{
  "id": 1272283,
  "title": "Ukraine built a $48,000 long-range drone after covertly snapping Chinese factory photos, clone destroys Russian Tu-95 bomber — attack drone has 2,000 km range, country builds 6,000 $48,000 flying-wing drones a year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ukraine-built-a-48-000-long-range-drone-after-covertly-snapping",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T13:20:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Hardware",
    "slug": "tom-s-hardware",
    "url": "https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/drones/ukraine-destroys-tu-95-bomber-using-48000-chinese-drone-clone"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Ukrainian-made long-range attack drone, known as the MICH 2000, recently destroyed a Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber at the Engels-2 air base. The drone, reverse-engineered from a Chinese aircraft Beijing refused to sell to Ukraine, costs $48,000 and boasts a 2,000 km range. Ukrainian developers obtained the technology by covertly photographing the Chinese production line while attending pilot training in late 2023. Although the first prototype crashed during its maiden flight, subsequent tests faced electronic warfare interference, resulting in three downed drones. Despite this, Alpha, the special operations center unit that commissioned the drone, proceeded with production. The MICH 2000, built with 85% domestic content, has been used in various attacks, including a Wildberries logistics hub in Ryazan oblast and the port of Ust-Luga.",
  "summary": "The drone that destroyed a Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bomber at Russia's Engels-2 air base last month turns out to be the MICH 2000.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Russian ballistic missiles trigger fires across Kyiv",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/russian-ballistic-missiles-trigger-fires-across-kyiv",
        "published": "2026-08-16T07:12:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Spanish fighter jet downs drone breaching Romania's airspace",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/spanish-fighter-jet-downs-drone-breaching-romanias-airspace",
        "published": "2026-08-16T07:50:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 7, injure 51 as Kyiv hit in overnight barrage; drone downed over Romania",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/russian-attacks-across-ukraine-kill-7-injure-51-as-kyiv-hit-in",
        "published": "2026-08-16T09:15:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Financial Times",
        "title": "Ukraine presses drone attacks on Moscow and Russian logistics",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ukraine-presses-drone-attacks-on-moscow-and-russian-logistics",
        "published": "2026-08-16T10:52:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Spanish jet downs drone in Romania after airspace breach",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/spanish-jet-downs-drone-in-romania-after-airspace-breach",
        "published": "2026-08-16T12:06:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Moscow strikes Ukrainian steel plant as Kyiv targets Russian economy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/moscow-strikes-ukrainian-steel-plant-as-kyiv-targets-russian-economy",
        "published": "2026-08-16T13:28:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}