Russians are repairing captured Ukrainian Vampire drones due to shortage of their own heavy UAVs – OSINT
Russian forces have set up a system for repairing captured Ukrainian Vampire bomber drones due to a shortage of their own heavy UAVs.
Source: Militarnyi, citing Canadian OSINT analyst Roy
Quote from the analyst: "The Russians' failure to produce heavy bomber drones has created an entire ecosystem for repairing valuable salvaged Ukrainian Vampire drones. There is even a comprehensive registry of 3D-printed replacement parts available from Russian entrepreneurs."
Roy also posted a schematic diagram and a list of spare parts for the Vampire that includes dozens of components – from mounts and motor protection to elements of the munition release system and navigation system.
Militarnyi notes that Russian workshops are working on repairing damaged drones, including flight stability, software, navigation control channels, and the replacement of individual components.
According to the outlet, a cottage industry for repairing captured Ukrainian Vampire drones and producing replacement parts has been actively developing in Russia since 2024.
It is captured Ukrainian drones rather than their Russian equivalents that regularly feature in reports and news in the Russian media.
On 5 May, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti claimed that captured Baba Yaga hexacopters were being used in Sumy Oblast to deliver supplies to frontline positions. [Russian troops call Ukrainian heavy bomber drones "Baba Yaga" after the witch from Slavic folk tales – ed.]
Russian military personnel have also claimed in Russian media that more than 20 captured heavy Baba Yaga-type drones are being used on the Kherson front.
The Vampire is a Ukrainian heavy strike hexacopter developed by the defence tech company SkyFall. The system is used for bombing, remote mining, targeting equipment, and logistics missions. The Russians refer to the Vampire as Baba Yaga.
Background: Ukrainian soldiers from the 21st Separate Mechanised Brigade recently used a SkyFall Vampire heavy strike hexacopter to rescue two of their comrades from Russian captivity.
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