- Ukraine unveils reusable Horynych bomber drones built from civilian aircraft
- The clandestine drone squadron significantly expands Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities
- Modified ultralight aircraft now carry full-sized aerial bombs in combat
Ukraine has publicly unveiled what appears to be a previously unknown squadron of Horynych reusable bomber drones converted from civilian light aircraft for long-range strike operations.
Official images show at least ten modified aircraft carrying Soviet-designed OFAB-100-120 aerial bombs, suggesting that the program has expanded beyond isolated experimental missions.
The aircraft are based on the SkyRanger Swift and Nynja ultralight airframes, originally developed for civilian recreational flight before undergoing military conversion.
Civilian aircraft converted into reusable bomber drones
Engineers replaced conventional cockpit controls with remote control equipment and electro-optical cameras, allowing operators to guide the aircraft from the ground during bombing missions.
Each aircraft appears to carry an OFAB-100-120 bomb weighing approximately 100 kg under the fuselage during long-range operations.
Unlike one-way attack drones that are destroyed after hitting their targets, these aircraft are designed to return safely to repeat missions after releasing their payloads.
The appearance of at least ten drones together indicates that the capability may have evolved into a larger operational force rather than remaining a limited experimental effort.
The absence of leaves on nearby trees suggests the photos may have been taken several months before their public release.
If this assessment turns out to be correct, Ukraine may have maintained this reusable bomber fleet for an extended period of time before officially disclosing its existence.
Reported strike focused attention on expanding deep strike capability
According to Serhii Sternenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, the plane took part in an overnight strike against an underground Russian logistics facility near Armyansk in occupied Crimea.
Armyansk is close to the Perekop Isthmus, a key land corridor that connects occupied Crimea with Russian-controlled territory and supports military supply movements throughout the region.
These underground facilities serve as hardened storage and distribution points for fuel, ammunition and military equipment that support Russian military operations.
The attack was reportedly carried out jointly by the Air Force of Ukraine, the Lazar group and the Venom Unmanned Systems Center.
Neither Ukraine’s military nor its defense ministry have officially confirmed the number of aircraft involved or the extent of the damage.
Independent assessments of the reported attack have not yet been released, leaving several key operational details unconfirmed by outside observers.
Ukraine has previously used modified civilian aircraft in long-range attacks, including an attack in June 2025 with an A-22 Foxbat towing an unpowered glider.
The glider carried a 100-kilogram warhead and hit a Shahed drone production facility in Alabuga, marking an earlier tandem attack configuration.
Ukraine has also used converted SkyRanger aircraft since 2024, although previous sightings typically involved individual aircraft rather than a larger operational group.
Whether this expanded Horynych fleet can handle repeated missions deep inside Russian territory remains unconfirmed without independent confirmation of results.
Ukrainian officials have offered no further public timeline for when the broader Horynych program might expand its operations significantly further.
There is also no information on the size of the fleet or the extent of damage it may cause.
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