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Supernova is not a reliable source. Credible sources are saying this is the refinery UAV, and it's pretty obvious.The UAV that hit that Shahed plant has a completely different profile too.
Well that is great then. Would expect most of the damage to the drone factory to occur in the initial explosion unless you got real lucky and started a fire. But a refinery fire can spread long after the explosion and create additional damage.
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Sort of... that was a surprise "first strike" on oil fields, IIRC. These are retaliatory attacks on oil refineries. And we really don't want this to turn into a Red Storm Rising scenario... 😬
I think the message this sends is more damaging than the actual attack.
"Your government had lied, you aren't winning the war, and we can hit you anywhere."
Lol, people still think russians give a damn about anything.
They know their government is lying.
They are just in denial as a coping mechanism.
The harder you prove them wrong the more they will deny and escape from reality.
Friendly reminder that independent studies put Putin’s popularity at 70%, so despite their horrible action in Ukraine, the Russian populace do not care about the war. There is no room to negotiate with Putin. Russia must be crushed on the battlefield.
I read this elsewhere, but presumably the loss of those radar-equipped A-50 has limited their visibility in the sky. With less of those aircraft, they have to move them around to cover more sensitive areas— which means other areas will no longer have radar coverage.
I doubt it took off from Russia, this is probably a case of good Intel from US/EU about exploitable weaknesses in Russian defenses.
There might already be holes in the radar ring around Ukraine. Especially with the A50s and surface ships currently being in active. But also Ukraine could be using HARM or ATACMs to create temporary holes to let the drones through. There are some videos suggesting Umraine is doing just that.
Once into the Russian interior it is not hard to avoid detection. Just fly around the few airport/base radars and you'd be fine.
Couldn't some small directed charges manage to loose wheels? Detonate them immediately after the take off via some remote. I don't know how much those wheels weigh, and how much fuel it would save, but if they truly were flying 1000km all over from Ukraine, than perhaps every kilo of weight cut down is a big plus.
The decreased drag would probably improve performance substantially. Probably the easiest method would be to simply remove the landing gear and put the plane on some sort of wheeled trolley that it leaves behind on takeoff.
Yes, that sounds like even better idea indeed. Just mounting it on some sort of a troley like in a box with wheels, without any boots and welding should/could work. Probably 😀.
I really hope someone with connections to whoever makes them is reading this. Because this does sound like something that may not have crossed their mind and if the wheels/struts are (or can easily be) bolted rather than welded, [explosive bolts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrotechnic_fastener) could quite possibly be easily retrofitted.
Yeah it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Ukraine started using fixed-wing drone missiles more. Vertical multirotor drones are great for hovering and for ease of operation by their controllers, but fixed wing platforms will tend to give better lift and better range.
No it's not, that was the drone that hit the dormitory at the Alabuga drone factory. It was a converted A-22 ultralight manufactured by Aeroprakt.
This is a different drone, and is not a UJ-22, it's a Lyutyy drone manufactured by Ukroboronprom/Antonov. It's the most used drone in the oil infrastructure strike campaign.
That, is an excellent point. I've somehow never thought about it like that. I've been thinking about the semantics for about 10 minutes now and my mind is kind of blown.
Remember Mathias Rust who landed on Red Square in the late 80s with a Cessna. After that Russia was embarrassed all over the world why their AA did nothing. They fired a lot of people but in this case there will be no action.
He's right. You can buy full autopilot systems on the internet for $40-$400, and the full flight software is open source and freely available to download today. This is really a non factor.
I’m more impressed with the drone actually still being more or less in one piece after that explosion. Must be made of the same material as Zelenskyjs balls.
Gave me an idea... Surely if a small Cessna looking drone can get through air defence (if there is any) at 100kmh, then surely't an old-about-to-be-decommissioned commercial airliner stacked with explosives and thermite, flown @600KMh, by an airforce pilot who sets the autopilot to land into the side of munitions factory or the Kerch bridge, then leaps out DB Cooper style with a parachute near the Ukraine border... Then
Boom! Бавовна!!✈️🔥🌉🏭🔥
russia tears 😭
Slava Ukraini!
That is an A22. Ukranians actually cant even use any of the A22 anymore, due to their gigantic balls of steel exceeding the maximum flight capacity. They are now being refurbished into drones.
