The Iranian-design Shahed-136 drones, called the Geran-2 by Russia, are a huge tragic pain for Ukraine. However, engineers in Ukraine have been developing their answer to it. Ukrainian loitering munition Cobra is not going to have the same range as the Shahed-136 and won’t carry a warhead as heavy, but it will be a valuable tool in the effort to defend the country against the Russian invasion.
Cobra on its pneumatic catapult. (Screenshot)
BuildingTech writes that the Cobra is a relatively cheap, quick-to-build combat drone with a range of about 300 km. Wood, foam, composite materials, and riveted sheet steel – the Cobra drone is made of several different materials. It has a frame and an outer skin – sort of like a regular large aircraft.
“Assembling one such drone takes only three hours – it’s a very fast and efficient process. The design of the drone can be changed in a matter of days, giving it different sizes, shapes or patterns,” the statement reads.
The engine of the Cobra drone, as well as its propeller and most electronics are manufactured in Ukraine. Meanwhile, various sensors, controls, communication and navigation equipment use imported components. In any case, the fact that the Cobra is a Ukrainian drone greatly facilitates production and logistics. If Ukraine can find an opportunity to make hundreds or maybe even thousands of these kamikaze drones, it will be a great aid to the defenders of Ukraine.
The wingspan of the Cobra drone is three metres, and the length of the fuselage is about 2 metres. The take-off weight is kilograms, of which 15 kg is the explosive warhead. It is launched using a pneumatic catapult.
“The main function of the drone is to destroy enemy targets. For this purpose, it has a powerful engine capable of carrying ammunition at a distance of more than 300 km. The speed of this drone reaches 150 km/h,” the specs of the Cobra say.
Launch of the Cobra drone:
By the way, the engineers promise that the Cobra drone will be able to work autonomously – it will independently determine its route and recognize the target. Engineer Vitaly Bryzgalov said that Ukraine’s Cobra is similar to Iran’s Shahed-136, but much cheaper to manufacture.
Of course, Cobra is also much smaller and doesn’t go as far. In fact, the entire Cobra drone weighs about as much as the warhead in the Shahed drone. However, the Cobra costs about 2 thousand dollars. The price of Shahed-136 is not known, but it is estimated that one such drone should cost between 10 and 50 thousand dollars.
Ukraine needs more weapons and this war is shaping out to be a prolonged armed conflict. Hopefully, drones can help Ukraine reach deep behind the enemy lines to inflict long-range damage.
Written by Povilas M.
Source: Charter97.org