Ukrainian drone strike sets record, hits Russian airbase 1,800km away

"Impressive feat" – that's how Lars Peder Haga, a Norwegian Air Force Academy professor, described the strike on the Olenya airbase in Russia, according to the Ukrainian agency Unian. It was at this location that the Ukrainian armed forces reportedly struck the Tu-22M3 bomber.

The strike on the Olenya airbase in the northern part of the Russian Federation is significant for Ukrainians for two reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates the capabilities possessed by the defenders' army. Secondly, during the attack, one of the more valuable aircraft for Russian aviation – the Tu-22M3 bomber – was damaged.

– First and foremost, it's a historical range record. Previously, the maximum was about 1,000 kilometres, then about 1,200 kilometres. Now it is 1,800 kilometres – observed aviation expert Valeri Romanenko in an interview with Channel 24. Professor Lars Peder Haga noted in the context of the strike on the Russian base that the attack on the Kola Peninsula was a matter of time. – The question was "when", not "if" Ukraine would strike this base. It's an impressive feat because Olenya is located 1,800 kilometres from the border with Ukraine, and GPS in that region is constantly jammed – added Haga.

Romanenko also points to an additional detail of this attack from the night of 27 July. He emphasises that the Russian Tu-22M3 bomber was hit directly by a Ukrainian drone. This, in turn, is a sign that the defenders' drones have improved targeting capabilities. The expert explains that the constructions make decisions about the strike directly before the attack because effective communication cannot be ensured at such a long distance (approximately 1,800 kilometres).

Ukraine can send drones not to strike areas but specific targets, added Romanenko. In the opinion of the Ukrainian expert, this means that the Russians do not have a safe place now—all the way to the Ural Mountains. To this point, they can be hit by Ukrainian weapons.

Let us recall that the Tu-22M3 bombers are aircraft produced by Tupolev. They are powered by two NK-25 jet engines generating a thrust of about 140 kilonewtons each. These engines accelerate the aircraft to a speed of about 2,300 kilometres per hour (the cruising speed is about 900 kilometres per hour).

The Tu-22M3 can operate at an altitude of 18,000 metres and has a range of estimated 7,000 kilometres. This means that this Russian bomber can carry weapons to almost any place in the world. Its main armament is housed in one bomb bay and four external hardpoints.

An essential characteristic of the Tu-22M3 is its design based on a variable-geometry wing ranging from 20 to 65 degrees. This allows the aircraft to develop higher speeds while minimising fuel consumption.