This was reported in the report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The “Stratim” design bureau noted that the Russian military would use the UAV “Yastrub” as bait to distract Ukrainian air defense systems. It is claimed that Russia has already used a similar tactic during a series of massive strikes on Ukraine. Flight tests of the prototype are currently underway, and in the first half of 2024, testing of the final and improved product is planned to begin.
In the ISW report, it is stated that on January 18, the Minister of Defense of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, visited the State Machine-Building Design Bureau “Raduga” in the Moscow region, a subsidiary of the Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation (KTRV).
“Earlier, Shoigu set the task for the enterprise to increase the flight range of an unspecified weapon from 250 to over 300 kilometers. The General Director of KTRV Boris Obnosov said that the enterprise has already tested a weapon with a flight range of 310 kilometers”, ISW notes.
Analysts emphasize that the enterprise managed to reduce the cost of producing this weapon significantly. In addition, they also significantly increased its warhead from 450 to 800 kilograms. Sergey Bogatikov, General Director of the State Machine-Building Design Bureau “Raduga”, said that the enterprise doubled its staff, purchased new test equipment and tools, expanded production areas, and also introduced 12-hour shifts, allowing it to work around the clock.
The Institute of War analyzed all available information and found that the enterprise increased the production volumes of precision weapons eightfold.
It is worth noting that the Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamishin said that since August 2023, Ukraine has been serially producing a long-range kamikaze drone similar to “Shahed”. He also emphasized that currently, the defense industry is capable of producing dozens of such kamikaze drones, and in the future, it will increase its capabilities. The minister also confirmed President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement that the defense industry can produce a million FPV drones next year.
Photo: Open sources