Elena, I’ll second your sentiment. Thank you, Tom for everything you do, starting from the invaluable info you provide, and finishing with your help in collecting money for Shark AFV.
Can you comment on the danger the drone will face deployed in the war? U.S. confirmed ystdy the loss of another [$30m] ‘Reaper’ drone, to fire from Houthis, the 5th so far, per AP.
Reaper = a big UAV. Sure, has a reduced radar cross section, but is very easy to spot visually even if operating at high altitudes. It's some 15m long and has a wing span of about 20m. It has an endurance of 24 hours (i.e. can remain airborne for 24 hours), but I doubt any Reaper could survive operations over the battlefields in Ukraine for longer than 5 minutes (indeed: that any could get within 100km of the battlefield without being shot down).
Shark = operating at medium altitudes, stealth, small and silent. Some 2.5m long, and wing span of 3.4m. It has an endurance of about 5 hours (except if equipped with this new accu), and a range of about 80km. Foremost: it's manufactured and combat-tested in Ukraine. It can survive even in the light of strongest Russian defences (not always, of course).
So, yes: this Shark is going to fly some extremely dangerous missions; the kind of missions a Reaper couldn't survive, though. And yes: that's its very purpose.
Thank you for your help. It really means a great deal to everybody in Ukraine.
Thank you, but please mind: I'm just a messenger.
But really an accurate and a sympathetic one. Valuable information is a mighty weapon in this war.
Elena, I’ll second your sentiment. Thank you, Tom for everything you do, starting from the invaluable info you provide, and finishing with your help in collecting money for Shark AFV.
Can you comment on the danger the drone will face deployed in the war? U.S. confirmed ystdy the loss of another [$30m] ‘Reaper’ drone, to fire from Houthis, the 5th so far, per AP.
Well...
Reaper = a big UAV. Sure, has a reduced radar cross section, but is very easy to spot visually even if operating at high altitudes. It's some 15m long and has a wing span of about 20m. It has an endurance of 24 hours (i.e. can remain airborne for 24 hours), but I doubt any Reaper could survive operations over the battlefields in Ukraine for longer than 5 minutes (indeed: that any could get within 100km of the battlefield without being shot down).
Shark = operating at medium altitudes, stealth, small and silent. Some 2.5m long, and wing span of 3.4m. It has an endurance of about 5 hours (except if equipped with this new accu), and a range of about 80km. Foremost: it's manufactured and combat-tested in Ukraine. It can survive even in the light of strongest Russian defences (not always, of course).
So, yes: this Shark is going to fly some extremely dangerous missions; the kind of missions a Reaper couldn't survive, though. And yes: that's its very purpose.
Finally got my act together to contribute, I hope this can go to the 7.5 hr accumulator.
I'm sure they will. Of course, I'll post another update, as soon as it's so far.
Thank you. With all my heart
Thanks to Tom for organizing the fundraiser. Thanks to all your readers. It's really great.
Thanks for this fundraising initiative for Shark. If you come across more initiatives like this, let us know.
Thank you Tom for the initiative, you made this possible.
Heroiam Slava!
Thanks Tom this was a very good news reoprt