The Lancet drones are considered Putin's most effective weapon in the Ukraine war. Now Ukraine has apparently recreated it - and thereby responded to the lack of Western aid.
Kiev - They weigh only three to five kilos, can stay in the air for hours and then drop their deadly load in the Ukrainian war: the Lancet kamikaze drones. The weapon is said to have already given Russia's army many advantages at the front in the war of aggression against Ukraine. But now Vladimir Putin's troops themselves have to take more cover. Because Ukraine now also has this supposed miracle weapon.
Drones in the Ukraine war: Army uses replica of Putin's miracle weapon at the front
The Ukrainian army has apparently deciphered the technology of the killer drone - and quickly copied and recreated the weapon for use on the front. As
Bild
reports, the Ukrainian secret service SBU published several images and videos of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian air defense systems. The drones on display there are said to be strikingly similar in shape and design to the Russian Lancet systems. According to the report, the flying object was nicknamed “Ukro-Lancet”. The information could not initially be independently verified.
The model is the Russian Lancet kamikaze drone. The unmanned flying object is used to combat ground targets. The drone was developed in 2020 by the Russian manufacturer Zala Aero. The drone is a so-called loitering weapon. The special thing about them is that they are launched without a specific target and then circle over an area for a long time. Only when a target comes into view is the attack initiated, depending on the weapon type, either by a pilot on the ground or by the weapon's internal sensors. Some of this is also western technology. The Ukrainian military recently found Western components in a downed flying object, as
Stern
reported.
Despite losses: Russia's army owes many successes to the Lancet drone on the Ukrainian front
Some Western tanks such as the US Abrams can withstand the attacks of the Lancet drones. Nevertheless, Russia's army has already had a lot of successes with the technology on the Ukrainian front. Vehicle and tank columns were repeatedly destroyed from the air. Since the drones are too small for air defense, it is difficult for the defenders to take them out in advance, resulting in heavy losses on the other side.
According to a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies published by
the Guardian
, the Russian Air Force is currently playing a key role in developments on the Ukrainian front. Given the weak Ukrainian air defense, air attacks have recently been expanded. This was a decisive factor in the fact that the Russian troops were able to achieve important successes on some sections of the front in Ukraine, for example in the region near Kharkiv or in the capture of the city of Avdiivka.
Fear of Russian breakthrough: Ukraine fortifies the front
It remains to be seen to what extent there will be a major breakthrough in the coming weeks. The defenders are currently desperately fighting against the Russian superiority and are building huge defenses along the front. The main problem is the lack of arms support from the West. In addition to fighter jets and long-range missile systems, there is currently a shortage of ammunition. Nevertheless, it is quite possible that the Ukrainian army can gain some breathing room at least in some areas by replicating the Lancet drone. (
jkf
)