Ukraine’s New Palianytsia Drone Targets Russian Air Bases

As Russia intensifies its long-range drone and missile strikes, Ukraine is enhancing its defensive capabilities. On Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced Palianytsia, a new Ukrainian weapon described as a “rocket drone,” marking its first combat deployment. This weapon is designed to target Russian aircraft on the ground, disrupting their operations before they can launch missiles, a tactic known as “killing the archer, not the arrows.” This strategy has already seen some success, with satellite imagery suggesting that a recent drone strike on August 22 at Marinovka air base caused significant damage to several bombers.

The nature of Palianytsia remains somewhat ambiguous. Is it a drone, a missile, or a hybrid of both? Its name, “Palianytsia,” refers to a traditional Ukrainian bread, symbolizing national identity and used during the war as a test for identifying Russian infiltrators. This choice of name underscores its Ukrainian origin and its potential to strike targets inside Russia without the restrictions faced by allied-supplied missiles like the ATACMS or Storm Shadow.

The accompanying video of Zelensky’s announcement suggests that Palianytsia has a range of at least 370 miles, potentially targeting over 20 Russian air bases. Although this range is less than some of Ukraine’s other long-range drones, which can reach over 1,000 miles, it is still significant.

Details about Palianytsia’s design, such as its size and speed, remain classified. However, it is known to use a turbojet engine, leading to some confusion between rockets and jets in descriptions. The debate over what constitutes a missile versus a drone is complex, with definitions often blurred. Ukraine’s Strategic Industries Minister, Oleksandr Kamyshin, has described Palianytsia as both a drone and a missile, reflecting the ambiguity in categorizing such weapons.

Historically, the lines between kamikaze drones, loitering munitions, and cruise missiles have been indistinct. For instance, the Tomahawk cruise missile, which features “in-flight re-targeting,” blurs the line between a missile and a drone. The Palianytsia, with its turbojet propulsion, is likely optimized for high-speed strikes, aligning with its role of targeting Russian aircraft on the ground.

Ukraine has seen success with its long-range strikes, notably targeting Russian oil and gas infrastructure. However, airbases pose a different challenge due to the mobility of aircraft. During the Marinovka attack, many Russian aircraft were able to relocate, though some could not escape, leading to the destruction of hangars and munitions. Faster attack drones could potentially reduce the warning time for Russian defenses and increase the likelihood of hitting aircraft on the ground.

Speed is a crucial factor. For comparison, the Iranian Shahed-136 drone, used extensively by Russia, cruises at around 115 mph, while an upgraded version, the Shahed-238, reaches speeds over 300 mph. The effectiveness of Palianytsia will depend on its production capabilities. To be effective, it must be produced in large quantities to carry out mass attacks on Russian airbases.

Ukraine has a history of using jet-powered attack drones, such as the Banshee targets from the UK, which have been adapted for kamikaze missions. The Palianytsia appears to be a simpler, scalable design intended for mass production. President Zelensky has indicated that production will increase, reflecting the broader trend of Ukraine’s drone industry scaling up.

In July, Ukraine surpassed Russia in launching long-range attack drones for the first time. The pace of drone launches has accelerated, with Ukraine’s approach emphasizing multiple, dispersed sites and designs optimized for mass production. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s technology minister, has highlighted the importance of scaling up production, drawing parallels to the mass production of small kamikaze drones used in the Black Sea.

The Palianytsia, despite being less sophisticated than high-cost Western hardware, could potentially deliver significant damage through sheer numbers. A mass attack of Palianytsia drones may be more effective than a single high-cost missile. Although individual drones carry smaller warheads compared to ATACMS, they can still inflict substantial damage to stationary targets and ignite fuel storage.

Future developments could see the introduction of jet-powered attack drones with greater range, interceptors for targeting aircraft and helicopters, and other advancements. As the technology evolves, Palianytsia might play a pivotal role in countering Russian air power and disrupting missile and bomb attacks.

Fedorov has called Palianytsia a “game changer,” a term often used in the conflict. If it can effectively neutralize Russian air defenses and mitigate the threat of air-launched missiles, it may indeed prove to be a significant strategic asset for Ukraine.