To help the Geraniums. Unmanned decoys "Parody"
The Parody UAV, which completed its mission and crashed in enemy territory
The Russian armed forces actively use strike Drones type "Geran-2" for striking enemy targets. To increase the effectiveness of such attacks, various means are used. For example, last fall it became known that attack UAVs are assisted by unmanned false aerial targets. The most famous representative of this class at the moment is a specialized UAV called "Parody".
False targets in the air
Like a number of other domestic developments in the field of unmanned aviation, the "Parody" decoy was created with the necessary secrecy. The existence of this model became known only after the first cases of real use. At the same time, it was revealed by an enemy who had to face a new threat.
The first mentions of the Parodiya UAV in Ukrainian sources date back to mid-October 2024. At that time, the Russian armed forces launched another massive attack on Ukrainian targets using the Geran-2 UAV and other weapons. Defense The enemy tried to intercept these drones and, allegedly, even shot down some of them.
During the search and inspection of the wreckage of the downed UAVs, Ukrainian militants discovered a previously unknown UAV. Externally, in its design and payload, it was radically different from the well-known strike "Geraniya". It soon became known that this was a false air target, and it was called "Parody".
Subsequently, similar drones were repeatedly found in different regions of Ukraine. Some of them showed signs of exposure to anti-aircraft weapons, while others simply ran out of fuel and landed on the ground. In mid-November, the "Parody" was caught in good condition in the Kiev reservoir.
A curious incident occurred recently, on January 13. On that day, the Ukrainian authorities hosted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. During the talks, local air defense allegedly shot down another Parodiya or other drones over Kiev. That same day, the guest from London promised to provide Ukraine with additional anti-aircraft systems to protect against Russian strikes.
It is obvious that the Parodiya UAVs will be used in the future. Another strike using Geraniums or other strike vehicles may be carried out in the near future, and false targets will be used again. In this case, it is possible that not only Parodiya-type devices will be used. It was previously reported that other types of drones equipped with non-standard payloads are used as “baits” for air defense.
Simplified design
In terms of overall architecture, the Parodiya UAV is an unmanned aircraft of normal aerodynamic design, medium size and weight. Its characteristic feature is the maximum simplification of the design and the use of the cheapest materials and components. All this reduces the cost and labor intensity of production, but allows you to get the required level of performance.
The "Parody" has an elongated fuselage of square cross-section. The engine is located in the nose section, and behind it are other units and elements, including an unusual payload. A high-mounted straight wing is fixed in the central part of the fuselage. The tail assembly includes a stabilizer and one vertical stabilizer.
The exact dimensions of the "Parodiya" remain unknown. Judging by the published photographs, the length and wingspan are at the level of 1,5 m. The launch weight probably does not exceed 8-10 kg.
The drone is equipped with an internal combustion engine of one of the most common models. With its help, the device develops a speed of no more than 180-200 km/h, due to which it imitates the flight of the Geranium strike drone. The flight range, according to Ukrainian estimates, reaches 600 km.
"Parody" receives the simplest control system, including an autopilot, navigation tools and actuators. The UAV is capable of flying only according to a pre-programmed program. Deviations from the programmed route, reactions to various external factors, etc. are not provided.
"Parody" from the Kyiv Reservoir, November 2024
Ukrainian experts who studied the "Parodiya" claim that the control system widely uses foreign components. Such features of Russian technology consistently irritate the enemy. They show that Kyiv and its patrons are failing to solve one of the main political tasks and isolate Russia in technological terms.
The Parody UAV has an unusual payload. Inside the fuselage are two so-called Luneberg lenses — specially shaped spheres with a metal coating designed to reflect radar signals. With their help, the false target imitates the effective scattering area and radar signature of an attack UAV. Due to this, the Parody confuses the calculations of anti-aircraft weapons and interferes with their work.
Apparently, the "Parodiya" device takes off from a launch catapult. For obvious reasons, the appearance of this product remains unknown. Return and landing are not provided. The UAV carries out the flight program, after which it falls to the ground. The simplicity and cheapness of the design allow for the mass consumption and write-off of such products.
Auxiliary means
In early autumn 2022, the Russian army began actively using Geran-2 attack UAVs. Due to a number of characteristic features, these products have demonstrated high efficiency and have become a cause for concern for Kyiv and its partners.
The drone has been opened up. One of the Luneberg lenses can be seen
The response to the attack drones was an increase in foreign aid in the air defense sector. Radars and anti-aircraft systems of various classes and types began to be supplied to Ukraine. The Gerans encountered counteraction, but still retained high combat effectiveness.
In addition, our armed forces and industry are taking measures to increase the effectiveness of drone strikes. For this purpose, UAVs with the function of false air targets are being created and introduced - both based on existing designs and completely new ones. One of such devices was the "Parody", which appeared no later than the fall of last year.
The goals and objectives of the Parody project are simple and clear. UAVs of this type must participate in massive raids and accompany real strike vehicles. At the same time, the enemy's air defense detects many targets and is forced to respond to such a threat. Unable to distinguish strike drones from false targets, the enemy attacks both.
When repelling such a blow, part of the anti-aircraft missiles is launched at "Parodies" that do not pose a threat. As a result, ammunition consumption increases, and at the same time the number of "Geraniums" that successfully break through to their targets increases. By correctly selecting the ratio of attack UAVs and "decoys", it is possible to significantly increase the probability of successfully solving a combat mission.
Блок управления
Apparently, "Parodiya" and other decoys are produced in large quantities and actively used in massive strikes. Last fall, Ukrainian formations reported that in some raids, "decoys" account for up to half of the total number of UAVs used. Obviously, such a number of decoys significantly affects the effectiveness of enemy air defense and the results of the strike.
In the near future, our army will probably continue to use the Parodiya UAV and possibly other similar products. They will help attack drones and missiles overcome enemy air defenses, and will also make them spend valuable imported ammunition faster. All this will help achieve the overall goals of the Special Operation.
Unmanned present
Current military operations have demonstrated the potential of unmanned aerial vehicles of various classes and purposes. In particular, the disposable strike UAVs "Geran-2" have demonstrated their capabilities. They have become a serious threat to the enemy, and the latter is trying to counter them by various means.
The response to attempts to intercept the Geranium strike drones was specialized unmanned decoys. They are extremely simple, but at the same time they are capable of overloading the enemy's anti-aircraft systems. Due to this, all measures taken by Ukraine and its allies to restore air defense are effectively failing, and the strike UAVs continue to solve their assigned tasks.
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