ISW: Russian Army Starts Using Product-53 Weapon Against Ukraine

• 29.10.2023, 10:03

What makes it special?

Russian occupation forces are using a new version of the Lancet kamikaze drone to attack Ukraine. The enemy has named the drone Product-53 and claims it can autonomously identify targets.

The Russian Army hopes that such weapons will allow them to overcome Ukrainian air defence systems. the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.

According to Russian sources, on October 21, the occupiers started using the Product-53 kamikaze drone against Ukraine. Propaganda says it allegedly has an automatic targeting system that can distinguish between target types and increase the chances of a successful strike.

ISW analysts say that the aggressor country Russia is not using this updated version of the Lancet widely. Although Russian sources claim that the Russian Armed Forces are so far only testing drones for massive synchronized attacks on Ukraine.

Note that the Russian commercial operator of unmanned aerial systems Aeroscan presented an updated version of the Lancet in August 2023. The drone of the ZALA Lancet concept was called the Product-53, declaring that it is capable of independently, according to predetermined parameters, identifying and hitting targets.

The Russians also boasted that their “new” development uses “drone swarm” tactics, “skillfully” bypassing air defence systems during attacks.