Sixteen months after Russia launched its invasion, Ukrainian forces say Moscow is stepping up its use of cheap kamikaze drones capable of destroying much more valuable equipment that is difficult to protect.

Lancet drones, which are a type of “stealth munitions” — remotely piloted aircraft that can stay in the air for longer periods of time and deliberately crash into enemy groups or military equipment — have become an increasing threat on Ukraine’s front lines in recent months. , according to the Ukrainian military.

ZALA KYB drones are produced by Zala Aero, a subsidiary of the Kalashnikov Group. They can carry up to 3 kg of cargo (sensors and explosives), fly below the radar, with an autonomy of more than half an hour, a range of about 40 km and can reach a speed of 130 km/h.

Videos released by pro-Russian channels over the past month show Lancet drones damaging or destroying valuable equipment given to Ukraine by the West, such as the Leopard 2 tank and the Caesar self-propelled howitzer.

Lancet drones are increasingly being used at the front

Ukrainian servicemen from four different artillery crews told Reuters that the Lancet drone, also known as the Flying Kalashnikov, is one of the main threats they face on the battlefield.

Several soldiers said its use had increased in recent months.

“Earlier, in the spring, they didn’t use Lancets as often as they do now,” Bohdan, a 35-year-old artilleryman with the call sign “Dok” near Avdiivka, on the front line in the Donetsk region, told Reuters. .

Russia’s Defense Ministry is encouraging increased production of the Lancet as a cheap way to hit valuable Western equipment provided to Ukraine for its counteroffensive, said Samuel Bendett, an analyst at the Center for a New American Security.

Bendett noted that, according to open Russian sources, the Lancet drone costs about 3 million rubles, which is equivalent to 35 thousand dollars.

By comparison, analysts estimate that one S-300 missile used by Russia costs at least several hundred thousand dollars. At the same time, the Leopard 2 tank costs several million dollars.

Because the Lancet is a single-use device that self-destructs on impact, Bendett said the tactic can only be effective if the cost is kept to a few tens of thousands of dollars per drone.

Drone war in Ukraine

Ukraine has also developed powerful drone capabilities as a cost-effective way to strike Russian targets.

Attack drones can send payloads to hit a target or be kamikaze, destroying themselves on impact.

Bendett said there is displeasure among pro-war Russian commentators at the large number of Ukrainian videos showing successful drone strikes, and that the Russian defense sector now wants to create a competing narrative.

Russia appears to be copying some of Ukraine’s earlier tactics, such as luring high-value targets into more exposed positions before hitting them with “stray munitions,” Bendett said.

Lancet drones cause difficulties

Yuriy Sak, adviser to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, admitted that the increasing use of Lancet drones by Russia creates difficulties.

“Every day we shoot down at least one or two of these Lancet drones … but unfortunately it’s not a 100 percent interception rate,” Sack said.

Sack said the Lancet carries a relatively small explosive charge, between 1.5 and 5 kg.

How Lancet drones are controlled

However, despite being less powerful than a projectile or most missiles, the Lancet seems to be capable of doing significant damage.

Lancet drones are controlled by a pilot in real time.

Sack said this distinguishes them from the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone, which Russia has also widely used to strike Ukrainian targets, because such drones fly to a pre-programmed destination and cannot be controlled in the air.

How far can the latest Lacent model fly

According to Bendett, the Lancet’s newest model, the Lancet 3, can fly up to 50 km, making it more capable of striking targets deep behind Ukrainian lines than any other Russian kamikaze drone except the Shahed.

Its ability to hover and then track a target poses a threat to valuable equipment such as tanks, self-propelled artillery and missile launchers.

One of the Ukrainian vehicles at risk is the BM-21 Grad, a large Soviet-era truck that can launch up to 40 missiles over a large area.

Ukrainian missile systems targeted by Lancet drones

Its firepower makes it a prime target for Lancet drones, and last week Russian pro-war channels shared a video showing the Grad being hit by a Lancet. Reuters said it could not independently verify the images.

A member of the crew of the Grad launcher near Avdiivka, who called himself Voron, said that at the beginning of May, a Lancet drone was sent to attack his equipment.

Voron said that after firing at the Russian target, the Gradul was immediately targeted by a Russian S-300 missile, which missed by about 150 meters. However, then the Lancet drone appeared in the sky, tracking the Ukrainian missile complex.

“We decided to run… After about 50 meters he fell directly to my right. We were not affected, thank God,” said the 27-year-old.

Air defense systems are confused by the slow movement speed

Drones like the Lancet, which fly low and slow, tend to confuse traditional air defense systems, which are designed to intercept fast-moving targets that have a larger heat signature.

Metal mesh or cages can help limit damage, Ukrainian Defense Ministry official Yuriy Sak said, but the best protection is radar-equipped anti-drone automatic cannons and electronic warfare systems.

Sak said that Ukraine needs many more such systems from its allies.

Due to the lack of such systems, the Ukrainian military is often forced to try to shoot down Lancet drones with small arms.

“They fly at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour, so it is not easy to shoot them down with small arms,” ​​Sack said.

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