Ukraine has wrecked more than 100,000 Russian vehicles by hitting the roads, and this new drone is built for that job

Ukraine has inflicted damage on over 100,000 Russian vehicles by targeting their roads and railways, according to recent figures. This devastating toll has led to the development of a specialized strike drone, aptly named Baton, designed to disrupt Russian logistics. The Baton boasts a striking range of up to 90 kilometers and can remain in the air for 50 minutes.

It operates at a speed of 105 kilometers per hour, with a top speed of 140 kilometers per hour, and can hover at an altitude between 150 to 500 meters, with a maximum ceiling of 1,500 meters.

The Baton is equipped to launch from a catapult under ground-station control, with a preparation time of approximately 15 minutes. It can autonomously lock onto a target and fly to it, even from a distance of up to 2 kilometers away, at altitudes of up to 500 meters. This feature becomes particularly crucial when Russian jamming interferes with the drone's link. The Baton can carry either analog or digital video, communicate over LTE or Starlink, and navigate its route autonomously using real-time positioning.

While the Baton's 50-minute cruising speed allows it to cover roughly 87 kilometers, the 90-kilometer range refers to a one-way distance at near-full endurance. This means the drone's operational radius is slightly less. The Baton's ability to disrupt Russian logistics is further underscored by its capacity to destroy 483 vehicles in a single day on May 29, 2022, marking the highest daily figure since February 2022. This new drone is a testament to Ukraine's technological prowess in dismantling the enemy's supply lines.