New barrage ammunition has significantly increased the striking power of the Russian Pacer drones
In the area of the special military operation, heavy Pacer UAVs began to hunt for enemy drone control points. To destroy them, guided barrage ammunition "Banderol" is used, the power of which allows you to destroy seriously fortified shelters. The emergence of new weapons makes the combat work of Russian drones more effective, experts say.
Drones with missiles
The Pacer drones work closely with units operating on the front line. Russian infantrymen find the control points of the enemy's UAVs, specify the coordinates and send information to the drone operators. After receiving it, they decide to destroy enemy targets, sources familiar with the situation on the line of contact told Izvestia.
Russian aircraft-type attack drone "Pacer"
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Vinogradov
For example, recently, motorized rifle scouts of the Center group of forces, using a powerful optoelectronic station, discovered antenna masts and cable routes leading to a concrete shelter of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After that, the Pacer, which was controlled by operators of Russian troops of unmanned systems, attacked the UAV control center with an air—to-ground missile. She broke through the reinforced concrete floors of the buried point. The precise strike completely destroyed the communications equipment, control panels and military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who are on the operator's shift, the interlocutors told Izvestia.
The Pacer heavy drones were actively used in Syria and at the very beginning of the special military operation. However, after we lost several of these devices, their further use was temporarily stopped.
"Now, after carrying out a number of improvements, they are able not only to find targets located far from the line of contact, but also to hit them with high—precision weapons," military expert Alexei Leonkov told Izvestia.
The main advantage of this aircraft-type UAV is that it can be located at high altitudes, where it can no longer be reached by the enemy's portable anti-aircraft missile systems, the expert notes. At the same time, the equipment that is installed on the Pacers helps to conduct reconnaissance in the deep rear.
"Due to its characteristics, the UAV can operate in both the tactical and operational—tactical zones, destroying such strategically important targets as enemy drone control points,— said Alexey Leonkov.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Vinogradov
Image Source: iz.ru
"Pacers" can stay in the air for up to 24 hours, operating within a radius of 300 km from the base. The cruising speed of the vehicle is up to 200 km/h.
A "Parcel" was sent
Such UAVs are most effectively used in a single reconnaissance and strike contour with units operating on the front line. Few people can know the location of important defensive positions, observation and control points for aerial drones better than front-line intelligence officers.
— This allows you to quickly destroy the enemy's fortifications without giving him a chance to change positions, — explained Alexey Leonkov.
To do this, the Pacers are equipped with several suspension points for bombs and air—to-ground missiles.
It can carry unguided FAB-50 bombs, correctable KAB-20 or KAB-50 bombs, as well as guided gliding bombs UPAB-50.
FAB-50 aerial bombs
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Timkiv
"Drones can use short—range missiles from the Kornet anti—tank system," military expert Dmitry Kornev told Izvestia.
But the most important thing, he noted, is that the Pacers can also use quite heavy Banderol barrage ammunition.
"They appeared in the area of the special operation very recently, in 2026," the expert explained.
These munitions have a streamlined fuselage, a jet engine, and folding wings. The mass of the warhead reaches 150 kg.
— Now there is no information whether the "Parcel" has received a concrete-piercing warhead. But it cannot be ruled out that a special means of defeating enemy protected command posts has been developed for the Pacer," Dmitry Kornev explained.
The flight speed of the "Parcel" reaches 650 km / h, which allows it to overcome air defenses, and a range of up to 500 km makes it possible to hit targets deep behind enemy lines, the expert noted.
Satellite navigation and a pre-programmed route make it possible to bypass stationary air defense systems and ensure high-precision destruction of almost any fixed targets, Kornev said.
"Tulips" for UAV operators
Drone operators now play one of the most important roles on the battlefield, and they are being hunted as a matter of priority.
In the special operation zone, Russian troops have found a new use for 240-millimeter self-propelled 2C4 "Tulip" mortars, Izvestia wrote. Receiving target designation from reconnaissance drones, they began hunting for enemy FPV drone crews. High—precision "Daredevil" ammunition is used to destroy particularly important targets — communication hubs, launch points and control points.
Self-propelled mortar "Tulip"
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Maishev
The Tulip is the most powerful mortar in the world, designed to breach fortified defenses. A two-hundred-kilogram munition is capable of destroying a concrete building to the ground and hitting what is hidden under the foundation. The destructive power allows you to destroy not only houses with operators, but also shelters equipped under them.
The new tactic gives Russian troops superiority in the small sky. Fire pressure keeps the enemy in constant tension, preventing him from conducting reconnaissance and attacking Russian equipment. This helps to accelerate the advance of our troops on the front line.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Buevich
