Precision strike: HIMARS annihilates Russian drone and command post
For the first time since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the HIMARS successfully destroyed a Russian Zala drone and the entire UAV command post.
8:37 AM EDT, November 2, 2023
The footage displaying the destruction of Russian equipment has been viewed by countless Internet users, bringing attention to the accuracy of the shot fired by the HIMARS system. Ukrainians from an undisclosed brigade conducted precise shelling on a position situated in a field, from where the Russians had been launching drone flights.
Yet another accurate strike from HIMARS
Reports of destruction carried out in Ukraine by the American rocket artillery system, HIMARS, are a regular feature. The defending troops are making extensive use of this weapon, as is made evident by the successful attacks on Russian radar 48Ya6-K1 and the BM-21 Grad launchers recently performed.
The Zala drone from the 421 family, created by the Russian company Zala Aero Group, was the latest victim of the Ukrainians. This drone, built in the flying wing configuration, has undergone numerous modifications, including those for extended flight time and ability to carry larger payloads.
In general, the main attributes of machines from this family are an electric drive unit, which speeds the drone up to approximately 68 mph and elevates it to a height of about 11,483 feet. The equipment, measuring around 3.28 feet in length and about 9.84 feet in wingspan, can cover over 124 miles during a flight that lasts between 3-4 hours.
However, it is important to emphasize that the Zala 421 drones are essentially reconnaissance equipment, using a digital SLR camera with a resolution of at least 18 Mpx and a camera with a 20x magnification for aerial observation. In addition to this, Zala has a thermal imaging camera (640x480 px). This combination constitutes a vital target for the Ukrainians, as each flight of the aforementioned drone can lead to the detection of the position of valuable defenders' equipment.
On the other hand, the weapon responsible for the Russian losses was none other than HIMARS, crafted by the American corporation, Lockheed Martin, since the late 1990s. Typically, HIMARS uses M30/M31 projectiles for shelling, which have a range of approximately 43.5 miles, but it also has capabilities to shell using long-range ATACMS projectiles, which have been seen in Ukraine in recent weeks.
