Ukraine may have used US 'ghost fighters' to attack Lugansk

Authorities in Lugansk announced the discovery of debris from an ADM-160B decoy, a device dubbed a "ghost fighter" developed by the US to deceive air defenses.

"Police officers have discovered enemy booby traps in the center of Lugansk. Preliminary data indicates that these are ADM-160B systems manufactured in the United States," the interior ministry of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) announced today.

Images released by Russian media show parts of a gray drone, with the inscription "ADM-160B" and various technical specifications on its body. Experts believe this device may be deployed by Ukraine to disrupt the Russian air defense network in Lugansk, posing a challenge to counter missile and drone attacks from Kyiv.

Fragments believed to be from an ADM-160B decoy were released by Lugansk authorities on May 12. Photo: Ria Novosti — Fragments believed to be from an ADM-160B decoy were released by Lugansk authorities on May 12. Photo: *Ria Novosti*

LPR leader Leonid Pasechnik previously announced that Ukraine had launched two Grom-2 tactical ballistic missiles at the capital Lugansk on the evening of May 12. The missiles destroyed or damaged the administrative building at a packaging facility and a detergent production plant, and shattered windows in several nearby houses.

Lugansk officials asserted that the two areas had been abandoned for a long time and that no one was killed, adding that the attack left at least seven people injured, including six children and Russian MP Viktor Volodatsky.

The Ukrainian military has not commented on the information.

The ADM-160 "MALD" program, which originated in the 1990s, was based on deception tactics in warfare. The US military wanted to use cruise missiles disguised as "ghost fighters" to deceive enemy air defenses, diverting their interception capabilities and allowing the actual missiles to reach their targets.

The complete ADM-160B system was displayed by the US in Japan in 2015. Photo: Flickr/Yasu_osogi — The complete ADM-160B system was displayed by the US in Japan in 2015. Photo: *Flickr/Yasu_osogi*

The role of deceiving enemy air defense networks was previously often performed by drones. However, MALD is a completely different system in terms of its purpose and capabilities. This weapon can be launched from a variety of aircraft, from F-16 fighter jets to heavy transport aircraft, and has the ability to disguise itself as many types of military aircraft currently in service with the US.

The ADM-160B is the first complete version of the MALD project, entering service with the US military in 2009. Each aircraft sold to the US military costs $322,000, has a range of over 900 km, and is capable of continuously circling in the airspace near its target.

Vu Anh (According to Ria Novosti, Drive )

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