A kamikaze attack conducted by seven drones belonging to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck a Nebo-U long-range radar belonging to the Russian military, multiple sources have reported. The attack took place in the area bordering Russia’s Bryansk Oblast; the radar is estimated to cost US$100 million.
Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict two years ago, drones have played an important role. Interesting Engineering has previously reported how, in the early days of the war, Ukrainian drones were crucial in stopping the Russian onslaught and made a mockery of the Russian-built tanks.
After Russia strengthened its air defenses, the effectiveness of the Ukrainian drones dipped. Later, it was Russia’s turn to step on the pedal with Iranian-origin Shaheen drones, which it used to carry out kamikaze-style attacks on critical infrastructure in Ukraine.
Now, Ukraine has turned the tables again and has successfully brought down a Nebo-U long-range radar.
What is a Nebo-U radar?
The Nebo-U is a transportable radar that uses the VHF band for its surveillance operations. Nebo, which means sky in Russian, is an integrated multifunctional radar system with multiple programmable radar units and a central data unit.
The radar system, introduced in 2011, has a command post module and can link up to three different radars mounted on separate 24-ton trucks.
According to Russian media agency TASS, the Nebo radar system can detect US-made fifth-generation aircraft such as the F-22 and F-35, track guided cruise missiles, and intercept ballistic and stealth hypersonic missiles, and has a range of 373 miles (600 km).
The Nebo-U is a modernized version of the long-range radar. It can perform its role autonomously and feed its data to air defense systems. The $100 million radar was strategically placed at the Ukrainian border area to monitor Ukrainian airspace.
Ukraine takes down Russian radars
According to The Kyiv Independent, seven drones struck the Nebo-U radar on Tuesday and rendered it inoperative. “Thanks to the destruction of this radar, the enemy has fewer opportunities to detect air targets along Ukraine’s northern border,” the report added.
This is the third Nebo radar that the Ukrainian forces have brought down since the beginning of the war. According to Newsweek, the first such strike was carried out in September 2023, closely followed by a similar strike in November.
In mid-February, Ukrainian forces were confirmed to have successfully targeted the Russian Kasta-2E2 radar station, which has a range of 93 miles (150 kilometers). The radar, located close to the Russian border, was aiding monitoring operations in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions of Ukraine and Kursk and Voronezh regions in Russia, the report added.
More recent strikes conducted on Wednesday in the Crimea region targeted the S-400 and S-300 air defense systems at a Russian airbase.
Ukraine’s offense is aimed at bringing more opacity to its own operations from Russian forces. “Russians’ radar blindness will help our troops to conduct reconnaissance, launch drones, and use army aviation in this area more efficiently,” sources told The Kyiv Independent.
