Click to see full-size image. Via Telegram.
The Russian military used an FPV suicide drone to destroy French-made Crotale short-range air defense system worth almost $9 million in the Kursk region, Deputy Head of the Russian Armed Forces’ Main Military-Political Department, Akhmat Special Forces Commander Major General Apty Alaudinov said on August 22.
“Fighters of the Aida team of the Akhmad Special Forces burned down a Crotale missile system deployed in an attempt to intercept our helicopters on a mission to deliver a strike on Martynovka,” he said. “This system costs eight million euro [$8.9 million], and my troops used an FPV drone worth around 60,000 rubles [approximately $660] to destroy it.”
On August 23, photos surfaced on social networks showing what was said to be the system before and after being hit. However, the photos are yet to be verified.
Click to see full-size image. Via Telegram.
Ukraine received only two Crotale NG [Next Generation] systems, the latest version of the legacy Crotale, from France around two years ago.
The system, which is equipped with search and targeting radars as well as an electro-optical tracker, was designed to intercept airborne ranged weapons and aircraft, from cruise or anti-ship missiles to helicopters, drones or low-flying high-performance fighter jets.
The main feature of the Crotale NG is the VT-1 command-guided missile, which has a range of 11 kilometers and six kilometer ceiling.
Kiev forces launched a surprise attack in Kursk on August 6. Western-made weapons played a key role in the attack, which indicates that it was orchestrated with help from NATO.
The deployment of one of Ukraine’s only two Crotale systems in Kursk shows how Kiev forces are squeezing their remaining resources to maintain their attack on the Russian region, which has already reached a halt. The Russian military is now working to eliminate the entire attack force.
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