS missions",
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Searcher Mk II",
      "text": "The Mk II is the fourth in a line of UAVs that began development as the Scout (the Searcher was the third generation). The Searcher Mk II is slightly larger, measuring 19 ft 2 in (5.85 m) in height and 28 ft 1 in (8.55 m) in diameter; it has higher maximum…",
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Searcher Mk III",
      "text": "The most recent variant, the Mk III was launched in 2010 and has over twice the range of the Mk II with two more hours of endurance and a higher ceiling.",
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Forpost",
      "text": "This is the Russian designation for Searcher Mk II UAVs being produced domestically. According to the Urals Civil Aircraft Plant, which builds the systems, the Forpost has a flight endurance of 17.5 hours, maximum takeoff weight of 1,000 lb (454 kg) and a max…",
      "src": [
        "weg-forposts"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "uav",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/forposts.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-forposts": {
      "title": "Forposts Russian Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Forposts_Russian_Reconnaissance_Unmanned_Aerial_Vehicle",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}