Russia deploys 10 new bases near borders to launch jet drones against Ukraine – The Telegraph

Russia has built and expanded at least 10 military bases along its borders with Ukraine and Belarus, designed to launch large numbers of new jet-powered drones in an effort to systematically exhaust and break through Ukrainian air defences.

Source: an investigation by The Telegraph, based on analysis of satellite imagery, leaked documents and data from the DroneSec analytical company

Details: Journalists and military analysts identified 59 mechanical launch rails along the Ukrainian and Belarusian borders. These rail catapults replace runways and allow heavy fixed-wing drones to be launched rapidly from locations close to the line of contact.

At least 20 of these launch rails have an extended design. Experts say they are intended to launch new high-speed jet-powered variants of long-range drones.

Some of the hubs were created by converting existing military bases and civilian airports, while other sites were built from scratch in rural areas.

Experts estimate that the scale of the expansion of storage infrastructure indicates that Moscow is preparing for a prolonged and more intensive air campaign. At one of the bases alone, storage facilities capable of holding more than 1,000 attack drones simultaneously have been identified. Construction of additional launch positions is still underway at a number of sites.

Drones are delivered directly to the launch sites from Russian military factories, including the production cluster in the Alabuga special economic zone in the Republic of Tatarstan.

According to leaked documents, new variants known as the Geran-4 and Geran-5 are equipped with jet engines, can carry an enhanced 90-kilogramme warhead and travel at significantly higher speeds, reducing the effectiveness of Ukrainian mobile fire groups.

In addition, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has warned that Russia is equipping Geran drones with air-to-air missiles to target Ukrainian aircraft involved in intercepting aerial assets over major cities.

The Kremlin has "significantly expanded" its drone network to "attack Ukraine and to hold Nato states at risk of such attacks", according to DroneSec CEO and founder Mike Monnik, who analysed satellite imagery.

Quote from Monnik: "This launch site expansion shows how Russia has expanded its ability to launch greater numbers of drones while at the same time using technology to make the types of drones used more difficult to intercept.

These two elements combine to enable a growing number of total unmanned aircraft systems Russia can use to attack Ukraine and increase the difficulty facing Ukrainian forces in intercepting newer Russian drone designs."

Details: Analysts warn that Russia's new jet-powered drones could also be used against European countries, with the location of some of the bases allowing Russian drones to reach Warsaw.

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