Bober (drone)
| Company type | Military technology project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense, unmanned aerial vehicles |
| Founded | December 2022 |
| Founder | Ihor Lachenkov |
Area served | Ukraine |
| Products | Loitering munition (suicide UAV) |
The UJ-26[1] Bober (Ukrainian: Бобер, lit. 'Beaver') represents a Ukrainian-developed long-distance loitering munition (suicide UAV).
In December 2022, the Telegram channel Lachen Pyshe initiated a public fundraising effort named Hovor Khell aimed at supporting a domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicle intended for Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR). By 11 May 2023, images were shared publicly along with claims that the UAV had already contributed to inflicting damage on Russian military assets during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. Subsequently, on 30 May, this drone was deployed in a coordinated drone attack targeting the outskirts of Moscow.[2][3]
This UAV is reported to possess an operational radius between 600 and 1,000 kilometers and carries a KZ-6 shaped charge warhead.[2]
Operational deployment
This drone model has been deployed in multiple assaults targeting Moscow. In July and August 2023, several drones conducted consecutive strikes over two days against the IQ-quarter skyscrapers in Moscow. Additional attacks took place in May and July, potentially including the Kremlin drone attack, with various other drone types also reportedly involved. Late July social media posts showed images consistent with footage previously captured in other videos online. The Bober drone features a rear-positioned pusher propeller and is believed to carry a sensor array at its front. The drone's development was initiated following a request from the Ukrainian military intelligence service, the HUR, which, in December 2022, tasked Ihor Lachenkov with creating a "long-range capable" drone. Lachenkov’s fundraising efforts contributed approximately 20 million hryvnia (equivalent to about half a million dollars) toward its design. Publicly released images in July correspond to footage recorded by Russian sources over Ilyinsky, Moscow Oblast, dated 30 May 2023. These drones might be susceptible to Russian electronic warfare tactics, which are frequently reported to have "neutralized" such UAVs. Despite this, even if control is compromised, the drone will still impact its target carrying an explosive charge. The strategic use of drones like the Bober aligns with a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 30 July 2023, emphasizing that "gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia – to its symbolic centers and military bases, and this is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process." Russian military bloggers have expressed criticism regarding insufficient defenses against these attacks.
On 9 July 2024, Ukrainian Bober drones targeted a Russian missile testing site at Kapustin Yar. Russian authorities reported intercepting over 20 drones during the assault, while one black-painted Bober drone made a crash landing in a nearby field. Follow-up satellite imagery revealed burn marks at the testing facility.
See also
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References
- ↑ H I Sutton, "Guide To Ukraine's Long Range Attack Drones", H I Sutton - Covert Shores
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "New Information Emerges on UAVs Involved in Moscow Attack". Militarnyi. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ↑ Triebert, Christiaan; Willis, Haley; Kovtun, Yelyzaveta; Cardia, Alexander (31 July 2023). "Ukraine's Other Counteroffensive: Drone Attacks on Russian Soil". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023.