Azerbaijani Firm RD Smart Debuts High-Maneuver Qirghi Strike Drone at IDEF 2025 with Anti-Jamming Tech
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Unveiled for the first time during IDEF 2025 in Istanbul, the Qirghi Striking Unmanned Aerial Vehicle from Azerbaijani firm RD Smart represents a bold evolution in short-range drone warfare. Compact yet powerful, this tactical UAV has been designed to operate under the most extreme conditions, including GPS denial and electromagnetic interference, where speed, precision, and survivability define success. The Qirghi stands out not just as a tool of strike precision but as a symbol of Azerbaijan’s ambitions in the field of autonomous weapon systems amid a growing regional UAV race.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Displayed publicly for the first time at IDEF 2025, the Qirghi drone affirms RD Smart’s commitment to breaking into the increasingly competitive global UAV market with a system specifically designed for the realities of 21st-century electronic warfare (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)
The Qirghi is a high-maneuverability strike drone that integrates advanced vision systems, precision sensors, and an anti-jamming algorithm tailored for contested electromagnetic environments. Weighing 850 grams and carrying a 210g C4-class warhead, the drone has an endurance of up to 20 minutes and can operate within a 5 km range. Its operating speed peaks at 140 km/h with a standard flight speed of 100 km/h and a ceiling of 3,500 meters above sea level. Compact (26x26x12 cm) and backpack-transportable (in a 60x50x15 cm container), the Qirghi can be deployed rapidly by individual operators with a 2.5 kg backpack system. The complete control suite includes a 470g joystick and a 305g viewing headset, with an onboard battery weighing 550g, making it ideal for fast-paced, decentralized combat. Designed to withstand harsh environments, the Qirghi functions across a temperature range from -40°C to +60°C, making it suitable for high-altitude and extreme-weather deployments.
Development of the Qirghi reflects lessons learned from Azerbaijan’s recent combat experience, particularly the decisive role UAVs played in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. While the Bayraktar TB2 and loitering munitions such as the Harop drew global attention during that conflict, RD Smart has targeted a specific tactical niche with the Qirghi: urban or enclosed operations where walls, obstacles, or enemy jamming could otherwise impede drone missions. Using dedicated modules and sensors to avoid walls and objects, the Qirghi offers an alternative to kamikaze drones like the Switchblade or Warmate, which are often susceptible to GPS spoofing or require line-of-sight support. In contrast, Qirghi’s ability to maintain control in electronic warfare (EW) conditions is built around a proprietary algorithm that provides resistance to radio-electronic interference, a vulnerability increasingly exploited by modern militaries.
Where similar-class drones may prioritize loiter time or range, the Qirghi emphasizes maneuverability and electromagnetic survivability. It complements heavier, longer-range drones by filling the tactical gap at squad and platoon level, especially in complex terrains like urban areas or mountainous zones. Compared to legacy quadcopters used by irregular forces, Qirghi boasts a drastically higher operational ceiling (up to 3,500 meters), faster flight speeds, and higher resilience. It presents a direct answer to Western and Eastern designs alike, proposing a lightweight, expendable, and jam-resistant option for modern close-quarters drone warfare.
The Qirghi’s unveiling carries strategic weight both for Azerbaijan and for potential defense partners across the Turkic world and beyond. Militarily, the system introduces a lightweight precision-strike solution suited for gray zone conflicts and hybrid warfare, where regular forces seek tactical UAVs that can be deployed discreetly and survive EW-heavy battlefields. Geopolitically, Azerbaijan’s ability to field an indigenous system that resists electronic attacks signals a growing maturity in its defense industrial base. It also enhances its appeal as a UAV exporter in a world where demand for battlefield-ready, cost-efficient drones is soaring. This product emerges at a time when NATO, Middle Eastern, and post-Soviet states are all seeking tactical drones with hardened communication and navigation protocols.
Displayed publicly for the first time at IDEF 2025, the Qirghi drone affirms RD Smart’s commitment to breaking into the increasingly competitive global UAV market with a system specifically designed for the realities of 21st-century electronic warfare. Compact, lethal, and resistant to jamming, the Qirghi reflects not only Azerbaijan’s technological ambitions but also a broader shift in military thinking, where survivability in electromagnetic-contested environments is just as critical as flight performance or payload. As military doctrines evolve around drone warfare, platforms like Qirghi are poised to shape tactical decision-making and redefine the strike capabilities of light infantry and special operations units worldwide.
