Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Посилання скопійовано
The Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have struck several Su-57 fighter jets and a Su-34 fighter-bomber with UAVs at the Shagol military airfield in Russia’s Chelyabinsk Oblast.
Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook; Unmanned Systems Forces on Facebook
Details: The General Staff reported that the attack took place on 25 April. The extent of the damage is being assessed. The assets were located about 1,700 km from the Ukrainian border.
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The General Staff has not provided any further details.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces have provided further details and footage showing the aftermath of the strike. In particular, they reported that operators of the 1st Separate Unmanned Aerial Systems Centre struck two Su-57 fighters, a Su-34 fighter-bomber and a Su aircraft of an unspecified modification at a distance of 1,700 km from the state border.
Update: Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, assessing the strike aftermath, said that “hunting multi-role fighter-bombers such as the Su-34 and fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets is critical to reducing the enemy’s strike potential”.
According to Brovdi, the Su-34, as the main strike platform, can carry a wide range of guided bombs and missiles, delivering strikes on critical infrastructure, military facilities and civilian targets at a range of up to 1,000 km.
“Each destroyed Su-34 fighter means fewer airstrikes, lives saved among the civilian population and reduced pressure on air defence systems. The Su-57, as Russia’s most advanced fighter equipped with stealth technology, poses a particular threat to aircraft and air defence systems,” Brovdi said.
The estimated cost of a single Su-34 aircraft is around US$35-50 million. The cost of a Su-57 fighter reaches US$100-120 million per unit.
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