Ukraine Transforms Passenger Jet into Powerful Suicide Drone with Record-Range
Ukraine continues to astonish the world with its innovative prowess, turning civilian aircraft into formidable suicide drones. The Ukrainian ingenuity in technological advancements has led to the creation of a heavy, long-range drone kamikaze, capable of traversing over 1000 kilometers and carrying significant combat payload.
German news outlet Bild reports that the repurposed aircraft features a small engine, nearly undetectable by Russian air defense systems. Combined with low-altitude flight and special radio-location protection, this makes the drone a challenging target for enemy forces. Bild emphasizes that while the engine of the Storm Shadow missile heats up to 870 degrees, the engine of this repurposed aircraft reaches a maximum of 100 degrees, remaining elusive to Russian air defense systems.
The effectiveness of this drone variant has been proven in action. In April 2024, they were deployed to strike a Shahed drone kamikaze production facility in Tatarstan, Russia, situated 1200 kilometers away in the "Alaбуга" special economic zone. Another strike was targeted at military barracks in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya.
These operations demonstrate Ukraine’s successful development of strategic weapons for deep strikes, a vital defense element amid Russia’s continuing full-scale invasion.
While the number of these drones is currently limited, Bild analyst Julian Reepke notes that Ukraine has every chance to increase production and continue developing its capabilities, given its track record of success and relentless technology advancements.
Ukrainian engineers are proving that ingenuity and professionalism can overcome any challenge. The new long-range kamikaze drone is another testament to Ukraine not only defending its territories but also delivering a powerful counterattack to the enemy by integrating advanced technologies into its operations.
Earlier, Dialog.UA reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) had detailed the advantages of a new drone utilizing optical fiber technology.
