A video shared on X by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggests the new rocket drone could hit targets about 400 miles inside Russia.
  • Ukraine said it had used a new long-range rocket-drone hybrid for the first time.
  • The “Palianytsia” is designed to target Russian aircraft stationed at air bases inside Russia.
  • A video shared by Zelenskyy suggested it may be able to hit targets 400 miles inside Russia.
  • @gmtomEnglish
    6•22 days ago

    What’s the difference between a “rocket drone” and a missile?

    • @Chee_KoalaEnglish
      2•22 days ago

      The biggest difference currently would be the ability to be piloted? These glide bombs have huge range and can turn, so that’s my bet: these can be piloted through some connection and have a target location fallback or something.

      https://iv.melmac.space/watch?v=5ArBt0AFKyU

      Looks like it can have a connection or function autonomously, and the other factor making it a ‘drone’ would be cost compared to competing glide bombs. It’s also ground launched, which is similar to drones, but it does require a launch system of some sort, which a lot of drones do not :)

    • @lennybirdEnglish
      1•22 days ago

      Footage of an early prototype showed a jet engine in an overall pretty compact design. It’s basically miniature cruise missile and called a drone possibly because of a smaller payload.

      It may also be called a “rocket drone” to downplay the escalation in the eyes of Russia. “This is just another drone, just as the drones we’ve already used to hit into Moscow, so no escalation.”