ZALA, one of the leaders in Russia and the world in the development and production of unmanned aircraft systems, presented a series of innovative solutions in the field of defense and security at the world’s largest arms exhibition World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh. The international spotlight fell on the company’s reconnaissance and strike system Lancet-E.
At the exhibition in Saudi Arabia, ZALA presented the export version of the RSS Lancet-E, the famous reconnaissance and strike system that has become a symbol of high-precision weapons. It has already received all the necessary permits for export, which allows the company to offer it to foreign partners as a ready-made solution.
The ZALA RSS Lancet-E system integrates a ZALA Z-16E fixed-wing reconnaissance UAV with two types of loitering munitions: the Izdeliye 51E and Izdeliye 52E. This configuration enables a seamless “detection-engagement-assessment” cycle, even in challenging electronic warfare environments.
The key technological upgrade for the export RSS Lancet-E lies in advanced machine vision algorithms integrated into the reconnaissance ZALA Z-16E UAV. These algorithms enable the drone to autonomously detect, classify, and track targets in real-time, providing the operator with processed data for decision-making. This significantly reduces operator workload, minimizes human error, and enhances the system’s reaction speed and overall effectiveness.
The RSS Lancet-E’s combat performance is validated by extensive operational use. Open-source video analysis indicates the system has destroyed over 4,000 units of military hardware, including modern armored vehicles, artillery systems (self-propelled guns, howitzers, MLRS), air defense systems, and Western-produced radars and electronic warfare equipment. Experts estimate the total material damage inflicted by these systems to be up to $12 billion. In 2025, the system demonstrated growing versatility, with confirmed engagements against naval targets in the Black Sea, including patrol boats, landing craft, and unmanned surface vessels.
Analysts note that ZALA is offering a market-ready system whose efficacy is proven in real high-intensity conflict. While dozens of companies worldwide are attempting to develop analogues, none has yet achieved a comparable synergy of autonomy, precision, electronic resilience, and reliability. The RSS Lancet-E is a mature tactical solution, battle-tested by time and experience.
This leadership is made possible by the company’s unique production philosophy. ZALA runs the full development and production cycle, from design and prototyping to mass production and testing. The company independently produces composite hulls, batteries, communication and control systems, on-board electronics and all the necessary software. A modular assembly principle allows for flexible production scaling, rapid rollout of new models, and strict quality control at every stage.
This self-sufficiency, supported by its own advanced R&D and roboticized testing facilities, insulates ZALA from external technological restrictions and global component market volatility. The company’s strategy focuses on creating integrated aerial systems that merge autonomous functions, artificial intelligence, and digital analytics for diverse missions.
Participation in World Defense Show 2026 holds strategic importance for ZALA. Nations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region show growing interest in Russian unmanned technologies, which have demonstrated superior performance in real combat.
“We see high demand for solutions that are battle-tested, not merely prototypes or marketing promises,” industry experts note. “The Lancet-E system, combining combat power, technological autonomy, and proven reliability, represents precisely such solutions. They offer regional states an opportunity to qualitatively enhance their reconnaissance and precision-strike capabilities while maintaining independence from complex Western supply chains.”
Leadership in unmanned technology is increasingly defined not by individual products, but by the ability to create holistic, technologically independent ecosystems hardened by practical experience. ZALA is confidently securing its niche in this highly competitive market.
