Posted on 09/01/2023 2:50:24 PM PDT by dennisw
In a development that can’t be independently confirmed – yet nevertheless offers an ephemeral blast of schadenfreude for those so inclined – close observers of Ukraine’s military actions against Russia and its assets have said four highly valued fighter jets that were destroyed or seriously damaged at a base in Western Russia late Saturday were the victims of Australian drones made of cardboard.
The aerial attack took place when drones struck a MiG-29 and four Su-30 fighter jets – plus missile launchers and an air defense system – at a base in Kursk, about 100 km inside Russia’s border. Per usual following such operations – and despite the exceedingly high-value targets struck – Ukraine remained mum about responsibility.
That was eventually – and specifically – assigned by well-informed observers to Australian Corvo drones, whose SYPAQ maker began sending them to Ukraine in March as flat-pack systems assembled from cardboard parts, rubber bands, and lightweight onboard tech.
DroneDJ was among the first to report on Melbourne-based SYPAQ providing the cardboard drones to Ukraine to supplement the thousands of cutting-edge DJI, Draganfly, Quantum-Systems, Teal, and Teledyne FLIR UAVs Ukraine receives to battle Russian invaders.
Those Ikea-esque Aussie craft elicited a few dismissive chortles from readers at the time, but now they’re being credited with inflicting one of the worst material losses Moscow has suffered during its increasingly bleak efforts to conquer its neighbor.
Read more: Oz’s SYPAQ sends Ukraine high-performance cardboard drones
Officials from Ukraine’s Security Service on Sunday first confirmed to the Kyiv Post their agency had been behind the strike. Just hours later, a prominent Russian blogger on the war followed up with a post stating “(f)or the first time, Ukrainians used Australian UAVs from SYPAQ to attack the airfield.”
A Corvo drone, he noted almost ruefully, is “made almost entirely of wax-soaked paper and rubber bands, which together makes it almost invisible to radar” – thus allowing a team of the Aussie piñatas to deliver a stupefying smack-down to Russian jets recently seen elbowing US UAVs around over the Black Sea.
Read: Russia claims hidden ‘sleeper’ drones thwart Ukraine defenses
Crediting Kyiv for the resounding blow to Moscow’s fighter planes – with a critical assist going to flying cardboard from Oz – was echoed on Tuesday by Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko. The diplomat’s account on the social media formerly named Twitter quoted him repeating SYPAQ drones staged Saturday’s strike.
The rich irony of Russia’s most formidable and expensive military aerial tech being blasted by something made from matter kids use to slide down grassy hills on is lost on nobody. But it also holds important lessons for the future.
Additional information contained in the Russian blogger’s post offers – if accurate – another example of how moves like Ukraine “going cheap” with $710,000 worth of cardboard SYPAQ drones will continue to further confound the huge, highly sophisticated military systems Russia, the US, China, and other major powers have been developing to face off against one another for decades.
Would look perfect with Snoopy riding on top.
Yes it would. ;O)
I’m m curious as to how that cardboard drone could cause significant damage. What are the munitions involved? Fire starter? Pin point targeting?
The Ukrainians are inventive and highly motivated and like to adapt foreign weapons and technology to suit their own needs and local battlefield conditions. In a number of cases, they have developed new capabilities that NATO and US advisers did not think possible.
Sorry, but I’m not buying any of the propoganda from either the Maloross or the Moskals.
Probably by ingestion into a jet engine... Just a guess.
If they’re so advanced, why is it all we ever see is their leader with his hand out?
Couple of kilograms HE.
Drones have proven to be extremely effective in this war. How many drones can you build for the price of one fighter and its pilot? The Pentagon should be paying close attention.
My other observation is that armor hasn’t yet proven itself effective in this war. Armored vehicles have just been big targets. Ground forces may need a change in tactics.
Until it is independently confirmed it is just propaganda - just like what our government spews everyday and the government stenographers report, err, regurgitates everyday.
You know who else isn’t effective? NATO isn’t effective. Nor is Biden. Throw in General Jack Keane. Same for Nuland, Fox News, ABC, CBS and NBC for that matter. Only very Low IQ idiot would believe their nonsense
“Drones have proven to be extremely effective in this war. How many drones can you build for the price of one fighter and its pilot? The Pentagon should be paying close attention.
My other observation is that armor hasn’t yet proven itself effective in this war. Armored vehicles have just been big targets. Ground forces may need a change in tactics.”
It is feeling like a return to WW1 in a number of ways.
Russia is using the latest military weapons and Ukraine is shooting back with paper airplanes.
“Sorry, but I’m not buying any of the propoganda from either the Maloross or the Moskals.”
Seems like propaganda BS indeed. Suppose could be real.
In case you had not noticed, wars are expensive.
Did someone declare war on us?
My understanding is they can carry 2.2 to 5kg of explosives that is plenty if it hits the jets, plus have seen video of Ukrainian drone exploding over a target and raining down shrapnel like an air Burt’s artillery round
With that you can easily disable a plane if not outright destroy it
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