Where Ukrainian UJ-22 Airborn UAVs fly
UJ-22 UAV on display in 2021. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
In the recent past, the UJ-22 Airborne unmanned aerial vehicle entered service with the Ukrainian formations. This product is capable of conducting aerial reconnaissance at a tactical level and carrying light ammunition to attack ground targets. Currently, such UAVs are actively used by the enemy in the combat zone, and in addition, they are trying to use them to strike at Russian territory. However, in both cases, the effectiveness of UJ-22 is very limited.
Own development
The UJ-22 reconnaissance and strike UAV was developed by the Ukrainian company UkrJet at the turn of the last decades. According to some reports, unnamed foreign partners participated in the project. In addition, imported components are widely used in the design of the aircraft and other elements of the aviation complex.
The finished unmanned complex was first shown in June 2021 at one of the Ukrainian exhibitions. The pavilion demonstrated the drone itself, the control station, as well as a kind of "air bombs" made on the basis of widely used ammunition.
The Ukrainian command was interested in the UJ-22 product, as a result of which it was put into service, and mass production was also launched. At the beginning of 2022, Ukrainian formations already had a certain amount of such equipment. As can be judged from the available data, production continued further, but after February certain difficulties should have arisen.
The wreckage of a UJ-22 shot down in March 2022 in the Chernihiv region. Photo Telegram / "Military informant"
Combat application
There is no exact information on the operation and combat use of the UJ-22 UAV until February 24, 2022. After the start of the Russian Special Operation, they began to be actively used in different areas of the combat zone and solve all the intended tasks with their help. Now Drones Airborne regularly appear in the reports, and almost always as the next hit target.
The first reports of the destruction of UJ-22 products, as well as photos and videos confirming them, appeared in March last year. Thus, the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems and their crews demonstrated their ability to hit such air targets. Further news this kind appeared a few more times, but were not regular. Probably due to the lack of a large number of UJ-22s in the air.
There have been attempts to use the UJ-22 outside the combat zone. So, at the end of April, such UAVs, along with other types of equipment, were used in a raid on the Kursk region. Our air defense stopped enemy flights and possible attacks on ground targets.
In recent weeks, a new stage in the active use of the UJ-22 UAV has been observed. This time, Ukrainian formations are trying to send such devices to a greater range and attack remote objects on Russian territory. At the same time, the results of such actions are far from the expectations of the Kyiv regime.
Broken fuselage and internal units. Photo Telegram / "Military informant"
The first known instance of such an attack occurred at the end of February. The UJ-22 product was able to fly to the Moscow region and fell near the city of Kolomna. The aircraft fell to the ground and collapsed, but the existing warhead did not explode. The crash site turned out to be near the Gazprom facility, which could have been the target of the attack.
On April 24, another UJ-22 drone was discovered near the city of Noginsk near Moscow. The craft was severely damaged, indicating a crash or an extremely bad landing in the middle of a forest. A combat unit was present on board, which required the participation of explosives experts. Where the fallen UAV was heading is unknown.
Reconnaissance and attack
UJ-22 Airborne from UkrJet is a medium-sized aircraft-type UAV. It is built according to the normal aerodynamic scheme; the airframe is made mostly of plastic. The total length of the product reaches 3,3 m, the span of the straight wing is 4,6 m. The maximum take-off weight is 85 kg. Due to the rather large dimensions, the device can only work from prepared sites of sufficient size, for which it has a three-point chassis.
A two-stroke internal combustion engine with a pulling propeller is placed in the nose of the airframe. The type and power of the motor are not specified. With its help, the device is capable of speeds up to 160 km / h; minimum - 90 km / h. Ceiling - 6 km. Depending on the engine operating modes, the flight duration reaches 7 hours. The range with a normal load reaches 500-600 km. With a reduction in cargo and a maximum supply of fuel, it can be brought up to 700-800 km.
