On 15 December, a drone attack took place in the Chechen capital, Grozny, damaging buildings housing a riot police base and a special forces regiment. According to Forbes, the attack may have been carried out by a long-range drone modified on the basis of the Ukrainian Aeropract A-22 aircraft.
Features of the attack drone
According to the newspaper, the Aeropract A-22, which in its basic version is a light sport aircraft, has been modified by the Ukrainian intelligence service to perform strike functions since the beginning of this year.
Such drones are equipped:
- an additional fuel tank that allows you to fly up to 1300 kilometres;
- remote guidance systems;
- explosive devices.
“This type of drone aircraft has already been used to attack key targets in Russia: a drone factory, a missile research centre and a naval base,” Forbes notes.
New details of the attack in Grozny
Eyewitness footage from Grozny shed light on some of the features of the modified drone:
- The transparent glass of the cab was replaced with opaque plugs.
- The registration numbers on the drone’s tail were painted over, which may indicate the use of second-hand A-22 aircraft.
These details, according to Forbes, may indicate that both new airframes from Kyiv’s Aeropract plant and second-hand copies are used for the attack drone programme.
The strike in Grozny was a continuation of a series of drone raids on Russian territory, including against its strategic military facilities. These operations are likely aimed at disrupting the logistics of Russian troops and reducing their combat capability.
The Russian authorities have not yet provided official information on the consequences of the attack in Grozny, but such strikes indicate an increase in the capabilities and range of Ukrainian drones.
