See Russian Lancet Drones In Action: A video published by the Russian Ministry of Defense on April 6 shows how Russian soldiers are using Lancet loitering munitions to strike Ukrainian targets.
The video footage, which appears to have been professionally filmed, shows the moment Russian soldiers prepare the winged drone on its launcher.
After a few shots showing the drone’s wings and propellor, the soldiers successfully launch the drone into the air.
The clip then switches to live video footage from the drone itself, as well as other video recorded by rotary-blade drones, showing the moment the weapon strikes its intended target.
The Telegram post describes how the drones are operated by the Airborne Forces of the Russian military. The post also reveals that the target hit in the accompanying video was an American M777 howitzer.
“The reconnaissance drone crew detected a 155-mm American towed gun M777. The Lancet loitering munition was used to destroy it,” the Telegram post reads in Russian.
“Operators in manual mode guided and accompanied the drone to eliminate the possibility of deviation from the target,” the post continues.
What is the Lancet?
The Lancet drone, manufactured by Russia’s ZALA Aero Group, is one of Russia’s newer weapons. The drone, which also functions as a loitering munition or “suicide drone,” was unveiled at the ARMY-2019 military expo in Moscow.
Lancet drones are fitted with optical-electronic guidance systems and cameras, making it possible to use the winged drone for reconnaissance as well as performing strikes on enemy positions.
There are two versions of the Lancet. The Lancet-3 drone is the larger variant that can fly for 40 minutes, carry a maximum payload of 3kg, and reach a maximum speed of 110 kilometers per hour.
Russian MoD video of VDV spetsnaz using a Lancet loitering munition against a camouflaged artillery piece. 116/https://t.co/mN6Dx7iA7H pic.twitter.com/V4kuARcYs0
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 7, 2023
The smaller Lancet-1 variant, however, can carry a payload of one kilogram and can fly for 30 minutes.
Lancet loitering munitions in use in Ukraine have been upgraded, however, providing operators with up to one hour of flight time. The drones have also been redesigned to carry warheads that weigh over 5kg.
Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
