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​Chinese Drone With Western Electronic Components Shot Down Over Ukraine’s East

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CNN shows Chinese drone Mugin-5 shot down in eastern Ukraine
CNN shows Chinese drone Mugin-5 shot down in eastern Ukraine

The Defense Forces of Ukraine shot down Chinese drone Mugin-5 last Saturday. The UAV, being a commercial UAV that can be purchased in China for about $15,000, was armed with 20-kg bomb. The bomb was later safely detonated by the Ukrainian military

That is according to CNN, Ukrinform reports.

The channel said the drone was brought down last Saturday. Before that, Ukraine's SBU State Security Service received intelligence data about preparations for the launch of the drone from Russian territory. The SBU then raised the alarm with military units. At around two o'clock in the morning, the fighters heard the drone overhead and even saw the light flashing on the UAV. They brought it down with hand-held weapons.

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"The drone was a Mugin-5, a commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) made by a Chinese manufacturer based in the port city of Xiamen, on China's eastern coast," the report by CNN said.

Mugin-5, a commercialUAV made by a Chinese manufacturer based in the port city of Xiamen, was shot down in Ukraine on March 11, 2023, Chinese Drone With Western Electronic Components Shot Down Over Ukraine’s East, Defense Express
Mugin-5, a commercialUAV made by a Chinese manufacturer based in the port city of Xiamen, was shot down in Ukraine on March 11, 2023 / Photo credit: CNN

Some tech bloggers, asked by CNN, say the vehicles are known as "Alibaba drones" as they have been available for sale for up to $15,000 on Chinese marketplace websites including Alibaba and Taobao.

Mugin Limited confirmed to CNN that it was their airframe, calling the incident "deeply unfortunate."

CNN also reached out to half a dozen other companies whose electronic parts were visible in the downed UAV. That includes servos made by MKS, a Taiwanese manufacturer of electronic devices. A sensor on the retrofitted circuit board on the UAV was made by Novatel, part of the Hexagon group based in Canada, which supplies industries including “agriculture, construction and automotive.”

As Defense Express find, Mugin-5 Pro 5000mm Carbon Fiber UAV Platform is available on the MuginUAV website for $9,499.00. The manufacturer says the drone’s maximum flight time is supposed to be over 7 hours while the maximum take-off weight can be up to 90kg and and the payload can be up to 25kg.

Chinese Drone With Western Electronic Components Shot Down Over Ukraine’s East, Defense Express

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