Baba Yaga (aircraft)

Baba Yaga
TypeUAV
Bomber Drone
Place of originUkraine
Service history
In service2022–present
Used byUkrainian Armed Forces
Russian Armed Forces (Captured)
WarsRussian invasion of Ukraine

Vampire (Baba Yaga) is the nickname for a Ukrainian drone (also called an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV) used in drone warfare created in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1][2] It has been described as a "vampire bomber drone."[2][3]

Nickname

"Baba Yaga" is a reference to the Slavic mythological creature, Baba Yaga,[1] a supernatural witch who flies around in a cauldron or mortar.[4] In August 2023, The Daily Beast reported that Chechen soldiers of the Russian armed forces claimed the drone had claws and could abduct soldiers.[5]

  • drone calibration
    drone calibration
  • in flight
    in flight
  • ammunition
    ammunition
  • pilots
    pilots

Construction

The drone is a large hexacopter (6-rotor) drone.[6][7] It is equipped with an infrared (thermal imaging) camera and able to carry up to a 33-pound (15kg) rocket warhead.[1][2]

Baba Yaga originated from an agricultural octocopter.[8] Russian-state media reported use of the drones in the eastern Donbas was based on heavy agricultural drones, and were nicknamed Baba Yaga after "a ferocious old woman."[8]

Use

Baba Yaga was used both as a bomber deploying "mortar-sized munitions" and also as a "mother-ship" drone equipped with a signal repeater, anti-jamming equipment, batteries, and directional antennas.[8] Its ability to function as a signal repeater extended the battery life and range of secondary drones.[9] During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the drones have been used primarily at night.[10]

Capture

In December 2023, it was reported that Russian forces had captured a Ukrainian Baba Yaga drone operating through the Starlink satellite network.[11] On 27 June 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its troops use the drones in bombing and cargo delivery missions.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c Axe, David. "Baba Yaga Is A Giant Ukrainian Drone That Drops Bombs At Night". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  2. ^ a b c Panella, Chris. "Ukraine says its Vampire bomber drone is such a nightmare for Russian troops they call it the 'Baba Yaga,' a mythical evil creature". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  3. ^ ""Baba Yaga" destroys the occupiers in Zaporizhzhia: how a Ukrainian drone keeps the enemy at bay". West Observer. 2024-02-20. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  4. ^ Harding, Luke (2023-05-12). "'We'll get there': the Ukrainian drone unit quietly knocking out Russian targets". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  5. ^ Quinn, Allison (2023-08-22). "Chechen Fighters: Drones With 'Claws' Abduct Russian Troops". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  6. ^ "Baba Yaga Drones Are Delivering Fear to Russian Occupiers in Ukraine - Technology Org". 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  7. ^ "Russian army's nightmare: Ukrainian serviceman tells about Vampire hexacopter". global.espreso.tv. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  8. ^ a b c Korshak, Stefan (2024-02-29). "Ukrainian Drone Swarms Controlled by 'Baba Yaga' Robot Aircraft, Russian Sources Claim". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  9. ^ "Ukrainian forces invent innovative method to attack Russian rear facilities — video". english.nv.ua. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  10. ^ "Ukraine's Vampire Drones Terrorize Moscow's Forces". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2024-02-05. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  11. ^ "Russians Reprogramming Captured Ukrainian Starlink-Controlled Baba Yaga Drones". www.defensemirror.com. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  12. ^ "Операторы БЛА ГрВ "Восток" используют тяжелые промышленные коптеры на Южно-Донецком направлении". ВПК.name (in Russian). 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2024-06-28.