Ukrainians tricked out their long-range exploding drones to unleash rocket fire on Russian air defenses

• Ukraine is installing rocket pods on one-way attack aircraft to hit Russia’s rear.

• The combination allows the drone to launch up to eight rockets while reserving the warhead for primary threats.

• The strikes were carried out at a depth of about 300 miles, one outfit said.

Ukraine adapted long range attack drones with cheap unguided rockets, using them to bomb strategic assets and suppress air defenses in Russia’s rear.

Unmanned System Forces (USF) said Monday that the units are equipping fixed-wing burst drones with eight rockets each.

The military branch released several drone camera clips showing pairs of rockets flying towards ground targets in rapid succession, with eight munitions split into two compartments, one under each wing.

At least one of those attacks was carried out by USF’s 1st Separate Center against a US naval facility on Sunday, according to the video. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.

Drone-mounted rockets were also used to harass air defense teams over fields and forests in Russia’s hinterland, according to the video.

“Mission set; zero out these machine gunners and MANPADS crews,” read a caption on the montage, referring to Man-Portable Air Defense Systems, which typically have shoulder-mounted missile launchers.

“From now on, UAVs will be equipped with rocket pods to hit different types of targets,” the USF added, using a term Ukrainians often use to describe Russian soldiers.

The 414 Magyar’s Birds, a drone unit founded by USF commander Robert Brovdi, said some rocket strikes were launched “at operational depths of up to 500 km,” or 310 miles.

This is the distance between the Ukrainian border and Moscow.

Along with the rocket attacks, the Ukrainians said they also deployed the drone’s original 132-pound explosive warhead.

Double the attack missions

Installing unguided rockets on long-range drones gives Kiev forces an expendable way to deploy them Deep in enemy territory, without risking attack helicopters or attack aircraft that traditionally launch ordnance.

These rockets also provide a more cost-effective method of warfare at this distance. Simpler unguided rockets, such as the Ukrainian or Russian S-8, can cost several thousand dollars each.

more expensive fixed wing drone, Often priced in the tens of thousands, these missiles can use cheaper rockets to attack secondary threats while saving the more powerful warhead for a primary, valuable target.

The tactic could also benefit the drone’s original mission. As the montage shows, the rockets can suppress or destroy Russian air defenses that attempt to disrupt the drone in flight.

Ukraine has launched hundreds of long-range drones at Russia, but most of them have been shot down by a layered network of surface-to-air missile systems, electronic warfare and weapons crews.

Magyar’s Birds and USF did not provide the exact name of the drone model used, but released a clip of a drone that resembles a small plane launching rockets from its wings. Last week, video surfaced among open-source intelligence social media accounts saying a drone attacked a Russian mobile air defense unit in Crimea.

Business Insider could not independently verify when or where the clip was filmed.

The design of the drone is very similar to that of the drone. FP-1 or FP-2Made by local manufacturer Fire Point. They were built to fly approximately 1,600 miles with a 132-pound warhead. They reportedly cost around $50,000 to $55,000 each.

Magyar’s Birds and 1st Separate Center did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside normal business hours.

Russia also deployed missiles rockets with long-range unmanned aerial vehicles before. In December, Ukraine’s intelligence agency announced that the Kremlin had opened fire. R60 air-to-air missiles Shahed type unmanned aerial vehicles.

The R60s were used against Ukrainian helicopters and aircraft trying to destroy delta-winged unmanned aerial vehicles, the agency said.

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