Kamikaze: The Russian Suicide Drone

Defense Feeds – The Russian Defence Ministry has validated the technical design specification for the ZALA Lancet precision Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) weapon system, and trials of the drones are planned to begin by the end of 2021.

But then, what is actually the speciality of these such newly launched drones?

Hello everyone, In today’s arcticle, we will take a look at the flying swarm drone known as the Kamikaze Lancet! If you are curious on what it is, how it works and what seems to be stand out of these UAVs?

In the field of unmanned aviation, Russia has lagged far behind the United States, China, Israel, and others. Turkey, however, has recently experienced greater success in producing and exporting new military drones, and has been dubbed a “new drone superpower”.

On the other hand, Russia is now embarking on an ambitious modernization program, that includes everything from full-size stealth combat drones to portable tactical weapons.

To realise this mission, ZALA Aero, one of the Kalashnikov Group’s companies reserve to be Russia’s leading unmanned systems manufacturer which is now developing the project. This drone has been introduced at the International Exhibition of Arms and Military Equipment IDEX-2019 in Abu Dhabi.

To be specific, This drone has a three-kilogram payload, a 30-minute flight time, and a top speed of 130 kilometres per hour or equals to 80 mph. The drone is 47 inches in width, 37 inches in length, and 6.5 inches in height and in most cases, the payload appears to be a high-explosive charge.

Interestingly, these UAV system outlined several advantages such as being an integrated warhead, are capable of long flights, and can loiter for lengthy periods over the battlefield while fixing and locating the target before destroying it.

It is capable of carrying a small explosive charge and diving onto its target to blow itself and the target into smithereens. The Lancet drone is classified as a loitering air munition, or a weapon that “loiters” around a target region while in search mode.

When a target is identified, the “kamikaze drone” attacks it like a guided air-to-surface missile while simultaneously killing itself. This suicide drone is designed to slip in under enemy defences and crash into its intended targets.

Specifically, this drone is a barrage bomb that can stay in the skies for hours or fly towards the target in a swarm of other drones to blow it up.

According to the Nikita Hamitov, the head of special projects of the ZALA Group, “this drone is smaller and quiet, due to its electric engine that generates almost no noise, unlike its foreign counterparts.

Therefore, it can be deployed against any targets whether on see, land or even in the air.