Kyiv: Ukraine unveiled a new domestically-produced “rocket-drone” on Friday, boasting a range of 700 km (430 miles), more than double the longest range of Western-supplied missiles.
The unmanned aerial vehicle, named “Peklo” – meaning “hell” in Ukrainian – is the second such “rocket-drone” introduced by Kyiv as part of its efforts to enhance its capacity for deep strikes into Russian territory amid the ongoing war that began 33 months ago.
At a ceremony where the drones were officially handed over to the armed forces, a representative from Ukraine’s state arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom revealed the drones could reach speeds of 700 kph. No additional details or evidence regarding the drone’s range or speed were provided. Ukraine has kept specifics about its arms production under wraps to avoid aiding Moscow.
Ukraine’s arms production minister previously told Reuters in November that the “rocket-drone” could be considered similar to a cruise missile, describing it as a low-flying, guided weapon that travels below the speed of sound.
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The drones, over a metre in length, feature small wings on each side and two tail fins. By comparison, the US-supplied ATACMS missiles have a declared range of just over 300 km.
Russia has utilized thousands of long-range missiles and drones to target military and infrastructure sites across Ukraine. In response, Kyiv has sought to develop its own long-range strike capability. While Ukraine’s allies have provided advanced weaponry, they were initially hesitant to allow the use of their missiles on deep targets inside Russia.
Throughout the conflict, Ukraine has relied on explosive-laden propeller drones to strike targets up to 1,000 km inside Russian territory.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who attended Friday’s ceremony, revealed last month that Ukraine is working on developing four different types of missiles.
Despite some successful launches, Ukraine’s arms minister told Reuters that the missile program has faced challenges, particularly due to global supply chain issues.
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