Russia Unveils Jet-Powered BM-35 Drone With 217 Mph Speed

Russian officials recently unveiled a jet-powered BM-35 attack drone boasting a top speed of 217 mph and a range of 124 miles. The drone, capable of being launched within minutes from any terrain using a mobile platform, can be controlled by an operator throughout its flight, providing a first-person view of its trajectory. Notably, Ukrainian electronic warfare systems reportedly have no impact on the drone's signal, allowing it to strike targets deep behind enemy lines.

The drone carries a 22-pound warhead that disperses up to 1,000 fragmentation elements, creating a 650-foot radius of destruction. According to Russian operators, three drones can be launched simultaneously, with the warhead detonating to release its payload. The development of the BM-35 comes after Ukrainian military intelligence identified various foreign electronic components integrated into new Russian weapons systems, including Nvidia Jetson Orin modules in the S-71 Monochrome missile and a Chinese Honpho TS130C-01 camera in the Geran-2 drone.

These findings highlight Russia's reliance on foreign technology, underscoring the need for increased sanctions pressure due to limited domestic production capacity.