Ukraine shoots down new Russian Chernika drone on Zaporizhzhia front for first time – video

Ukrainian troops have destroyed a Russian Chernika (Blueberry) drone for the first time on the Zaporizhzhia front.

Source: Heneral Chereshnia (General Cherry), a Ukrainian defence company, on Facebook

Quote: "Russia launched Chernika. Zaporizhzhia met it with a Cherry [interceptor drone]. Chernika, a new attack platform that Russia is actively using against frontline regions, has been destroyed on the Zaporizhzhia front for the first time."

Details: The company said the drone was intercepted by the Posipaky unit from the 39th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment and by soldiers from the Khortytsia brigade of the National Guard using a General Cherry AIR interceptor drone.

General Cherry said Chernika is a wing-shaped attack platform with a range of up to 100 km, a cruising speed of 75 km/h and resistance to electronic warfare.

The warhead weight ranges from 0.7 kg in the basic version to 3.5 kg in the enhanced modification, according to its manufacturer.

General Cherry says its General Cherry AIR interceptor drone can remain airborne for up to 40 minutes, reach speeds of up to 170 km/h and operate at altitudes of up to 6 km.

Background: Earlier, the General Cherry AIR, a Ukrainian-made interceptor drone, destroyed a rare Russian AI-powered loitering munition.

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