Russian UAVs and missiles destroy more of Ukraine's best weapons?

Two weeks after a Russian drone spotted a target for a Russian missile to quickly strike two Ukrainian Patriot surface-to-air missile launchers, the Russians have found and hit a Ukrainian NASAMS anti-aircraft missile battery, according to Forbes .

A video posted by Russian forces on social media on March 16 depicts what appears to be a precision missile strike on a NASAMS launcher, about 30 miles from the front line in the southern Ukrainian province of Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine struggles to deal with Russian night-attack UAVs

This could be the second time Ukraine has lost NASAMS launchers. Before Republicans in the US Congress cut off aid in October 2023, Washington had provided Ukraine with 12 NASAMS batteries, each with several radars, at least one control station, and between nine and 12 launchers. Ukraine is set to receive another 15 to 18 NASAMS launchers from Canada, Norway, and Lithuania.

During the two-year Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russian forces struggled to hit moving targets within a few kilometers of the front line. However, that situation has changed recently.

A NASAMS launch pad

In a bloody month of fighting against Ukrainian air defenses, artillery, and pilots, Russian forces found and destroyed a Patriot air defense system, Ukraine’s first high-mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS), and two Mi-17 attack helicopters, according to Forbes . In each case, the Ukrainian systems were dozens of kilometers behind the front lines and were on the move or about to move.

Now, Russia's kill chain, which includes networked UAVs and artillery that can detect targets deep behind front lines and strike before they move, is rapidly becoming more lethal, according to Forbes .

By spying deeper and firing farther, faster and more accurately, Russian forces are improving one of their long-standing weaknesses and diminishing what was once seen as Ukraine's key advantage, according to Forbes .

There is currently no information on Ukraine's or Russia's reaction to the above statement.

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Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/uav-ten-lua-nga-pha-huy-them-vu-khi-tot-nhat-cua-ukraine-18524032618040176.htm