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Defense Express’ Weekly Review: russians Trying to Create Their Maritime Drone, Ukrainian Use of M1 Abrams Tanks, Attack on Three russian Airfields

Soviet P-15 anti-ship missile / Archival photo from open sources
Soviet P-15 anti-ship missile / Archival photo from open sources

Digest of Defense Express on the main events of the week

Navigation Risks in the Black Sea: The russians Likely Crafted Their Maritime Drone with Starlink and Warhead from an Old P-15 Missile

An unidentified remotely controlled surface vessel drifted in the Black Sea, near an area of intense civilian shipping activity.

This story became particularly peculiar after the russian Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies published some information about this incident.

Read more: Chronicle of russia's Bloodiest War Crimes in Ukraine in 2023
Soviet P-15 anti-ship missile, Defense Express
Soviet P-15 anti-ship missile / Archival photo from open sources

According to their estimates, the creation of this device involved using an old 3-ton displacement rescue boat, the Starlink terminal was used for control system, and most importantly, this device was equipped with the combat part of the first-generation Soviet anti-ship missile P-15.

Rare russian T-80UE-1 in Spotlight as it Shows Up in Ukraine, Only Battalion of Such Tanks Existed

Despite having good specs on paper, the list of the tank's known feats is quite questionable: unable to hit the target and often abandoned on the battlefield.

T-80UE-1 main battle tank, Defense Express
T-80UE-1 main battle tank / Open-source illustrative photo

Before the beginning of russian invasion of Ukraine and its first real combat experience, this tank was only noticed once. During the tank biathlon in 2020, this MBT managed to hit the target on the third attempt, that is, from a stationary position in comfortable proving ground conditions.

Denmark Chose to Replenish Artillery Stocks with Israeli PULS and ATMOS 2000 Instead of CAESAR, Now Regrets Decision

Having sent part of its artillery systems to Ukraine, the Danish government made a mistake by forgetting that it's not just the delivery timeframe that matters, but the time needed to integrate the new equipment, too.

CAESAR artillery system on 8x8 Tatra chassis in service with the Danish Army, Defense Express
Archive photo: CAESAR artillery system on 8x8 Tatra chassis in service with the Danish Army / Photo credit: Forsvaret

After having committed the country's literally entire artillery arsenal to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Danish army itself is in urgent need of replacement, but the purchased pieces will become operational two years later than expected.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Armed Forces Organize Attack on Three russian Airfields, Damage Tu-95MSs, Destroy Su-25s

The Defense Intelligence, together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, organized an operation on the night of Friday, April 5, in the framework of which three airfields of the russians were struck.

russia's airfields are under Ukraine's UAVs attacks, Defense Express
russia's airfields are under Ukraine's UAVs attacks / Open source illustrative photo

According to the results of the operation, several aircraft, dozen occupiers were destroyed as well as several strategic bombers were damaged.

Ukrainian Engineers Have Developed the WarDog Reconnaissance Drone, Resistant to Jamming

Ukrainian engineers have created the WarDog reconnaissance drone, specifically designed to operate in challenging terrains and under hostile electronic warfare conditions.

The WarDog drone, Defense Express
The WarDog drone / Photo credit: Mykhailo Fedorov

The WarDog system excels in reconnaissance missions, even when GPS signals are jammed. It can operate autonomously, semi-autonomously or in manual flight modes.

American Company Produces UAVs, EW Systems and Other Military Units for Sanctioned russian Company

Cyber Resistance activists have recently released online documents, sparking a detailed investigation by Ukrainian journalists into the connections of the sanctioned russian company Planar Tech and its American subsidiary, Copper Mountain Technologies.

russian Inokhodets UAV, Defense Express
russian Inokhodets UAV / open source

Leaked contracts obtained by the Cyber Resistance group unveiled the link between Planar’s products and russian defense industry, providing Ukraine with crucial insights into UAVs like Orlan-10, Inokhodets, and EW systems like Svet-KU and Leer-3, and numerous military units utilizing Planar products.

How Ukrainian Forces Use M1 Abrams Tanks Near Avdiivka, Insights from Soldier and Analyst

About the tactic and factors that define the role of this tank on the battlefield.

M1 Abrams of Ukrainian Armed Forces in battles against the russians in the Avdiivka operational direction, February 2024
M1 Abrams of Ukrainian Armed Forces in battles against the russians in the Avdiivka operational direction, February 2024 / Still frame credit: Press service of the 47th Mechanized Brigade

Oleh, call sign Azimuth, the warrior of the 47th Brigade, said that both M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles continue to contribute to combat operations in this brigade's area of responsibility, namely the Avdiivka operational axis in eastern Ukraine.

The Ultimate Advantage of Ukrainian Long-Range Kamikaze Drones Revealed: New-Gen DSMAC Guidance Like in Cruise Missiles

This technology ignores enemy EW suppression, ensures proper navigation and enhances precision of strikes.

Defense Express
Illustrative render by Defense Express

It's also used in Tomahawk and Storm Shadow missiles but Ukrainian developers went further and created its new generation.

Ukrainian Warriors Destroy One of the Most Expensive russian Forpost UAVs Over the Black Sea

"Over the day, on April 01, 2024, the soldiers of the Odesa anti-aircraft missile brigade destroyed a russian Forpost attack and reconnaissance UAV in the Black Sea waters," the Air Command South said.

russian Forpost attack and reconnaissance UAV, Defense Express
russian Forpost attack and reconnaissance UAV

This drone is capable of providing reconnaissance at the altitude of up to 5 km for 16 hours straight and within a range of 400 km from the operator. It has a wingspan of 8.5 m and a max takeoff weight of 500 kg. Its cost is approximately $7 million.

russia May Start Using Kalibr Cruise Missiles Soon: Estimating the Quantity of Stockpile

The russia has been stockpiling Kalibr cruise missiles, raising concerns that they could be used to target Ukraine.

Launch of the russian Kalibr cruise missile, Defense Express
Launch of the russian Kalibr cruise missile / Open source photo

"In the near future, I think we will see Kalibr again, given the significant depletion of Kh-101 stock," Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine remarked.

Read more: ​Defense Express’ Weekly Review: New russian Armies, French Weaponry for Ukraine, russian Military Ships in the Red Sea