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27 September 2023

Tactical Strike Damages Ukrainian MiG-29 Fighter Jets, Sheds Light on Russian Suicide Drones

Jocelyn Hong

A recent video shared on social media revealed the use of a Russian suicide drone, known as the Lancet, targeting parked MiG-29 fighter jets at the Dolgintsevo airbase near the city of Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine. The attack demonstrated the capability of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to reach new targets, including the Ukrainian air force.

Military expert David Axe suggests that the strike may have damaged the radar and electronic systems of the MiG-29s, but it did not cause significant losses to the Ukrainian air force. Moreover, with the ability to repair and restore combat capabilities, the Ukrainian air force can easily recover from such attacks. The biggest concern, however, is that Dolgintsevo airbase is located 70 km south of the frontlines in Ukraine, indicating that the Russian suicide drones have a longer range than previously believed.

The Lancet, the most widely deployed and effective suicide drone in Ukraine, has targeted over 500 Kiev assets in the past 13 months. The original version of the Lancet, known as “Izdeliye 52,” had a range of only 40 km, limiting the Russian forces’ ability to attack key Ukrainian airbases in the rear. This allowed Ukraine to deploy MiG-29 and Su-27 squadrons closer to the frontlines, enhancing their combat effectiveness.

However, the situation may have changed since August, when Zala Aero, the manufacturer, developed a variant of the Lancet with a range of nearly 70 km, named “Izdeliye 53.” Zala Aero describes this as the “next evolutionary step” for the Lancet series, stating that it is nearly impossible to intercept.

The recent attack on the Dolgintsevo airbase could be the debut of this new Lancet variant. Additionally, concerning is that the entire attack was captured by a high-altitude reconnaissance UAV, indicating that the Ukrainian air defense system at the airbase was either not functioning or failed to detect the Russian aircraft.

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