Ukraine and Russia expand long-range drone campaigns as faster systems challenge defenses
publishers 14articles 17first reported 23 Sep, 09:21 UTCdeveloping since 23 Sep · 7 editions
Ukraine and Russia are expanding their use of long-range drones, with both sides deploying increasingly capable systems against military, industrial and economic targets far beyond the front line.
Ukraine’s 413 Raid regiment is using domestically designed FP-2 attack drones, miniature monoplanes with a six-metre wingspan and more than 100 kilograms of explosives, The Guardian reported. The aircraft are intended to strike hardened targets and disrupt Russian logistics. A unit commander said the regiment can now conduct more than 10 times as many missions as when it began operations two years ago.
Russia, meanwhile, has sharply increased its use of faster, jet-powered drones. Reuters reported that the aircraft are straining Ukraine’s air defenses, while Business Insider said systems that were previously rare are now being launched by the thousands. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia plans to spend $12 billion next year on jet-powered drones and loitering munitions, according to The Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine’s air defenses neutralized 134 Russian drones during a recent attack, Ukrinform reported. UNITED24 Media also published footage described as showing a fast Russian Geran-5 drone exploding after a Ukrainian interception.
Poland scrambled military aircraft after a Russian helicopter breached Polish airspace, Politico Europe reported.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 24 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
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- Source articles
- 17
- Given to the writer
- 8, 1 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
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- This version written
- 24 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
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- Human review
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