Airborne shot down in April 2022 over the Kursk region. Photo Telegram / "Military informant"
The UAV is equipped with an optical-electronic station for piloting and reconnaissance. There is also a remote control system. On-board communication facilities provide data exchange with the operator's console at distances up to 100 km. Apparently, there is also a mode of autonomous operation with flight along a given route without human intervention.
The UJ-22 carries a payload of up to 20 kg (probably not including optics). Initially, the design of the complex proposed two types of weapons for working on ground targets. They were made from available ammunition with minor modifications. The resulting "bombs" were proposed to be hung under the bottom of the fuselage.
The functions of a fragmentation weapon are performed by a standard 82-mm mortar mine without any design changes. Against armored vehicles, it is proposed to use the warhead of the PG-7V grenade without a regular tail, but with the original stabilizer.
The UAVs that fell in the Moscow region had a different load. It is reported that Canadian-made M112 engineering demolition charges were installed on them. Several charges with a total mass of approx. 17 kg. Apparently, the release of such a load was not planned, and the drones were supposed to attack targets in the “kamikaze” mode.
UJ-22 UAV that crashed on April 24, 2023 near the city of Noginsk. Photo Telegram / Baza
Efficiency Issues
From a technical point of view and in terms of its characteristics, the Ukrainian UJ-22 Airborne UAV is not unique or remarkable. This is a typical representative of its class of technology without any special advantages over similar samples. As a result, the enemy does not have to rely on special results of combat use.
Thus, the use of the UJ-22 as a tactical reconnaissance weapon or an ultralight "bomber" is associated with high risks. A year ago, it became clear that such UAVs are not a difficult target for the Pantsir-S1 air defense system, and their destruction is only a matter of technology. In addition, it is obvious that these drones can be destroyed and suppressed by a number of other modern models of the Russian army. As a result, the effectiveness of the Airborne product in the reconnaissance and strike role over the battlefield is extremely limited.
Recent attempts to break through air defenses and strikes at objects far from the combat zone may be a cause for concern. However, such stocks and the risks associated with them should not be overestimated, as indicated by several important features of the observed situation.
It should be noted that only two enemy UAVs ended up in the Moscow region. At the same time, it is not known how many attacks were carried out, and how many devices were launched from Ukrainian territory. There is also no information on the proportion of drones that managed to even cross the Russian border.
It is quite possible that the bulk of the "kamikaze" with engineering charges on board was destroyed over Ukraine. In this case, these UAVs were included in the reports from the military air defense units, but not in the news about incidents in Russia.
The combat load of the drone in the form of explosive charges. Photo Telegram / Baza
However, two UJ-22s still managed to get through the Russian defenses and approach the capital region. Apparently, they flew along a pre-designed route with a change in course and altitude to bypass the main air defense areas of responsibility. It is obvious that the Kiev regime could not independently identify dangerous areas and draw up an optimal flight route. In the preparation and organization of such an attack, developed foreign states with satellite means of electronic intelligence should have participated. It is not difficult to guess which countries could provide the necessary data.
However, the result did not justify all efforts. Both drones that hit the Moscow region fell and collapsed without triggering the warhead. Why this happened is unknown. A version is being expressed about running out of fuel and attempts at a “forced landing”. However, the impact of air defense or electronic warfare systems cannot be ruled out. Which of the versions is true is unknown, and our military will not disclose such information yet.
Limited danger
Unmanned aviation the UJ-22 Airborne complex is one of the reasons for the pride of the Ukrainian industry. With this project, she showed her ability to develop modern UAVs with different functions. However, such a drone does not represent anything remarkable from a technical point of view and does not have decisive advantages over other equipment in its class.
Like other modern UAVs, the UJ-22 can be used for reconnaissance in the interests of firepower or as an independent "bomber". Attempts are also being made to use it in the form of a long-range projectile aircraft. However, in all cases, the drone is at great risk. In fact, the effectiveness of the use of such a UAV, as well as its danger to Russian troops or facilities, does not depend on it itself, but on the work of our air defense.
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