Russia boosts production of lethal "Lancet" drones, unveils new variant

In a historic naval strike that sent shockwaves through military world in November 2022, Russia's renowned "Lancet" kamikaze drones, developed by ZALA Aero Group, a subsidiary of Russia's "Kalashnikov" Joint-Stock company, achieved a significant feat by damaging, if not destroying, Ukrainian patrol ship Gryuza-M in Black Sea. This remarkable achievement marked first-ever kill by a loitering munition in naval operations, catapulting Lancet drones to forefront of modern warfare.

Lancet-3 drone's exceptional capability to neutralise a wide array of targets, including tanks, armoured personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, towed and self-propelled artillery, air defence systems, and more, has garnered widespre attention and earned its reputation as a formidable force on frontlines. se combat experiences gared in field, combined with an efficient feedback loop between ground operators and design team, have rapidly propelled Lancet platform's evolution and facilitated creation of multiple versatile aptations.

A state-owned channel, Rossiya 1/Russia 1, showcased that Russia has dramatically increased production of se formidable drones. success of Lancet drones has prompted a surge in demand, with technology proving itself as a valuable asset for Russian military.

new variant unveiled

With undeniable success of Lancet drone, ZALA Aero Group is currently developing and testing a new variant called "Product-53." This drone can be remotely fired from a Multiple-Launch System, such as a qu-packed 4x4 launcher, and exhibits unique capability to communicate with or drones, enabling a coordinated "Drone Swarm Tactic" to strike specific targets.

Alexander Zakharov, mastermind behind "Lancets," expressed his excitement over new variant's progress, stating, "Two hundred thousand are alrey rey, anor million are on way."

A crucial part of Russian offensive

Lancet-3 drones have become quite pivotal for  Russian Armed Forces' strategy, delivering devastating blows to high-value targets, including Ukrainian S-300 air defence systems. Recent events have seen Lancet drones destroying four S-300 launchers and a Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun near city of Kherson, resulting in significant casualties among Ukrainian forces. Scott Ritter, a former intelligence officer, while speaking to independent journalist Garland Nixon, said, " Ukrainians have nothing to shoot se drones down. se drones have flooded battlefield, surrounding and simply destroying everything."

However, Ukrainian military has demonstrated tactical aptation by moving long-range systems closer to frontline to counteract Lancet drones' threat. Despite se measures, Lancet drones' superior range and anti-laser jamming technology have allowed m to continue wreaking havoc on enemy positions.

A tool for reconnaissance and attack 

In dition to ir success on battlefield, Lancet drones have proven to be an exceptional tool for reconnaissance and attack missions. drones can be manually controlled during terminal phase, providing real-time trajectory modification and precise target guidance, making m highly effective in achieving ir objectives.

As Russia faces possible challenges with missile stockpiles, utilisation of kamikaze drones, particularly Lancet series, is expected to increase furr, especially with looming prospect of both a spring offensive and a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive.While Ukraine has also employed homegrown kamikaze drones in conflict, Russian Lancet drones have emerged as a formidable force, outshining competition for now.