Patriot K30T, Autel EVO II Pro V3 Shadow at St. Petersburg Forum

An unexpected highlight from the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) has made quite a stir. A drone, dubbed “Patriot K30T,” took center stage among a multitude of new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as per a report by RBC. Interestingly, the “Patriot K30T” is uncannily similar to the Autel EVO II Pro V3 manufactured by Autel Robotics, a Chinese company. The evidence was observed by Verstka journalists, who noted its striking resemblance.

The physical characteristics of the “Patriot K30T” drone, from its distinctive front and side sensors to its radiator vents, echo the features of the EVO II Pro V3, a drone listed in Autel Robotics' product catalog. The two drones also share similar specifications. Both boast a 16x zoom capability, an operation time of 40 minutes, and a reach of 15 km. On international platforms like Amazon and AliExpress, the EVO II Pro V3 is available for around $2,500 and $2,050, respectively. As of now, the price of the showcased “Patriot K30T” at SPIEF remains undisclosed. The propaganda Telegram channel Readovka said this was designed “for the Russian army.” 

SPIEF, initially conceptualized as a platform for fostering discourse and informal meetings between government and private sectors, appears to have metamorphosed over time. The Insider noted in 2022 how the event, akin to the “Russian Davos,” has evolved into a peculiar blend of a ruling party meeting and a collective therapy session. The participation of the Taliban and the leaders of the Donbas quasi-republics underscored the event's decorative nature, suggesting it may have outlived its original utility. The forum has seemingly shifted from a beacon of domestic capitalism to a spectacle with feigned admiration from a compliant audience. This evolution was thoroughly documented by The Insider in a June 2022 piece.

Hat tip to DroneXL reader Josh who shared this information from the Telegram channel Readovka.