Ukraine unveils Bucha drone with 200 km range: Here’s what it can do
The Armed Forces of Ukraine operate a drone (Photo: facebook.com/usofcom)
The Ukrainian-British company UForce has developed a new kamikaze drone named Bucha, according to the Militarnyi portal.
Main characteristics of the drone
According to the publication, the new drone has a warhead weighing 5.5 kilograms and is designed for a flight range of up to 200 kilometers.
The unmanned aerial vehicle is built using an aircraft-type scheme and is intended for engaging targets at significant distances.
A design feature is the launch method. The device will take off not from a pneumatic catapult, but from a small guide rail using a starting powder charge.
Group launches and communication system
The developers plan to use the drones in groups. Communication between them will be built on the mesh network principle, where one of the drones can function as a signal repeater.
Testing and cost
Currently, the new device has not yet undergone combat tests and is in the flight testing stage. The cost of the drone will depend on the type of communication used.
Specifically, it can operate via the Starlink system or other channels used in specific sections of the front. The expected price ranges from 10,000 to 12,000 dollars.
Simplified version of the drone
In addition to the main version, the developers have created a simplified modification of the drone.
It is equipped with a warhead weighing 3.5 kilograms and is designed for a flight range of 100 to 120 kilometers.
This version has already undergone combat deployment and is in the stage of preparation for pre-series production.
Investments in the company
In early March, the company UForce emerged from so-called stealth mode and announced that it had attracted 50 million dollars in investments.
According to the developers, the systems created by this same company have completed over 150,000 missions during the war.
These include Magura naval drones, heavy bombers, ground robotic systems, and remotely controlled turrets.
Japan is studying the possibility of acquiring Ukrainian-made strike drones to equip its Self-Defense Forces. Interest in this technology is linked to its effective use in real combat conditions during the repulsion of Russian aggression.
The Ukrainian F10 strike FPV drone, developed by the company F-Drones, has reached the final of the first stage of the Drone Dominance program, which is being implemented by the Pentagon.
