Ukrainian drone with stealth paint crashes inside Russia
The Russians found a black-painted Ukrainian drone on the territory of the Russian Federation, near the city of Astrakhan. The Military portal explains that it is a Bóbr, a popular design for attacking targets up to 1,000 kilometres away. The unusual feature, however, is the colour of the unmanned aerial vehicle, which might have surprised the Russians.
On Tuesday, July 9, at 5 a.m. ET, the Ukrainians were supposed to carry out a drone attack in the vicinity of the city of Astrakhan. The Military portal notes that the target of the attack could have been a nearby airport or military training ground. Although it is not known how effective the strike was, a photo appeared on social media showing one of the launched Ukrainian drones in a field in Russia.
Ukrainian drone crashes in Russia
"The unmanned aerial vehicle landed in a field, most likely due to a technical failure," we read. However, an important detail draws attention. It's about the painting of the Ukrainian drone (Bóbr). Usually, these designs appear in front-line materials in grey.
The Military portal points out that basically, black drones are used during night attacks. They are not visible in the sky then, making them much harder to shoot down. However, the Ukrainians used a black-painted Bóbr in an attack carried out in the morning. It is not known why the defending army made this decision, especially considering the fact that a black object in the sky is much easier to identify during the day than the mentioned grey one.
It is worth noting, however, that it is not only Ukrainians who paint their drones black. Earlier in 2024, it was confirmed that Russians also use this practice. A popular Iranian-made drone, Shahed-136, crashed in Ukraine in an unusual black paint job.
Can hit targets up to 1,000 kilometres away
The Bóbr (UJ-26) drone that crashed in Russia (near Astrakhan) is a design produced since 2023 by the Ukrainian company Ukroboronprom. It is powered by a turboprop engine that can propel the UAV to 200 kilometres per hour. However, its range, which, according to available information, is 800-1,000 kilometres, deserves the most attention. At the same time, the Bóbr can stay in the air for seven hours.
The UJ-26 measures 2.4 metres in length, while its wingspan reaches 3.4 metres. It can carry armaments weighing up to 75 kilograms, including the KZ-6 penetrating warhead.
