Role & capabilities
- Reconnaissance aircraft
- Pneumatic launch; parachute recovery
- Primary domain
- Air
- System type
- Reconnaissance aircraft
- Developer / manufacturer
- ZALA / CST
- Origin / production countries
- Russia
- Other names
- Zala 421-16E; Z-16
- Variants / configurations
- Z-16 baseline; other numbered ZALA variants differ
- Operators / programme customers
- Russia
Evidence & current status
Identification and specification are attributed to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence. Captured-airframe evidence is stronger than a promotional claim, but one specimen does not establish every production variant or an independently verified fleet size.
Role & programme
An electric Russian reconnaissance aircraft identified in GUR’s catalogue as Z-16 (421-16E). The ZALA family also contains several differently configured aircraft.
The record supplies declared characteristics and associates the product with the ZALA industrial network. The table is a public intelligence attribution, not independent flight testing. Z-16 VTOL, Z-16-5 and other numbered versions are not interchangeable with this baseline. Observation aircraft in this family are also distinct from ZALA’s expendable Lancet systems.
Sourced specifications
Figures apply to the named configuration. Maximum values are not guaranteed operating performance.
| Specification | Reported value | Context & source |
|---|---|---|
| Airframe | Electric fixed-wing reconnaissance aircraft | GUR-published assessment or declared specification. A party to the conflict; not an independent performance test. Source ↗ |
| Launch / recovery | Pneumatic launch; parachute recovery | GUR-published assessment or declared specification. A party to the conflict; not an independent performance test. Source ↗ |
| Propulsion | Electric motor | GUR-published assessment or declared specification. A party to the conflict; not an independent performance test. Source ↗ |
| Dimensions | 2.815 m wingspan | GUR-published assessment or declared specification. A party to the conflict; not an independent performance test. Source ↗ |
| Mass | 10.5 kg maximum take-off mass | GUR-published assessment or declared specification. A party to the conflict; not an independent performance test. Source ↗ |
| Endurance | More than 4 h | GUR-published assessment or declared specification. A party to the conflict; not an independent performance test. Source ↗ |
| Range | More than 75 km communications distance | GUR-published assessment or declared specification. A party to the conflict; not an independent performance test. Source ↗ |
| Speed | 65–110 km/h | GUR-published assessment or declared specification. A party to the conflict; not an independent performance test. Source ↗ |
| Altitude | Up to 5,000 m | GUR-published assessment or declared specification. A party to the conflict; not an independent performance test. Source ↗ |
| Payload | More than 1.8 kg declared payload | GUR-published assessment or declared specification. A party to the conflict; not an independent performance test. Source ↗ |
| Sensors | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source ↗ |
| Communications / navigation | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source ↗ |
Publication history
- — Expanded catalogue profile with sourced specifications, variant distinctions, programme evidence and explicit public data gaps.
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Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.
- Ukraine GUR public system record (opens in a new tab)Government intelligence assessment — Ukraine
- Ukraine Interior Ministry ZALA aircraft record (opens in a new tab)Government / operator