Ukraine Reportedly Tests New Jet-Powered Kamikaze Drone

A new drone was tested in Ukraine, with photos and videos indicative of an air intake that pointed towards the use of a jet engine.

The announcement was made on the Facebook page of Maxim Glushak, according to military news outlet Militarnyi.

In the photos, the drone sported a canard design with smaller wings placed at the front of the vehicle, which could generate more lift and provide longitudinal stability.

Meanwhile, the back of the drone resembles that of a jet propulsion engine, with Militarnyi, a military news outlet, suggesting the thrust to be adjustable.

In the test footage, the drone could be seen taking off with the aid of a special cart, which detached once the drone reached a certain speed. The sound generated by the drone is also reminiscent of ordinary jet planes.

According to Militarnyi, volunteers from the “Battalion Volunteer” charitable foundation also took part in the drone’s test flight.

Information about the new drone remains scarce, however, and it is not possible to ascertain whether this is a one-off prototype or is intended for mass production. Performance data such as the range and speed are also unavailable.

This is also not the first jet-powered drone Ukraine has displayed to the world. The UJ-25 Skyline jet-powered drone was spotted embedded in the roof of a building in occupied Berdyansk in December, where it made its first public appearance in September.

Other Topics of Interest

Ukraine is Getting Its Own Capability to Strike Deep into Russian Territory

Deprived of the unrestricted use of long-range Western weapons to attack Russian bases, Ukraine has come up with its own weapons that blur the line between missiles and drones to fill the gap.

On Jan. 10, Ukraine reportedly downed a newer jet-powered Shahed kamikaze drone launched by Russia, though the Ukrainian Air Force was unable to confirm the incident.