The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) claims that the Russian Armed Forces have begun using a new version of the Lancet loitering munition, known as Product 53, in the Northern Military District zone. The new product can distinguish between types of targets thanks to an automatic guidance system and has already been successfully tested in real combat conditions.
ISW sees a particular danger of new kamikaze drones in the possibility of their mass simultaneous launch from containers. This will allow the Ukrainian air defense to be overloaded and the designated targets to be hit.
The Russian Armed Forces are not yet reported to be using Izdeliye-53 drones on a large scale, but Russian sources claim that troops are currently testing them for mass synchronized swarm strikes
– write American analysts.
ISW reports that the Product 53 payload does not exceed 5 kg, which is allegedly not enough to cause significant damage to the intended target. However, footage of effective destruction of enemy armored vehicles using the Lancet UAV with a warhead mass of 3 to 5 kg appears on the Internet every day. It is obvious that the new loitering munition with the ability to automatically recognize a target is a serious threat to equipment and manpower of the enemy.
ISW also announces the first launches of the Italmas attack UAV, referred to as Izdeliye 54. Such drones were used to strike a target in the Kyiv region.