MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – JUNE 25, 2019: A ZALA Lancet-3 attack drone developed by Kalashnikov Concern on display at the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum at Patriot Park. Marina Lystseva/TASS
The number of Russian strikes against Kiev forces with Lancet loitering munitions documented by Lostarmour.info, a website that tracks military losses, has reached 1,503 by April 27.
The website began documenting Lancet strikes based only on visual evidence, like videos and photos, with the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine more than two years ago. The rate of documented strikes increased significantly in the last few months.
There were only 63 documented strikes in December, compared to 141 in January, 160 in February and 177 in March. This month, 146 strikes have been documented, so far.
According to a summary provided by the website, Russian Lancet strikes have so far destroyed or damaged: 257 self-propelled howitzers; 277 towed howitzers; 36 multiple rocket launchers; 211 main battle tanks; 127 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers; 77 air defense systems and self-propelled anti-aircraft guns; 79 radars electronic warfare and communication systems; 15 boats and three warplane.
Lancet loitering munitions have been also used to target three buildings, four positions and eight gatherings of troops in the special military operation zone.
These numbers include only the documented strikes which seriously damaged the target or resulted in its complete destruction.
The Lancet was developed by the ZALA Aero Group, a subsidiary of Russia’s defense giant Kalashnikov Concern. The company produces two versions of the loitering munition, the Izdeliye-52 with an endurance of 30 minutes and a one-kilogram warhead and the larger Izdeliye-51 that has an endurance of 40 minutes and is armed with a warhead weighting three kilograms.
The loitering munition flies towards the designated area with a GLONASS-aided inertial navigation system. After arriving in the area, the operator utilizes an onboard electro-optical system via a two-way data-link to detect, track and lock on the target. A laser-ranging system then controls the detonation of the warhead.
The small radar cross-section and minimal infrared signature of the electric-powered loitering munition makes it very difficult to detect and intercept.
So far, Ukrainian attempts to stop Lancet loitering munitions with air defense fire, electronic warfare or countermeasures have been mostly unsuccessful.
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