Ukrainian black drone sparks intrigue after crash in Russia
On the territory of the Russian Federation, near the city of Astrakhan, the Russians discovered a black-painted Ukrainian drone. According to the Military portal, it is a Beaver, a popular design for attacking targets up to 1,000 kilometres away. The unusual feature, however, is the colour of the uncrewed aerial vehicle, which might have surprised the Russians.
On Tuesday, 9 July, the Ukrainians were reportedly planning a drone attack towards the vicinity of the city of Astrakhan. The Military portal notes that the target of the attack could have been a nearby airport or military training ground. Although it is not known how effective the strike was, a photo appeared on social media showing one of the launched Ukrainian drones in a field in Russia.
Ukrainian drone crashes in Russia
"The black "Beaver" kamikaze UAV, according to the Russians, landed in the Volgograd region," we read. However, an important detail draws attention. It's about the painting of the Ukrainian drone (Beaver). Usually, these designs appear in grey front-line materials.
The Military portal points out that, typically, black drones are used during night attacks. They are not visible in the sky, making them much harder to shoot down. However, the Ukrainians used a black-painted Beaver in an attack in the morning. It is unknown why the defending army made this decision, mainly because a black object in the sky is much easier to identify during the day than a grey one.
It is worth noting, however, that it is not only Ukrainians who paint their drones black. Earlier in 2024, it was confirmed that Russians also use this practice. A popular Iranian-made drone, Shahed-136, crashed in Ukraine in an unusual black paint job.
Can hit targets up to 1,000 kilometers away
The Beaver (UJ-26) drone that crashed in Russia (near Astrakhan) is a design produced by the Ukrainian company Ukroboronprom since 2023. It is powered by a turboprop engine that can propel the UAV to 200 kilometres per hour. However, its range, which, according to available information, is 800-1,000 kilometres, deserves the most attention. At the same time, the Beaver can stay in the air for seven hours.
The UJ-26 measures 2.5 metres in length, while its wingspan reaches 3.4 metres. It can carry armaments weighing up to 75 kilograms on board, including the KZ-6 penetrating warhead.
