As the invasion of Russia drags into its 17th month, Ukrainian forces say Moscow is increasing its use of a dangerous low-cost assault drone capable of destroying equipment costing many times its value.
The Lancet drone, a gray angular tube with two pairs of four wings, has been a growing threat on Ukraine’s front lines in recent months, according to Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukrainian servicemen from four different artillery teams named Lancets as one of the main threats they faced on the battlefield in conversations with Reuters.
Although the device was first unveiled in 2021, several soldiers said that the frequency of its use has increased in recent months.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense has been encouraging increased production of the Lancet as a cheap way to target high-value Western equipment supplied to Ukraine for its counteroffensive, said Samuel Bendett, deputy senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
Assault drones can send payloads to hit their target or be used as single use munitions where they are laced with explosives and hit the target.
The Lancet carries a relatively small explosive payload, ranging from 1.5 to 5 kg.
Unlike an artillery shell or a rocket, Lancet drones are flown in real time by a pilot. This distinguishes it from the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone, which Russia has also used extensively to hit Ukrainian targets, because a Shahed flies to a pre-programmed destination and cannot be flown while in the air.
The Lancet’s newest model, the Lancet 3, can fly up to 50 km, Bendett said, making it more capable of hitting targets far behind Ukrainian lines than any other Russian munition.
The Lancet’s ability to pursue its target makes it a threat to high-value equipment such as tanks, self-propelled artillery and rocket launch systems.
One of the most at-risk Ukrainian vehicles is the BM-21 Grad, a large Soviet-era truck that can fire a devastating barrage of up to 40 rockets over a wide area.
The growing use of the Lancet reflects a broader trend in warfare, with Russia and Ukraine increasing their use of cheap, disposable systems as costly, full-scale warfare progresses.
A source in Ukraine’s presidential office confirmed that the equipment shown was Lancet drones, but this has not been independently verified by Reuters.
(By Vlad Smilianets, Max Hunder and Anna Dabrowska)
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
