Ukraine’s new Tu-95 killer is a $48,000 copy of a drone China refused to sell

The Ukrainian state security service has developed a cutting-edge drone called the MICH 2000, which is a highly advanced copy of a Chinese drone that Beijing once refused to sell. This drone comes in at least eight different versions, with a price tag of $48,000 for the basic model. On July 16th, SBU bombers flew 800 kilometers to strike the Engels-2 air base in western Russia, targeting four Tupolev Tu-22Ms and a single Tupolev Tu-95.

Preliminary reports indicate that the attack caused significant damage to the Tu-95, with its tail section being torn off. Satellite imagery later confirmed the destruction of the bomber. Further investigations revealed that the SBU utilized MICH 2000 drones to conduct this attack. The MICH 2000 is designed to fly up to 2,000 kilometers and can carry a warhead weighing between 25 to 60 kg.

The primary targets of these drones include Russian ports, military, and industrial sites around Moscow, as well as the Engels-2 base. This single raid may have reduced the number of active Tu-95 bombers from Russia to 43, with only a dozen of them typically in service. The MICH 2000 started as a Chinese aircraft called the ZTK-150, which was bought by Ukrainian developers in 2023 despite Beijing's export restrictions.

After being refused by the Chinese factory, the Ukrainian team bought the drones and trained with them before returning to Ukraine. Today, the MICH 2000 is exclusively used by the SBU's Alpha unit and can fly significant distances with various customizable features. The Ukrainian forces aim to weaken the Russian bomber fleet by targeting bombers directly, rather than relying solely on air defense systems.