“Photo: FB General Staff of the Armed Forces During the meeting with Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyi expressed his readiness to provide the US with Ukrainian drones in exchange for American Tomahawk missiles. This proposal has a real basis, since Ukraine during the war developed a number of its own UAVs, which are unique in their kind. It is important that the Ukrainian military tested them in combat […]”, — write: businessua.com.ua
Photo: FB General Staff of the Armed Forces
During a meeting with Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyi expressed his readiness to provide the US with Ukrainian drones in exchange for American Tomahawk missiles. This proposal has a real basis, since Ukraine during the war developed a number of its own UAVs, which are unique in their kind. It is important that the Ukrainian military tested them in combat, taking into account the experience of modern warfare. Journalist Briefly about will talk about drones that may be of interest to Americans and our other allies.
Among our innovations is the ACE ONE combat drone, which is based on advanced Stealth (invisibility) technologies. This, as well as the special shape of the flat wing, make the drone almost invisible to radars, which makes it difficult to detect. The speed of ACE ONE is close to supersonic – 1000 km/h. Management is carried out with the help of an artificial intelligence system, which allows you to coordinate a group of such drones.
ACE ONE weighs 7.5 tons, and the mass of the payload reaches 900 kg. The power plant is a Ukrainian AI-332 engine, which allows you to develop speeds almost to supersonic speed – Mach 0.95. It can rise to a height of up to 13.7 km. The declared operating range is 1,500 km. In addition to inconspicuousness, the key feature of ACE ONE is a control system that ensures functioning in the conditions of modern warfare with the active use of EW.
The speed of ACE ONE is close to supersonic – it is 1000 km/h. Photo: building-tech.org
Punisher impact drone The Punisher impact drone is a Ukrainian-made reusable device. It has exceptional characteristics: it can fly at a distance of up to 45 km at a speed of 198 km/h and deliver explosives to the target with an accuracy of up to four meters. Its warhead is a high-explosive fragmentation charge (SVP), which can contain 2,300 metal balls-hitting elements and 600 grams of plasticized explosive.
The basic kit is estimated at about $50,000 and includes the drone itself, three sets of batteries, a launch catapult, a ground station, an antenna, a ballistic complex, a transport case and a repair kit. There is also an upgraded option with a EW protection kit costing $110,000.
Punisher is designed for actions in the rear of the enemy – destruction of command posts, air defense units, radio electronic warfare (EW), ammunition and fuel depots, communication vehicles and barracks. However, it is sometimes used for reconnaissance.
One of the features of this UAV is its low sound visibility. It cannot be heard from a height of 200 meters on a quiet night, while the operating height of the UAV is 400 meters.
Punisher is a reusable Ukrainian-made drone. Photo: building-tech.org
Vampire is not afraid of REB Ukrainian engineers also created the Vampire strike drone, which the Russian occupiers called “Baba Yaga” due to its specific appearance and size.
The Vampire is a multi-role heavy hexacopter with six rotors that provides high payload capacity and stability during flight. The design of the drone allows for installation of various types of ammunition, including 82 mm and 120 mm mortar mines, incendiary shells and anti-tank mines. Ammunition is dropped according to standard aviation mechanisms, which ensures accuracy and effectiveness of strikes.
One of the main features of this drone is the ability to transport small FPV drones into the war zone. These drones have a limited range, so delivering them over a long distance followed by a launch increases their tactical value. This approach allows you to hit objects in the depth of the enemy’s defenses, while remaining outside the air defense area.
The UAV is equipped with a modern thermal imager, which ensures effective operation in night conditions. The thermal imager can detect targets at a distance of up to 120 meters, which makes the drone useful not only for attacks, but also for reconnaissance in the dark.
The Vampire strike drone is called “Baba Yaga” at the front. Photo: FB General Staff of the Armed Forces
“Palyanytsia” hits for 1000 kilometers Another Ukrainian development is the Palyanytsia cruise missile-drone, which is unique in its kind. The launch is carried out from the ground platform. Engine type – turbojet. The price of the drone-missile is much lower than its counterparts, and work is underway to further reduce the cost and increase production.
Thanks to a twin-circuit turbojet engine, this guided projectile can travel a distance of up to 1,000 kilometers, and its warhead can weigh up to 500 kilograms. To control this rocket-drone, only communication with a satellite is required.
The main question is the speed of flight of this drone. If a conventional propeller drone like “Shahed” flies at a speed of 100-200 km/h, then a jet aircraft is capable of developing a speed of at least 400-500 km/h or even 800-900 km/h. This makes it much more difficult to destroy such a drone with anti-aircraft guns and machine guns. In fact, the enemy will have to rely on expensive anti-aircraft missiles and rather scarce anti-aircraft missile systems.
Another important advantage of a jet drone is reducing the time it takes to reach the target. Until now, the Russians managed to save their planes from airfield strikes precisely because 2-3 hours passed between the detection of Ukrainian drones and their actual approach, during which the planes had time to take off. Now – they may not have time.
“Palyanytsia” hits for 1000 kilometers. Photo: defense-ua.com
By the way
Marine Sea Baby and “Marichka” are a terror for the aggressor Sea Baby drone – an unmanned aerial vehicle used by the Security Service of Ukraine. He is known as the “killer of bridges and ships”. Initial versions of the Sea Baby had limited range and load capacity, but in 2024 an updated model was introduced that surpassed previous versions in terms of technical characteristics. Sea Baby 2024 is a new generation drone, improved and even more deadly to the enemy.
Its payload is up to 1,000 kg (fuel and explosives in appropriate proportions). The range exceeds 1000 km. The maximum speed of the drone can reach 90 km/h. The drone has the severity of the installation of rocket systems of salvo fire and large-caliber machine guns.
Another marine drone – underwater vehicle “Marichka”which is an advanced development in the field of autonomous underwater systems capable of performing complex combat tasks in the waters of the Black Sea. It was designed to neutralize strategic enemy facilities, including port infrastructure, underwater and surface targets. One of its key advantages is its practical invulnerability to modern anti-drone systems.
The Marichka drone is about 6 meters long and a little over 1 meter in diameter. The previously announced operating range of the drone is 1,000 kilometers. Its design includes a cylindrical body, four fins around the tail, and a pair of horizontal stabilizers in the front. This shape provides high maneuverability and stability in the underwater environment, which makes the drone suitable for missions in difficult conditions.
The internal systems allow it to move in automatic mode, following the given coordinates to accurately hit the target. The drone is guided by the autopilot, which eliminates the need for constant control by the operator. Functional capabilities of the drone give it freedom of action almost throughout the Black Sea, regardless of the level of protection of the object.
Maritime drones of the new generation are the pride of the SBU. Photo: SBU FB
On the subject
In Ukraine, unmanned technologies are represented by hundreds of different companies and dozens of models, some of which seem simple, but have extensive experience in front-line applications. Our drone production has increased 900% over the past year, from approximately 20,000 units per month in the summer of 2024 to 200,000 today. Ukraine is taking significant steps to increase its own production of drones. Only since the beginning of 2024, more than 20 new certified models of fiber-optic drones have appeared in Ukraine.
Source: kp.ua
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