Russian VM-V unmanned target helicopters. Photo: Technodinamika. Via The Defense Post.
The Russian military continues to use expendable aerial targets as decoys to test, deceive and deplete Ukrainian air defenses.
On April 20, Ukrainian sources shared photos showing what they claimed to be the wreckage of a Russian “rotary-wing drone” that was shot down with the British-made Starstreak man-portable air-defense system. However, the wreckage turned out be of a Russian-made VM-V helicopter target.
The VM-V target, which was developed by Russian defense contractor Technodinamika Group, has a flight duration of two hours, an operational range of 150 kilometers and a maximum altitude of 2.5 kilometers. The target was especially designed to simulate low-speed drones and helicopters while testing air defense systems.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
The Russian military has been using aerial decoys to deceive Ukrainian air defense since the start of the special operation in Ukraine. This tactic is meant to deplete Ukrainian air defense means as well as to expose their locations in order to destroy them with precision fire from a stand-off distance.
While the VM-V is being used to mimic low-speed aerial objects flying at a low altitude, other targets, like the jet-powered E95M, are being used to mimic high-speed aerial objects that fly at higher altitudes, for example fighter jets.
The Ukrainian air defense forces have already sustained heavy losses. According to the most recent briefing by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian military has destroyed 254 Ukrainian air defense systems since the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine.
Kiev’s Western allies have been working nonstop to bolster the air defense capabilities of Ukrainian forces. However, their efforts have been meaningless, so far.
