Ukraine's stealth kamikaze drones: an emerging threat to Russian territory

In late January, a Ukrainian aviation expert, Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, conceded during an interview with WP Tech that over 300 companies in the country are delving into the production of drones with diverse propulsion systems, combat payload capacities, and functional ranges. Some of these drones can ostensibly traverse more than about 390 miles (approximately 1,000 km), while remaining largely undetected by the enemy.

The Defence Blog suggests that the alleged new kamikaze drone, which presumably made it to Russia, is painted black, powered by a jet engine, and armed with a fragmentation warhead. The Defense Blog also draws attention to the drone's German P400-PRO engine and its flying-wing blueprint. Minimal is known about its specification, target, or potential victims. Therefore, there is certainly a possibility that these reports circulating on Telegram might just be Russian propaganda.

Ukraine is known to possess several unmanned aerial vehicles that could penetrate Russian airspace, provided they manage to outsmart air defence. This set includes, among others, the UJ-22 "Airborne" drones. These versatile unmanned aerial systems can operate consistently, irrespective of time, season or prevailing weather conditions. Its manufacturers, the Ukrainian firm UKRJET, maintain that the drone can "perform tasks on behalf of the military, police and rescue services including surveillance, search and rescue".

The UJ-22 "Airborne" can reach top speeds of about 62 mph (approximately 100 km/h), and its controlled flight range is around 39 miles (about 100 km), increasing to roughly 309 miles (around 800 km) on autonomous flights. UKRJET states that the drone can operate uninterruptedly for 7 hours and withstand extreme temperatures, ranging from -40°C to 50°C (-40°F to 122°F). It has been adapted to carry loads weighing up to approximately 9.9 lbs (about 20 kg).

Other drones of note include the "Beaver" kamikaze drones, classified as loitering munitions, boasting a range of up to 390 miles (approximately 1,000 km). Reports emerged in July 2023 that the "Beavers" managed to reach Moscow. The precise characteristics of these drones are undisclosed, but they are, in all likelihood, capable of moving at speeds between 58 and 77 mph (roughly 150-200 km/h). Their duck-shaped design enables swift altitude adjustments to elude enemy air defence, potentially explaining their ability to penetrate deep into Russian territory with ease.

The "Rubaka" drones could also constitute a significant threat to Russia. These drones have a relatively smaller range of about 186 miles (approximately 500 km). As previously reported by Defense Express, these drones can be armed with explosives weighing between approximately 4.41 to 33.06 lbs (roughly 2 to 15 kg). Depending on the payload, this weight is sufficient for the precision strike capability of a kamikaze drone to potentially destroy a piece of Russian artillery or inflict casualties.