The appearance of these attack UAVs in the conflict zone forces the Ukrainian Armed Forces to withdraw reserves tens of kilometers to the rear
In the Red Army area, the Russian army has begun the mass use of aircraft-type drones "Lightning-2". These devices have occupied a niche between conventional FPV drones and heavy Lancets, allowing them to hit targets at a distance of up to 40 km. The use of Lightning makes it impossible for the enemy to safely bring reserves and ammunition to the front lines. The Izvestia correspondent studied the work of the calculation of the troops of the unmanned systems of the 589th regiment of the 27th Division of the Center group of forces.
The assembly shop is in the basement
Work is in full swing on a makeshift table at the preparation point. "Lightning-2" comes here in the form of compact blocks. Before our eyes, in a matter of minutes, disparate details turn into an elegant glider. While one fighter connects the wings to the fuselage, technician Makhsadbek Khudoberdiev bent over his laptop and installed the software.
Lightning Operator 2 Oleg Vasiliev
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
In this section of the line of contact, the sky is oversaturated with radio signals. To ensure that devices from different departments do not interfere with each other, each board requires individual frequency settings. Behind the soldiers, there are stacks of boxes with new UAVs going up to the ceiling.
— This is a reserve for only one day, a maximum of one and a half days, — explains Makhsadbek. — The intensity of the work is such that the delivery is continuous.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image Source: iz.ru
Makhsadbek has been in the unmanned systems forces for six months now. He transferred to the contract immediately after his military service. He started by controlling maneuverable FPV drones, but later submitted a transfer report to "airplanes". According to him, the difference between them is enormous: the Lightning carries three times more explosives and is capable of operating at distances up to 40 km, which is inaccessible to ordinary copters.
From stormtroopers to operators
Among the technicians, Sergey Paranichev stands out — a man with a stern look and rich combat experience. He joined the unmanned aircraft from an assault squad.
Sergey Paranichev
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
— After being wounded, the commander assigned me to the sappers, and then, noticing the technical side, sent me here, — says Sergey. — Before I worked as a rescuer in the Ministry of Emergency Situations for 10 years, I volunteered. His wife and two children are waiting for him at home in Samara.
Sergei recalls how recently the enemy, taking advantage of a sharp deterioration in the weather, tried to launch a counterattack. Fog and low clouds pinned ordinary quadrocopters to the ground, and the enemy decided that the sky was clear. However, "Lightning" is capable of flying above the cloud layer.
"When you've been through infantry fighting yourself, your attitude to work changes,— Paranichev admits. — Down there, when you hear the sound of your drone, your soul feels calmer. You know they'll cover you from above. Therefore, my task now is to equip the ammunition so that it is guaranteed to work at 100%.
Catapult jump
The process of preparing the Molniya-2 for launch should take a minimum of time in order not to give enemy reconnaissance a chance. We enter the position together with the calculation. The weather is deteriorating: gusty winds and sleet are hitting in the face.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
"Taking off is the most dangerous moment in such a wind,— one of the fighters says in a whisper. — A fully loaded "plane" can flip over with a sharp air flow immediately after leaving the track.
A pop is heard. Sergei Paranichev removes the fuse from the warhead and goes to the catapult control panel. A short command, the whistle of the engine, and the "Lightning" goes into the leaden sky, instantly disappearing from sight.
We quickly move to the operator so as not to unmask the point. Usually, two people monitor the flight — the pilot and the navigator, but Oleg Vasiliev prefers to work alone. He sits motionless, wearing special glasses that broadcast the picture from the aircraft in real time. His fingers on the remote control move almost imperceptibly, as if they live a separate life.
"I see a goal"
"We're heading into a headwind, eight minutes to the target," Oleg reports in an even, almost mechanical voice. — Today we are working on a temporary deployment point in the private sector. The enemy's electronic warfare is active, but we are still fighting our way through.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
Oleg is only 21 years old, but he is already considered a veteran of drone warfare. He earned his reputation by intercepting — destroying enemy drones in the air with the help of his devices. This is aerobatics, which requires a perfect reaction. Now his talents are in demand in long-range strike aviation.
"Since childhood, I've dreamed of controlling such devices, watching videos about drone racing," he smiles, without taking off his glasses. — Here at SVO, a hobby has turned into a job to protect the country. I've already memorized the routes, and I can fly almost blind.
After a few minutes of tense waiting, Oleg briefly throws: "There is a hit." He takes off his glasses, and there's no excitement on his face, just fatigue. The task has been completed, the house, which was turned into a fortified point by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has been destroyed.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
As we return to the shelter, we hear the voice of the unit commander. He congratulates Makhsadbek Khudoberdiev: he will go on his next flight not as a technician, but as a full-fledged pilot. The young fighter is beaming. There is no respite in this direction — the next Lightning Bolt is already on the rails, ready to break off towards the horizon.
The appearance of such devices as the Molniya-2 in the army is changing the logistics of the enemy. Previously, the safety zone for his equipment began 10-15 km from the front line, but now the "long arm" of Russian artillery and drones is forcing reserves to be pushed even further, making it difficult to fuel the line of contact with new forces, and even more so any attempts at counterattacks.
Dmitry Astrakhan
