Illustrative image. (Telegram)
The Russian military has destroyed, for the first time, one of the drone-launching trucks that Ukrainian forces recently began using.
The truck was targeted by the 50th Separate Unmanned Systems (UAS) Brigade “Varyag,” one of the units of the Russian military’s Unmanned Systems Forces, using Geran-2 one-way attack drones. It is unclear when, or where the truck was targeted, but video footage of the attack was shared by the unit on June 3.
In the footage, the truck is seen getting hit by at least two Geran-2 drones, all while Ukrainian troops were preparing several of their own one-way attack drones for launch nearby.
The Geran-2, reportedly a version of Iran’s Shahed-136, has a range of up to 2,500 kilometers and can carry a warhead weighing 30-50 kg.
Notably, the loitering munition version of the Geran-2 was used in the attack. This version comes equipped with an artificial intelligence-aided optical targeting system with a two-way data-link, in addition to the standard jamming-resistance GLONASS-aided inertial navigation system (INS).
Just last month, Kiev forces revealed that they have been using modified civilian trucks to launch long-range one-way attack drones against Russia.
The trucks, which have no visible military markings, are equipped to covertly move drones, or even to directly launch them from a side ramp.
While video footage shared by Ukrainian media recently showed FP-2 drones getting launched directly from such trucks, the one hit by the Russian military was apparently used to only transport the drones, although it was equipped to also launch them.
The FP-2 e mid-range version of the FP-1 fixed-wing suicide drone, with the range reduced from 1,400 kilometers to just 200 kilometers, and the weight of the warhead increased from around 50 kg up to 105 kg.
The drone is guided via a GPS-aided INS, and can be equipped with an optical targeting system with a Starlink satellite terminal to provide man-in-the-loop guidance in the terminal phase.
This concept is not new. Israel has showcased similar truck-based launchers for its Shahed-136 drones in the past, even one disguised as a dump truck. And while it can be effective, the Russian military has proven that such trucks can still be detected and targeted, rather quickly.
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