Baba Yaga (aircraft)
Baba Yaga is the nickname for a Ukrainian drone (also called an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV) used in drone warfare created in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1][2] It has been described as a "vampire bomber drone."[2][3]
Nickname
"Baba Yaga" is a reference to the Slavic mythological creature, Baba Yaga,[1] a supernatural witch who flies around in a cauldron or mortar.[4]
Construction
The drone is a large hexacopter (6-rotor) drone.[5][6] It is equipped with an infrared (thermal imaging) camera and able to carry up to a 33-pound rocket warhead.[1][2]
Baba Yaga originated from an agricultural octocopter.[7] Russian-state media reported use of the drones in the eastern Donbas was based on heavy agricultural drones, and were nicknamed Baba Yaga after "a ferocious old woman."[7]
Use
Baba Yaga was used both as a bomber deploying "mortar-sized munitions" and also as a "mother-ship" drone equipped with a signal repeater, anti-jamming equipment, batteries, and directional antennas.[7] Its ability to function as a signal repeater extended the battery life and range of secondary drones.[8] During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the drones have been used primarily at night.[9]
Capture
In December, 2023, it was reported that Russian forces had captured a Ukrainian Baba Yaga drone operating through the Starlink satellite network.[10] On 27 June 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its troops use the drones in bombing and cargo delivery missions.[11]
References
- ^ a b c Axe, David. "Baba Yaga Is A Giant Ukrainian Drone That Drops Bombs At Night". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ a b c Panella, Chris. "Ukraine says its Vampire bomber drone is such a nightmare for Russian troops they call it the 'Baba Yaga,' a mythical evil creature". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ ""Baba Yaga" destroys the occupiers in Zaporizhzhia: how a Ukrainian drone keeps the enemy at bay". West Observer. 2024-02-20. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ Harding, Luke (2023-05-12). "'We'll get there': the Ukrainian drone unit quietly knocking out Russian targets". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ "Baba Yaga Drones Are Delivering Fear to Russian Occupiers in Ukraine - Technology Org". 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ "Russian army's nightmare: Ukrainian serviceman tells about Vampire hexacopter". global.espreso.tv. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ a b c Korshak, Stefan (2024-02-29). "Ukrainian Drone Swarms Controlled by 'Baba Yaga' Robot Aircraft, Russian Sources Claim". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ "Ukrainian forces invent innovative method to attack Russian rear facilities — video". english.nv.ua. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ "Ukraine's Vampire Drones Terrorize Moscow's Forces". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2024-02-05. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ "Russians Reprogramming Captured Ukrainian Starlink-Controlled Baba Yaga Drones". www.defensemirror.com. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ "Операторы БЛА ГрВ "Восток" используют тяжелые промышленные коптеры на Южно-Донецком направлении". ВПК.name (in Russian). 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2024-06-28.