Ukrainian forces have destroyed russian Kasta radar system in temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia region, in what appears to be a targeted effort to degrade enemy air surveillance capabilities. The strike was carried out by pilots of the Unmanned Systems Forces in coordination with operators from the Special Operations Forces.
The operation was announced on March 2 by Major Robert Madyar Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces. He described the Kasta radar as a "fierce enemy" of Ukrainian drone pilots operating at tactical and operational depth, underscoring the system's role in detecting low-flying aerial platforms.
Read more: Ukraine Degrades russian C2: Vityne Space Center, Podlet-K1, Kasta-2E2, Yastreb-AV Systems and Rubikon Unit Hit
According to the report, the radar was located and engaged by pilots from the 1st Center together with the Balista unit. The strike involved small strike drones used in coordination with reconnaissance assets from the 414th Brigade and the Deep Strike Coordination Center.
The targeted system, identified as the Kasta-35N6, is a mobile, two-coordinate air surveillance radar forming part of russian air defense architecture. It is designed to monitor airspace, determine the coordinates of aerodynamic targets flying at extremely low altitudes, and support air traffic control within military frameworks.
Technically, Kasta radar is optimized to detect low-altitude threats that often evade traditional radar coverage. It can reportedly track up to 20 aerial targets per minute at altitudes as low as 100 meters within a range of approximately 44 kilometers, and up to 6,000 meters at distances reaching 115 kilometers. Such capabilities make it particularly dangerous for drones and aircraft attempting terrain-masking flight profiles.
For Ukrainian drone operators, systems like Kasta represent a critical obstacle. By detecting low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles, the radar enables air defense units to cue missile systems or anti-aircraft guns, reducing the survivability of strike drones operating behind enemy lines.
The destruction of this radar therefore carries both tactical and operational significance. On the tactical level, it reduces immediate detection coverage in a specific sector of themporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia. Operationally, it contributes to a broader campaign aimed at systematically dismantling russian air surveillance and air defense networks that protect logistics hubs, command posts, and rear-area infrastructure.
Read more: Ukrainian Drones Burn russian Airboat, Vehicles, and Ground Robot (Video)
