ZALA Lancet attack drone. © Marina Lystseva/TASS
The Russian military has targeted three Soviet-made 9K33 Osa short-range air defense systems of Kiev forces in the Kharkiv direction using Lancet loitering munitions.
Videos of the strikes, which were carried out by the Sever Group of Forces, were posted to social media between May 29 and 31. The strikes destroyed two of the air defense systems. The third sustained light damage only, but it was abandoned by its crew.
Ukraine inherited some 120 Osa-AKM from the Soviet Union. Not all of these systems were in an operational condition when Russia launched its special military operation in 2022. Later, Ukraine received an additional upgraded Osa-AKM-P1 from Poland.
The Osa can engage aerial targets like fighter jets, helicopters, drones using missiles guided via radar command with a range of 15 kilometers and altitude of 12 kilometers.
The Lancet, which was used to target the three Ukrainian Osa systems, 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.
Ukrainian attempts to stop Lancet loitering munitions with air defense fire, electronic warfare or countermeasures have been mostly unsuccessful.
The Russian military launched a limited ground operation in the direction of Kharkiv earlier this month after repeated attacks by Kiev forces on Belgord and other neighboring Russian regions. So far, more than a dozen settlements have been captured.
Suppressing short-range air defense systems like the Osa is critical for the success of ground operations as it facilitates the operations of attack helicopters and drones.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
“may 31. /tass/. nato countries that have approved strikes with their weapons on russian territory should be aware that their equipment and specialists will be destroyed not only in ukraine, the russian security council’s deputy chairman dmitry medvedev said on his telegram channel, noting that the participation of nato specialists could be seen as a casus belli.” so now the atomic party can begin. finally!
the houthi spokesman already promised a big surprise for their enemies
fuck his camel?
russia has recruited afrikan negroes to fight for russian fascism in ukraine. one of these “elite soldiers” raped a russian soldier. case went viral on social media.
putin’s homophobia will likely convert tens of thousands of russian men soldiers homosexuals. these negroes educated russians. russia is gonna be gay.
stop using the great name of the great russian emperor as your nick if you are a cheap russophobic loser
your homosexual lifestyle will play havoc in your lifetime and scramble what little brains you have left!!!!
that was you that got raped by american negro!!!
lol…..obama is a space lizard went viral on social media too once upon a time.
save your breath, idiot boy.
short range gay relations gud for me
hahaha, video1: how rats hide the stupid ukrozzz under trees!
🐀🐀🐀 – 🐀🐀🐀 – 🐀🐀🐀
why was the 3rd vehicle out in the open fields? it looks the operators just had enough of it. i notice this happens more and more and i salute this. soldiers just wait for better times and rebuild ukraine together
what’s the point of these short range systems if they can’t defend against a lancet? are they basically for shooting down helicopters?
russia should arm hisbollah,houthis,iran,north korea,abkazia,south osetia,taliban,iraq and syria to teeth with lancet and tactical nuclear weapons.
normal in dumbmark–stupid nation where potato more intelligent than me—alcoholic mental illness…ugly and money worshiping gud…nazi pedophilia taught all 7 yr old
how are you ? nazi bandit ukraine.zelensky kokaine!
question : why is russia allowing these soldiers who are affiliated with ukrainian nazi battalions to escape
probably because as blocking regiments, they kill more ukrainians than russia does.
germany says ukraine can use its weapons to strike russian territory today