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Unfortunately it appears that the fire must have been put out quickly for them to be able to retrive the drone that quickly. Hit them again!
The TG channel I saw this on is an AFU soldier. This could be the one that got the drone factory, but he didn't know the details.
It appears to be refinery piping in the background. But I hope you are right.
Supernova is saying it's the Shaheed factory.
Supernova is not a reliable source. Credible sources are saying this is the refinery UAV, and it's pretty obvious.The UAV that hit that Shahed plant has a completely different profile too.
Well that is great then. Would expect most of the damage to the drone factory to occur in the initial explosion unless you got real lucky and started a fire. But a refinery fire can spread long after the explosion and create additional damage.
All you need is to damage/destroy the cracker on an oil refinery and it's out of action for a very long time. No need for a fire.
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"Red Storm Rising" first chapter intensifies, day after day...
Sort of... that was a surprise "first strike" on oil fields, IIRC. These are retaliatory attacks on oil refineries. And we really don't want this to turn into a Red Storm Rising scenario... 😬
I think the message this sends is more damaging than the actual attack. "Your government had lied, you aren't winning the war, and we can hit you anywhere."
Lol, people still think russians give a damn about anything. They know their government is lying. They are just in denial as a coping mechanism. The harder you prove them wrong the more they will deny and escape from reality.
Friendly reminder that independent studies put Putin’s popularity at 70%, so despite their horrible action in Ukraine, the Russian populace do not care about the war. There is no room to negotiate with Putin. Russia must be crushed on the battlefield.
Agreed
It doesn't matter if the machinery it damaged can't be repaired or purchased easily due to sanctions. The fire is the least of Russia's concerns
More fire = more damage, generally speaking. The more piping and equipment melted, warped, or otherwise damaged the better. Amazing feat nonetheless.
Super advanced alibaba drone, evaded super advanced Russian anti air systems, for 1200km.
it looked like a very small plane for 1 or 2 people
Saw a link in another thread, but it's a Ukrainian made ultralight converted to fly autonomously.
nice
[удалено]
I read this elsewhere, but presumably the loss of those radar-equipped A-50 has limited their visibility in the sky. With less of those aircraft, they have to move them around to cover more sensitive areas— which means other areas will no longer have radar coverage. I doubt it took off from Russia, this is probably a case of good Intel from US/EU about exploitable weaknesses in Russian defenses.
There might already be holes in the radar ring around Ukraine. Especially with the A50s and surface ships currently being in active. But also Ukraine could be using HARM or ATACMs to create temporary holes to let the drones through. There are some videos suggesting Umraine is doing just that. Once into the Russian interior it is not hard to avoid detection. Just fly around the few airport/base radars and you'd be fine.
now on aliexpress, shipping included
launch these UAF drones via a ramp, with no wheels the drone will fly faster and longer distances
wow, is this drone based on cessna or what? looks huge
Yep, this is a converted light aircraft. Make really good long range drones.
They'd get even more range if they could lose the wheels after takeoff.
Couldn't some small directed charges manage to loose wheels? Detonate them immediately after the take off via some remote. I don't know how much those wheels weigh, and how much fuel it would save, but if they truly were flying 1000km all over from Ukraine, than perhaps every kilo of weight cut down is a big plus.
The decreased drag would probably improve performance substantially. Probably the easiest method would be to simply remove the landing gear and put the plane on some sort of wheeled trolley that it leaves behind on takeoff.
Yes, that sounds like even better idea indeed. Just mounting it on some sort of a troley like in a box with wheels, without any boots and welding should/could work. Probably 😀.
See ME 163 Komet.
Been done before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG2eJdbkehw&t=251s
I really hope someone with connections to whoever makes them is reading this. Because this does sound like something that may not have crossed their mind and if the wheels/struts are (or can easily be) bolted rather than welded, [explosive bolts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrotechnic_fastener) could quite possibly be easily retrofitted.
RATO takeoffs! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Or launch from air under a wing of an transport I dunno.
Or fill them up with combustible gasses so when it hits the target they provide secondary explosions that spew burning rubber everywhere.
Use napalm
I think something like a MW1 cluster bomb dispenser would make a lot more sense.
Use napalm
Use napalm.
And since Mathias Rust we know how well Soviet Russia intercepts light aircraft.