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Unveiled for the first time during IDEF 2025 in Istanbul, the Qirghi Striking Unmanned Aerial Vehicle from Azerbaijani firm RD Smart represents a bold evolution in short-range drone warfare. Compact yet powerful, this tactical UAV has been designed to operate under the most extreme conditions, including GPS denial and electromagnetic interference, where speed, precision, and survivability define success. The Qirghi stands out not just as a tool of strike precision but as a symbol of Azerbaijan’s ambitions in the field of autonomous weapon systems amid a growing regional UAV race.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Displayed publicly for the first time at IDEF 2025, the Qirghi drone affirms RD Smart’s commitment to breaking into the increasingly competitive global UAV market with a system specifically designed for the realities of 21st-century electronic warfare (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)
The Qirghi is a high-maneuverability strike drone that integrates advanced vision systems, precision sensors, and an anti-jamming algorithm tailored for contested electromagnetic environments. Weighing 850 grams and carrying a 210g C4-class warhead, the drone has an endurance of up to 20 minutes and can operate within a 5 km range. Its operating speed peaks at 140 km/h with a standard flight speed of 100 km/h and a ceiling of 3,500 meters above sea level. Compact (26x26x12 cm) and backpack-transportable (in a 60x50x15 cm container), the Qirghi can be deployed rapidly by individual operators with a 2.5 kg backpack system. The complete control suite includes a 470g joystick and a 305g viewing headset, with an onboard battery weighing 550g, making it ideal for fast-paced, decentralized combat. Designed to withstand harsh environments, the Qirghi functions across a temperature range from -40°C to +60°C, making it suitable for high-altitude and extreme-weather deployments.
Development of the Qirghi reflects lessons learned from Azerbaijan’s recent combat experience, particularly the decisive role UAVs played in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. While the Bayraktar TB2 and loitering munitions such as the Harop drew global attention during that conflict, RD Smart has targeted a specific tactical niche with the Qirghi: urban or enclosed operations where walls, obstacles, or enemy jamming could otherwise impede drone missions. Using dedicated modules and sensors to avoid walls and objects, the Qirghi offers an alternative to kamikaze drones like the Switchblade or Warmate, which are often susceptible to GPS spoofing or require line-of-sight support. In contrast, Qirghi’s ability to maintain control in electronic warfare (EW) conditions is built around a proprietary algorithm that provides resistance to radio-electronic interference, a vulnerability increasingly exploited by modern militaries.
Where similar-class drones may prioritize loiter time or range, the Qirghi emphasizes maneuverability and electromagnetic survivability. It complements heavier, longer-range drones by filling the tactical gap at squad and platoon level, especially in complex terrains like urban areas or mountainous zones. Compared to legacy quadcopters used by irregular forces, Qirghi boasts a drastically higher operational ceiling (up to 3,500 meters), faster flight speeds, and higher resilience. It presents a direct answer to Western and Eastern designs alike, proposing a lightweight, expendable, and jam-resistant option for modern close-quarters drone warfare.
The Qirghi’s unveiling carries strategic weight both for Azerbaijan and for potential defense partners across the Turkic world and beyond. Militarily, the system introduces a lightweight precision-strike solution suited for gray zone conflicts and hybrid warfare, where regular forces seek tactical UAVs that can be deployed discreetly and survive EW-heavy battlefields. Geopolitically, Azerbaijan’s ability to field an indigenous system that resists electronic attacks signals a growing maturity in its defense industrial base. It also enhances its appeal as a UAV exporter in a world where demand for battlefield-ready, cost-efficient drones is soaring. This product emerges at a time when NATO, Middle Eastern, and post-Soviet states are all seeking tactical drones with hardened communication and navigation protocols.
Displayed publicly for the first time at IDEF 2025, the Qirghi drone affirms RD Smart’s commitment to breaking into the increasingly competitive global UAV market with a system specifically designed for the realities of 21st-century electronic warfare. Compact, lethal, and resistant to jamming, the Qirghi reflects not only Azerbaijan’s technological ambitions but also a broader shift in military thinking, where survivability in electromagnetic-contested environments is just as critical as flight performance or payload. As military doctrines evolve around drone warfare, platforms like Qirghi are poised to shape tactical decision-making and redefine the strike capabilities of light infantry and special operations units worldwide.
