Ukrainian forces down Russia's costly "Forpost" drone and challenge Zircon missiles

Soldiers of the Odesa Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade have destroyed a Russian reconnaissance and assault UAV "Forpost" in the Black Sea. This drone ranks among the most expensive assets in the Russian military's inventory.

The servicemen, integral to the Odesa Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, successfully took down the Russian reconnaissance and assault drone known as "Forpost." The operation was executed over the Black Sea, as reported by Kanał24.ua.

The "Forpost" UAV represents not just any piece of military equipment. It stands as one of the priciest drones within the Russian military's resources, making its destruction a significant setback for the Russian armed forces and inflicting notable financial damages.

Russia has been testing another state-of-the-art weapon in Ukraine: Zircon missiles. "There is no existing system capable of detecting and intercepting a missile of such velocity," states Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, former Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Navy.

Initial assessments, however, suggest that the Zircon missiles, a source of pride for Vladimir Putin, have not met their expected performance criteria. Analyses of recovered fragments reveal that their velocity is less than initially claimed, and they have a relatively small warhead. Recently, Ukrainian air defence forces successfully intercepted two of these missiles.

Experts in Kyiv argue that the Zircon missile fails to achieve its intended objectives. Observations indicate it deviates from its intended flight path.

The uses of Zircon missiles by the Russian military were first reported during their invasion of Ukraine. One such instance was on February 7, during an attack on Kyiv. Another verified instance occurred on March 25, when debris from two downed missiles was recovered and examined by Ukrainian experts.

Source: Kanał24.ua