Ukrainian Defense Industry Creates Warhead for Western-Made Kamikaze Drone

21 November, 2023 A new warhead for UAVs. Freeze frame from the video Ukraine has developed a powerful new warhead to equip drones.

Oleksandr Kamyshin, Minister of Strategic Industries, announced this on his Telegram channel. "Here is one of the Western-made attack drones that has proven itself well on the battlefield, but the military asked to make the combat unit more powerful," Kamyshin wrote. It is reported that the tests of the new warhead were successful: the explosion destroyed three armor plates placed one after the other.

The first and second armor plates (50 mm and 16 mm thick, respectively) were completely destroyed, and the third one (16 mm thick) was dented. Judging by the nature of the damage to the armor plates, the warhead has an impact core that will help the drone destroy targets protected by anti-drone nets.

"This is how joint productions are born," the minister concluded. Kamyshin did not specify which Western drone he was talking about. However, judging by the visual size of the warhead, it can be assumed that it is intended for UAV kamikazes of medium or light class.

The detailed characteristics of the new warhead were kept a secret. Recently, Militarnyi reported that the new Ukrainian attack drone Backfire made at least 50 successful missions. The UAV flies up to 35 kilometers behind enemy lines and helps to hit Russian artillery, logistics hubs, warehouses, and command posts.

2023. Ukraine. Photo credits: Mykhailo Fedorov

The drone is very resistant to electronic warfare systems thanks to a GPS antenna that is almost impossible to jam.

It was also reported that the Ukrainian military will receive long-range strike drones of a new model that will hit targets in the deep rear of Russia.

The Morok drone is designed for deep strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation.