Ukraine strikes Russian drone depot with precision missiles
The Ukrainian armed forces struck an underground depot in Russia's Oryol region with Shahed drones using Storm Shadow missiles, as reported by the Ukrainian news agency Unian.
The Ukrainian armed forces successfully attacked a target in Russia's Oryol region. The target was an underground bunker used by the Russian army to store Shahed drones. The strike, executed with Storm Shadow missiles, hit the bunker housing hostile drones. These details were revealed by OSINT analysts who released satellite images.
Consequences of the attack
"As a result of the attack on the unmanned aerial vehicle storage facility in the Oryol region, Storm Shadow missiles hit the underground bunker with enemy drones," according to a Telegram post.
Information from the Ukrainian General Staff indicates that approximately 200 Shahed drones were destroyed in this operation.
Storm Shadow missiles hit Shahed depot
The Storm Shadow missiles used by the Ukrainians in this strike are examples of advanced "fire and forget" military technology. Once launched toward an identified target, the missile requires no further handling, ensuring high efficiency. The missile accurately hits its target by combining inertial guidance, GPS, and TERPROM, which adapts to terrain contours. It operates at altitudes between 130 to 490 feet, making detection challenging. The margin of error when hitting a target is only between one and 10 feet.
Before reaching the target, the Storm Shadow releases a high-resolution thermal imaging camera to confirm the target. Then, the missile ascends to increase the strike's effectiveness. An integral part of the missile's operation is the BROACH warhead, which acts in two stages. The first stage involves burning a hole in the target, followed by the complete destruction of the object by the warhead's main components.
Meanwhile, the Shahed-136 drones are noted for their simple construction and relatively low production costs. A distinct feature of these drones is their open delta-wing design. They are about 11 feet long, with a wingspan of roughly 8 feet, and can carry a combat payload of up to 88 pounds. Powered by the Limbach L550E engine, the drones can reach speeds of about 115 mph. These specifications make them effective for various military applications.
