Militarnyi Videonews
- Video online apparently shows a new jet-powered Ukrainian drone.
- Ukraine is gearing up its production of jet-powered "kamikaze" drones.
- But an expert told Business Insider it might not be able to produce enough.
Ukraine appears to have developed a new, jet-powered exploding drone that could strike deep into Russia.
Footage of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was first posted by Ukrainian drone developer Max Glushak on Facebook and reported by military websites, including Militarnyi.
The video shows a missile-shaped drone with smaller wings at the front and larger ones at the back. It appears to use a trolley-launching system similar to Ukraine's Beaver drones.
However, it's unclear if the new model is a prototype, or intended for wider production. Business Insider could not independently verify the footage and has contacted Glushak and Ukraine's defense ministry for comment.
It would not be the first jet-powered drone Ukraine has produced amid an intensifying race with Russia to create ever faster and more devastating UAVs.
The so-called "kamikaze" drones are designed to fly for long distances and are fitted with explosives that can reach deep behind enemy lines.
Ukrainian drones have reached as far as St Petersburg 550 miles from Ukraine as Kyiv steps up its attacks on Russian infrastructure.
Models fitted with jet engines are potential game changers, say experts, with their speed making them much harder to shoot down by air defenses.
James Rogers, a special advisor on drones to the UK's Military of Defence, told BI that the Ukraine had taken a "significant step with the advancement of its new jet-powered 'suicide drone'", but added that Russia may still have the upper hand.
But Russia appears to have the edge
Russia has launched waves of attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, mainly using Iranian Shahed drones. In September, Iran released a video showing a new jet-powered model of its drones — the Shahed 238 —being tested.
According to The Drive, Russia may already have deployed the model against Ukraine.
Rogers said that though Ukraine seemed to be on the path to deploying its own jet-powered drones, its capacity to produce them lagged behind Russia's ability to obtain them.
"Not only does Russia have the potential to acquire these drones in greater numbers, but the systems themselves reportedly have variants with in-built autonomous elements and radar-seeking technology," he said.
Rogers said that Ukraine's overstretched manufacturing sector might struggle to produce enough jet-powered drones, which are more expensive and difficult to build. And their effectiveness remains unproven.
"It remains unclear how far these drones can fly, what sensor and explosive payload they will be equipped with, and what measures are in place to help them evade Russian air defense," Rogers said.