Ukrainian drone "Baba Yaga" outsmarts Russian defenses
The war in Ukraine has exposed Russia's weaknesses and raised questions about the quality of its military equipment. A notable incident is an attack by a commercial drone, "Baba Yaga," on the Russian Tor air defence system, which is worth tens of millions of dollars. Here, we present the details of this encounter.
The video below shows the "Baba Yaga" drone, in its night version with a thermal imaging camera known as "Vampire," striking the Russian 9K331 Tor-M1 or possibly the 9K332 Tor-M2 air defense system. This is particularly embarrassing for the Russians because one of the primary functions of this system is to target Ukrainian drones, and designs like "Baba Yaga" are not stealth drones.
Although the initial attack did not seem to cause significant damage, it’s important to note that radar antennas are the most expensive and difficult-to-repair components of the air defense system. Additionally, these antennas are the most fragile part, and being hit with shrapnel can completely disable them or severely impair their effectiveness.
Furthermore, it seems that the Ukrainians have once again managed to overcome Russian jammers, allowing drone operators to fly relatively unimpeded over Russian-occupied territories. It’s significant that Tor systems are typically deployed about 12 miles from the front lines to protect crucial assets like ammunition depots and supply routes.
"Vampire": The night variant of "Baba Yaga" drones
Ukrainian "Baba Yaga" drones are commercially available large drones modified for military use. Preferred models include octocopters or agricultural drones capable of carrying over 44 pounds of payload. For instance, the DJI FlyCart 30 drone can carry up to 66 pounds of payload.
This payload likely includes, among other enhancements, a larger battery to extend range and additional antennas for operating on lower frequency control signals. The remaining capacity is often used for a delivery system, such as deploying 60 mm mortar shells, 40 mm grenades, or improvised bombs using materials like energy drink cans.
These drones can reach altitudes of up to 2 miles, and Ukrainians are experimenting with equipping them with laser-guided missiles. Flying at night is strategic because, due to equipment shortages, Russian soldiers armed with shotguns are far less effective against drones in darkness.
