The war in Ukraine is getting ever more heated by the day.
Both Russian and Ukrainian forces are battling out in ever more intense battles – all of which are getting more and more attention on social media.
And while many times it seems Ukraine has the upper hand, sometimes Putin’s forces can do a lot of damage.
The War in Ukraine: The Latest Footage on Social Media
A newly posted video to social media showed how a Ukrainian TRML-4D multi-functional radar – part of the IRIS-T SLM air defense system – was targeted by a Russian Lancet loitering munition. Loitering munitions are many times known as a 21st-century ‘kamikaze’ weapon of war.
The 35-second clip, which was shared by Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) on Wednesday, has been seen more than 600,000 times.
It had reportedly been posted to the Telegram social messaging platform by Russian propagandists.
The footage has not been independently verified, and it is unclear when or where the attack occurred.
Both sides have been employing drones and loitering munitions to strike “high-value” targets.
Lancet Strikes Again
Though not identified, it was likely a ZALA Lancet loitering munition, designed by the ZALA Aero Group, a subsidiary of the Kalashnikov Group. It is one of the few successful domestically built Russian platforms to see service in Ukraine.
The Lancet is the successor to the Kub (“Cube”), an earlier, flying-wing-style loitering ordnance system also developed by ZALA. The Lancet, which was first unveiled in June 2019, was field-tested in Syria, where it was employed by anti-government forces in Idlib in 2020-2021.
The Lancet features two X-shaped wings at the front and rear of the fuselage and is powered by an electric motor that drives a two-bladed propeller located at its rear. It is constructed of plastic and composite materials and weighs just 12 kilograms, including its 3 kg payload.
The loitering munition is noted to have a maximum range of 40 kilometers, while its endurance is approximately 40 minutes. The ZALA Lancet can serve in both a reconnaissance and attack role, and during flight, it can be directed by GPS coordinates or visual control. During the terminal part of a mission, it can be controlled manually to target via electro-optical guidance and a TV guidance unit.
Radar System – A High-Value Target
The TRS-4D/TRML-4D radar is a multi-functional surveillance and target acquisition offering recognized tactical pictures and weapon assignment. It was developed for near- to long-range ground-to-air detection and for weapon assignment. The platform offers 360-degree coverage and provides both near-range and long-range ground-to-air detection.
The German-made TRML-4D radar is capable of detecting, tracking, and classifying various types of air targets, with a particular emphasis on small, fast, and low-flying and/or maneuvering cruise missiles and aircraft and hovering helicopters. It has a range of 250 km (155 miles), and it is able to track up to 1,500 targets including fighter-type targets from 120 km (75 miles).
The system has been in operation since 2020 and is currently in service with the militaries of Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Malaysia, and Thailand – while around a half-a-dozen have been provided to Ukraine. The first systems arrived last year.
It was just last month that Thomas Müller, CEO of Hensoldt – maker of the platform – told reporters that the company will supply Kyiv with a number of the radar systems, which will be delivered later this year.
“We are pleased to support Ukraine with six additional TRML-4D radars, which will further strengthen Ukraine’s air surveillance and air defense sensor network,” said Müller. “The information from the TRML-4D feeds into Ukraine’s national air situation picture, protecting Ukrainian citizens. We are proud to be able to deliver this much-needed equipment at short notice.
According to reports, the radar unit wasn’t actually destroyed but was only damaged in the drone strike.
#Ukraine: A Ukrainian TRML-4D multi-functional radar from the IRIS-T SLM air defense system was taken out of action by a Russian Lancet loitering munition. pic.twitter.com/OX7RocZXbM
— ???????? Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) June 7, 2023
“The radars for Ukrainian air defence protect lives and we are proud to be able to deliver much-needed equipment at short notice,” Müller had previously explained.
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
From 19FortyFive
Ukraine Footage Shows U.S. M982 ‘Excalibur’ Cut Through Russian Artillery
How To Sink A $3 Billion Dollar Submarine: Leave A Hatch Open
Smashed To Pieces: Video Shows Ukraine Hitting Russian Air Defenses
