Ukrainian Drones Also Blew Up Russia's Sole Radar Plane Testbed
The Taganrog South Airport is an attrition trap for the Russian air force
On Monday night, the Ukrainian 14th UAS Regiment—the country’s elite deep-strike unit—struck the Taganrog South Airport in southern Russian, 125 miles from the front line in Ukraine.
The strike, apparently involving Fire Point FP-1 or FP-2 drones, destroyed at least two special testbed airframes parked at the Beriev factory adjacent to the airport: one of two A-60 airborne laser planes and the sole A-100LL, a modified Ilyushin Il-76 transport that tests technologies for the A-100 radar plane program.
A sprawling aircraft workshop also took a hit or two. (See video below.)
It’s possible additional aircraft were damaged or destroyed in the large hangar on the Beriev campus. “In the hangar there is a bonus that will probably remain behind the scenes,” teased Robert Brovdi, commander of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces.