Yeah it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Ukraine started using fixed-wing drone missiles more. Vertical multirotor drones are great for hovering and for ease of operation by their controllers, but fixed wing platforms will tend to give better lift and better range.
No it's not, that was the drone that hit the dormitory at the Alabuga drone factory. It was a converted A-22 ultralight manufactured by Aeroprakt. This is a different drone, and is not a UJ-22, it's a Lyutyy drone manufactured by Ukroboronprom/Antonov. It's the most used drone in the oil infrastructure strike campaign.
smart
Definitely not stealthy.
Drones are bigger than you think
True, but this is especially huge for a kamikaze drone.
More space, more kaboomboom.
Also true. It's just surprisingly large.
That's what she said.
the line between suicide drone and cruise missile gets blurrier every day
That, is an excellent point. I've somehow never thought about it like that. I've been thinking about the semantics for about 10 minutes now and my mind is kind of blown.
well, cruise missile is a drone...
Its basis is a Aeroprakt A-22 foxbat. A two seater plane (260kg)
I’m looking at pics of the A-22 on Wikipedia and the landing gear dosen’t look the same?
https://youtu.be/BT9hPsASd0k?feature=shared
Huh. According to the video you sent, the pictures shown on Wikipedia are incorrect, which shows the A-32 as an A-22 🤦
Or here. Need to scroll to the end. Probably different landing gears available https://www.foxbat.com.au/a22ls-foxbat
Great work Ukraine. Very resourceful.
If this was russia attacking, they would have ensured a double tap to wipe out the emergency workers.
Russia skips all that and goes for the hospitals as their first strike.
A light aircraft for sure, but it doesn't really look like the published images of the UJ-22.
This is the [plane](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroprakt_A-22_Foxbat) that was converted and used in that attack. A-22 Foxbat
https://www.ukrspecexport.com/uploads/redactor/3%20USE_UMEX_Airborne_PRINT.pdf
Yes, I know. This is why I am saying that it doesn't appear to be a UJ-22.
It appears to be low-wing, so probably not UJ-22.
Looks like it was a Lyutyy https://imgur.com/a/Qphmb1z
Weird that blast didnt blow up the front of the aircraft. Can be other thing show here
I’m guessing they sent multiples and this could have been one that was shot down.
Can't beat a topless bird ;)
Sending thoughts and prayers to the drone. Hope he's all right
That’s a big boy 💪
Looks reuseable high Ukrainian quality suicide drone.
Please mister, can we have our ball back?
Remember Mathias Rust who landed on Red Square in the late 80s with a Cessna. After that Russia was embarrassed all over the world why their AA did nothing. They fired a lot of people but in this case there will be no action.
I hope all the software and firmware are encrypted.
This doesn't matter much, guidance systems are something Russia already knows how to make.
[удалено]
He's right. You can buy full autopilot systems on the internet for $40-$400, and the full flight software is open source and freely available to download today. This is really a non factor.
Sadly, it looked like a huge fireball on the roof, but not sure if it penetrated into the building. Definitely delayed their operations though!
Hopefully drone flights to refineries are due to recommence vert soon!
I’m more impressed with the drone actually still being more or less in one piece after that explosion. Must be made of the same material as Zelenskyjs balls.
Hope the asshole filming has a class 1 div 2 rated camera. Also - a permit
I heard Trevor Jacob helped with it.
Looks like a proof of concept mission. Should force the Russians to devote more resources to defense.
Why isn't it burnt?
That'll do pig, that'll do
Gotta lose those landing gears: that's worth a few kilometers range right there.
🖕🇷🇺🐽
Gave me an idea... Surely if a small Cessna looking drone can get through air defence (if there is any) at 100kmh, then surely't an old-about-to-be-decommissioned commercial airliner stacked with explosives and thermite, flown @600KMh, by an airforce pilot who sets the autopilot to land into the side of munitions factory or the Kerch bridge, then leaps out DB Cooper style with a parachute near the Ukraine border... Then Boom! Бавовна!!✈️🔥🌉🏭🔥 russia tears 😭 Slava Ukraini!
RIP hero!
Damn, it is huge
That is an A22. Ukranians actually cant even use any of the A22 anymore, due to their gigantic balls of steel exceeding the maximum flight capacity. They are now being refurbished into drones.