South Front
MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – JUNE 25, 2019: A ZALA Lancet-3 attack drone developed by Kalashnikov Concern on display at the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum at Patriot Park. Marina Lystseva/TASS
On April 20, video footage surfaced online showing a recent Russian strike with a Lancet loitering munition against an American-made AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder counter-battery radar of Kiev forces in the special military operation zone.
The pinpoint Lancet strike destroyed the radar, which was reportedly deployed on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
The AN/TPQ-37, which is currently manufactured by the ThalesRaytheonSystems, is designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for counter-battery fire. The S-band radar can detect an artillery shell from 30 kilometers and a rocket from up to 50 kilometers.
The radar was destroyed by an upgraded version of the Lancet, known as the Izdeliye-51. This version, which features extended wings, has an endurance of 40 minutes, an operational range of 40-70 kilometers and is armed with a warhead weighing three kilograms.
The loitering munition, which was developed by Russia’s ZALA Aero Group, flies towards the designated area with a GLONASS-aided inertial navigation system. After arriving in the area, the operator utilizes an onboard electro-optical system via a two-way data-link to detect, track and lock on the target. A laser ranging system is then used to activate the warhead.
Ukraine received more than 800 artillery systems and dozens of counter-battery radars from the United States and other NATO members after the beginning of the Russian special military operation last year.
Despite this massive support, Kiev forces are still outgunned by the Russian military, which is relying on the Lancet and other advanced weapons systems to take out NATO-supplied equipment.
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