New domestic development for victory: unmanned rocket-drone “Palyanytsia” – super-fast and super-long-range

World mass media, including them  The Telegraph President Zelenskyi’s address on the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine was distributed in the infospace. Among other things, the President sincerely thanked the developers of the Palyanytsia missile-drone project, noting that for the first time Ukraine used a new class of domestically produced drones to attack Russia.

The president described the Palyanitsa missile drone as an “absolutely new class of weapon” that will hit targets on Russian soil until Putin withdraws his troops from Ukraine.

Advantages of “Palyanytsia” over DJI Mavic and other drones

The Palyanytsia drone missile is a new Ukrainian development that confirms the country’s independence and technological potential. The new drone model is launched from ground platforms and can reach a speed of 400 to 600 kilometers per hour. The main task of this weapon is to destroy the offensive potential of the aggressor on its territory.

“Palyanytsia”, whose name means loaf of bread and is difficult for Russians to pronounce, is described as a highly maneuverable, fast drone equipped with a turbojet engine and a powerful warhead. A drone missile is less visible and less sensitive to radar detection compared to conventional aircraft. That is, “Palyanytsia” has a certain degree of secrecy.

The flight range of a drone missile depends on specific conditions, but it can reach 1000 kilometers. (For comparison, even high-end drones like the DJI Mavic 2 can only fly up to 8 km).  This allows the super-technological military transformer to perform tasks at a considerable distance from the launch base.  It is also important that the production cost of “Palyanytsia” is much lower than its counterparts.

It is anecdotal and at the same time touching that the word “Palyanytsia” is used at Ukrainian checkpoints as a password, since it is difficult for Russians to pronounce it.

Domestic support for drone manufacturers

Last year, the Ukrainian government invested 40 billion hryvnias in the domestic production of drones. This contributed to a significant increase in the number of companies entering into contracts with the state, and the production of drones increased tenfold. In addition, the government abolished customs barriers for the import of spare parts and components, which also contributed to the development of the industry. The profit share of drone manufacturers has increased to 25%.

The government supports startups in the field of drones. The “State Startup” program provides financial assistance and consulting for young companies. In addition, there are special grants and investment funds that promote the development of innovative projects in the development of UAVs.

Kyiv, which invests considerable funds in the domestic production of drones, hopes that now “Palyanytsia” will also confuse the Russian defense. “This is our new method of retaliating against the aggressor,” Zelensky emphasized. “The enemy will be defeated.”

Witnesses to the Ukrainian drone strike, which debuted during an attack on an ammunition depot in Russia’s Voronezh border region, report hearing the roar of a jet engine rather than the usual hum of a propeller. Although the exact technical characteristics of the drone have not yet been disclosed, Ukrainian engineers have been working for a whole year on the development of “Palyanytsia” as a next-generation weapon within the framework of the national program for the development of unmanned technologies.

Ukrainian drones are the totem weapon of the Armed Forces

Apparently, in every war, the winning country can owe certain types of weapons that contributed to victory. It would not be an exaggeration to say that domestic UAVs played a key role in changing the course of this war. They struck the Russian Black Sea Fleet in occupied Crimea, sent pictures from the battlefield in Donbas, and carried out attacks on targets throughout Russia, from the Arctic to Siberia.

The role of these “birds” in the war in the east of the country is generally difficult to overestimate. They are especially effective behind enemy lines. Many videos show their successful use against Russian forces, in particular the Bayraktar TB attack drones. These drones attack Russian radars, Su-57 aircraft and strategic bombers, causing significant damage.

The war in Ukraine became a real training ground for the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. Here are some of the gains the country has made thanks to drones. Ukraine has created and purchased a variety of UAVs – from small drones that fit in the palm of your hand to heavy models weighing more than 450 kg.

Unmanned aerial vehicles helped the guys of the ZSU to make it difficult for the orks to advance. Neither side achieved air superiority, and this led to the development of new UAV technologies.

At the beginning of the conflict, Ukraine successfully used large drones, in particular the Turkish TB2 Bayraktar, to penetrate Russian defense zones and strike strategic targets. However, over time, Russia has become easier to detect and bring down these large models. Ukraine has now switched to using smaller drones to adapt to enemy tactics.

Ukraine officially created the world’s first Unmanned Systems Forces, which coordinate the deployment of air, sea, and ground unmanned and robotic systems. The war in Ukraine is characterized by the large-scale use of UAVs to track enemy forces, guide artillery and bombardment.

Finally, early last year, Ukrainian state-owned defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom completed important tests of its long-range strike UAV in question. The concern united the efforts of domestic enterprises and specialists to create new weapons. They provided technical expertise, component manufacturing and system integration. It was Ukroboronprom that contributed to the coordination of works and ensured a high quality standard for “Palyanytsia”.

Unmanned aerial vehicles have become a key element of our defense power, and their development continues to even the odds in air combat and possibly turn the tide of war in Ukraine’s favor.

Tatyana Morarash