MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – JUNE 25, 2019: A ZALA Lancet-3 attack drone developed by Kalashnikov Concern on display at the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum at Patriot Park. Marina Lystseva/TASS
The Russian military has so far destroyed more than half of the American-made M109 self-propelled howitzers supplied to Kiev forces using Lancet loitering munitions, the ZALA Aero Group, which produces the unmanned system, revealed on June 6, citing information from Lostarmour.info, a website that documents military losses.
Since the start of the Russian special military operation more than three years ago, Ukraine has reportedly received over 160 M109 howitzers of the A3GN, A4, A5Öe, A6 and L variants from the United States and other backers. According to Lostarmour.info, 90 of these howitzers were hit by Lancet loitering munitions.
“The Lancet systems have proven themselves to be one of the most effective means of destroying foreign-made self-propelled guns,” ZALA said in a post to Telegram.
Video footage shared by ZALA along with the post showed some 25 being badly damaged or completely destroyed by Lancets.
ZALA produces two versions of the Lancet, the Izdeliye-52 with an endurance of 30 minutes and a one-kilogram warhead and the larger Izdeliye-51 that has an endurance of 40 minutes and is armed with a three-kilogram warhead.
The loitering munition flies towards the designated area with a GLONASS-aided inertial navigation system. After arriving in the area, the operator utilizes an onboard electro-optical system via a two-way data-link to detect, track and lock on the target. A laser-ranging system then controls the detonation of the warhead.
The small radar cross-section and minimal infrared signature of the electric-powered loitering munition makes it very difficult to intercept.
Lancet strikes have destroyed or damaged at least 45 tanks of Kiev forces since the start of the special military operation, According to Lostarmour.info.
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