Ukrainian drone strike ignites fires at Russian military airport

Ukrainians attacked the Russian Millerovo military airport near Rostov-on-Don using at least several dozen drones. The Russians claim to have shot down 26, but fires on the airport premises indicate that some drones hit their targets as planned. Here is what the Russians were keeping there.

The Ukrainians attacked the Russian Millerovo airport on the night of July 19 to 20, 2024, with a swarm of several dozen drones. Even if the Russians managed to shoot down 26 of them, the impact caused by those who reached the target is visible. Residents reported at least 16 explosions.

The drones caused a massive fire that engulfed parts of the airport, where fuel tanks and the aircraft parking section were located. In earlier satellite images, this area was occupied by Su-30SM aircraft or Su-34, among others. It is worth noting that Millerovo base is officially the stationing place for the 31st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment equipped with Su-30SM planes. Previously, it was also home to the 368th Assault Aviation Regiment flying Su-25 Frogfoot.

This attack is very similar to the one at Morozovsk airport in mid-June 2024, which aimed to hinder the Russian air force's bombing campaign on Ukrainian positions detected through so-called "meat assaults." These assaults expose soldiers to Ukrainian fire so that Russian commanders can identify targets for their air force to bomb.

The aviation, using guided bombs from the FAB family with UMPK modules, can destroy even the most fortified positions, allowing the Russians – despite huge losses – to advance. For this reason, every opportunity to destroy or damage Russian aircraft is invaluable for Ukrainians.

The extent of Russian losses is currently unknown, but it is worth noting that they have learned to evacuate threatened airports upon drone detection, so the Ukrainians may not have struck planes that were able to take off. In such a case, aircraft under repair or serving as sources of spare parts might have been hit.

The Su-30SM is a multirole fighter developed from the Su-27 fighter, with avionics, control systems, and armament enhancements. It is distinguished by its advanced aerodynamics and manoeuvrability capabilities, making it effective in various combat missions. The aircraft can operate both as an air superiority fighter and a strike aircraft, making it a versatile tool in the Russian Air Force's arsenal.

It is a machine with a length of 72 feet and a wingspan of 48 feet, equipped with two Saturn AL-31FP engines that enable the Su-30SM to accelerate up to a maximum of Mach 2.35 (approximately 1,550 mph). The aircraft is also equipped with large fuel tanks providing an operational range of about 1,860 miles.

Apart from the onboard GSh-30-1 30 mm cannon, its armament can be mounted on 12 pylons with a total payload of 18,000 lbs. In addition to air-to-air weapons, there is also a wide array of ground attack weapons available, including not only simpler weapons such as S-8 unguided rocket pods or Kh-25 missiles but also guided bombs like the FAB-1500 with UMPK module or Raduga Kh-59 missiles with a range of over 120 miles.