Over time, Russia continues to adapt to anticipate victory on the battlefield in Ukraine. Most recently, for the first time, the Kh-38ML missile carried by the Su-34 successfully destroyed four important bridges in the Kupyansk area thanks to the targeting of the Orlan reconnaissance drone.
The destruction of the bridge is believed to have made it difficult for Ukraine to organize war logistics, especially in Eastern Ukraine. Unfortunately, it is not clear which Orlan drone was used, but it is likely that it was the Orlan 30 drone.
The recent Russian attack in the Kupyansk region was first reported by Russian think tank Rybar. Through their official X/Twitter channel, initially they said that the air attack targeting 4 bridges in Kupyansk was carried out by Su-34 bombers using X-38ML missiles without involving Orlan drones.
However, information has recently circulated that the X-38ML missile attack, also known as the Kh-38ML air-to-surface missile guided by an inertial navigation system, also involved an Orlan 30 drone as a target marker for the first time. This was a Russian tactical combat innovation during the war in Ukraine.
Before the use of massive drones, Russia had often carried out tandem attacks, such as the Su-30 and Su-34 or Su-35 and Su-34 or with the Su-57 Felon which was also capable of carrying Kh-38ML missiles.
Over the past week, Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers using X-38ML missiles have launched precision strikes on at least four bridges in the Kupyansk section on the bank of the Oskil River.
— Rybar Force (@rybar_force) September 29, 2023
The destruction of bridges and crossings is critical to the advance of Russian forces. This… pic.twitter.com/zxE1kMlvwp
Apart from tactical innovation, the use of the Orlan reconnaissance drone as a marker for attack targets to then be targeted by Russian fighter jets using long-range missiles also marks Russia's knowledge of the absence of anti-aircraft missile systems (including anti-drone) in the attack area.
Shao Yongling, a well-known military observer, believes that these Russian bombers can essentially improve the accuracy of targeting procedures.
The Orlan drone is equipped with a laser target designator that emits a laser beam at its target. This laser beam acts as a tracking signal for the Kh-38ML missile fired by the Su-34 from a radius of 40 km. The missile's laser guidance system receives and detects the laser beam, allowing it to adjust its trajectory.
4 bridges targeted across the Oskil River. Same place where I predicted a possible Russian offensive. Let's keep an eye out. pic.twitter.com/wwGTiZgLvp
— Heyman_101 (@SU_57R) September 28, 2023
When the Orlan drone tracks a target thanks to an 80 megapixel camera with image stabilization electronics that is able to find enemy communication devices, the drone continuously emits a laser rangefinder beam at the target.
The missile's laser guidance system receives the laser beam and uses it to calculate the necessary flight path corrections. This information is then sent to the missile's control system, which makes the necessary changes to the missile's fins or thrusters to guide it to its target. The drone's laser designator and missile laser guidance system work together to provide accurate and precise targeting.
Drone laser pointers emit laser beams with certain characteristics, such as wavelength and modulation. The missile's laser guidance system is designed to detect and interpret these characteristics, allowing it to distinguish laser beams from other light sources.
With high accuracy using coordinates provided by the Orlan 30 to launch a coordinated attack on the attack location, the Kh-38ML missile is very deadly. The Kh-38ML is equipped with a digital autopilot system, which improves its flight stability and control.
The Kh-38ML missile is also equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, designed to cause maximum damage on impact. The warhead is capable of penetrating various types of armor, making it a versatile weapon against both soft and hard targets. This type of warhead is designed to produce a powerful explosion when detonated, creating a deadly combination of blast and fragmentation effects.
