Russia has deployed 10 new bases for launching jet UAVs near the borders of Ukraine — media
Russia has built or expanded at least 10 military facilities near the borders with Ukraine and Belarus that could be used for mass launches of new jet drones.
This is stated in an investigation by the British newspaper The Telegraph, prepared on the basis of satellite images, leaked documents, and analysis by the company DroneSec.
According to journalists, 59 mechanical launch guides have been discovered along the Ukrainian and Belarusian borders. Such rail catapults make it possible to launch heavy aircraft-type drones without using runways.
At least 20 of the launchers have an elongated design. Experts believe they could be designed for new high-speed, long-range jet UAVs.
Some of the Russian facilities were built on existing military bases and civilian airfields. Other sites were created from scratch in rural areas.
The scale of the construction could indicate Russia is preparing for a longer and more intense campaign of air strikes on Ukraine. One base, analysts estimate, has storage facilities capable of holding more than 1,000 strike drones at a time. Construction of new launch sites is also continuing at some sites.
According to the investigation, drones are supplied to the bases directly from Russian enterprises, in particular from the production cluster in the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan.
The leaked documents also contain information about new modifications of the Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones. They are allegedly equipped with jet engines, can carry a warhead weighing up to 90 kg, and develop a significantly higher speed, which makes them more difficult to intercept by mobile fire groups.
In addition, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s GUR previously reported that Russia is equipping some of its Geran drones with air-to-air missiles. Such drones could pose a threat to Ukrainian aviation, which is involved in destroying air targets.
DroneSec CEO and founder Mike Monnick noted that the expansion of the network of launch sites indicates an increase in the number of drones that the Russian Federation is able to use simultaneously, and new technologies make it more difficult to intercept them.
Analysts also warn that Russian jet drones could potentially pose a threat to European countries. In particular, the location of certain Russian bases allows such drones to reach the territory of Poland and Warsaw.
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