A Wartime Mystery: Russia is using a new type of drone to attack Ukraine
What does the drone look like?
Russia is using a new type of unknown kamikaze drone to attack Ukraine according to a report from the Ukrainian National Police.
Images of the drone revealed
The National Police of Ukraine published images of the unknown drone and various wreckage sites on its Telegram channel and provided some details about the weapon.
Photo Credit: Telegram @UA_National_Police
Ongoing attacks in Sumy Oblast
The new Russian drone has been used to attack targets in Sumy Oblast five times over a one-week period. The drone also carries a powerful warhead.
Photo Credit: Telegram @UA_National_Police
Civilians are being killed
Russian forces are allegedly attacking civilians on the street with the new drone, and at least one person has died and three have been injured since the drone attacks began.
Photo Credit: Telegram @UA_National_Police
Damaging cars and buildings
The new drone’s explosions have damaged vehicles and residential buildings according to the Ukrainian military news website Militarnyi.
Photo Credit: Telegram @UA_National_Police
It has a large warhead
“It is equipped with a warhead weighing almost 3 kilograms [6.64 pounds] in the nose,” Militarnyi reported about the new drone.
Photo Credit: Telegram @serhii_flash
Difficult to see coming
“Due to its small size and low-noise electric motor, the drone is difficult to spot from a distance,” Militarnyi added. However, it is not a small drone, nor it is a unique design.
Photo Credit: Telegram @UA_National_Police
An airplane-like drone
Militarnyi reported that the National Police noted the new weapon is an “airplane-type” drone. It has been painted grey and its wings are aligned in a stacked fashion.
Photo Credit: Telegram @UA_National_Police
Similar to foreign-made models
At the tail section of the new drone is an electric motor with a pushing screw, Militarnyi noted. The drone appears to be similar to some foreign-made kamikaze drones.
Photo Credit: Telegram @serhii_flash
Is the unknown drone Iranian?
Militarnyi reported that analysts have suggested the unknown drone could be an Iranian Meraj-521 kamikaze drone, though this drone carries a much smaller warhead.
Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0
A copy of the US Switchblade 300?
“It is an almost exact copy of the small American Switchblade 300 loitering munition,” Militarnyi noted before adding that the Russian drone is at least twice as large and carries a much larger warhead.
Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Tyler Forti, Public Domain
Mass production is a possiblity
Military radio technology expert Serhii Flesh also provided images of the new drone and reported on his Telegram channel that the electronics of the drone may indicate that it is being mass-produced.
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Photo Credit: Telegram @serhii_flash
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