- Ukraine unveils reusable Horynych bomber drones built from civilian aircraft
- Secret drone squadron significantly increases Ukraine’s long-range strike capability
- Modified ultralight aircraft now carry large aerial bombs into combat
Ukraine has publicly revealed what appears to be an undisclosed 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 the program expanded beyond isolated experimental missions.
The aircraft are based on SkyRanger Swift and Nynja ultralight airframes originally developed for civilian recreational flying before undergoing military conversion.
Civil planes transformed into reusable bomber drones
Engineers replaced conventional cockpit controls with remote piloting equipment and electro-optical cameras, allowing operators to guide the aircraft from the ground throughout 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 achieving their objectives, these aircraft are designed to return safely for repeated missions after dropping their payloads.
The appearance of at least ten drones together indicates that the capability may have grown into a larger operational force rather than remaining a limited experimental effort.
The absence of leaves on nearby trees suggests the images may have been taken several months before their public release.
If this assessment proves correct, Ukraine could have maintained this fleet of reusable bombers for an extended period before officially revealing its existence.
Reported strike focused attention on expanding deep attack capability
According to Serhii Sternenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, the plane took part in a nighttime strike against a Russian underground logistics facility near Armyansk in occupied Crimea.
Armyansk lies close to the Perekop Isthmus, a major land corridor linking occupied Crimea with Russian-controlled territory and supporting military supply movements in the region.
These underground facilities serve as hardened storage and distribution sites for fuel, munitions and military equipment supporting Russian military operations.
The strike was reportedly carried out jointly by the Ukrainian Air Force, the Lazar Group and the Venom Unmanned Systems Center.
Neither the Ukrainian military nor its Defense Ministry have officially confirmed the number of planes involved or the extent of the damage.
Independent assessments of the reported attack have not yet been released, leaving several key operational details unverified by outside observers.
Ukraine has previously used modified civilian aircraft in long-range strikes, including in a June 2025 attack using an A-22 Foxbat towing an unpowered glider.
This glider carried a 100-kilogram warhead and struck a Shahed drone production facility in Alabuga, marking an earlier tandem strike setup.
Ukraine has also been using converted SkyRanger aircraft since 2024, although earlier sightings generally involved individual aircraft rather than a larger task group.
Whether this expanded Horynych fleet can support repeated missions deep within Russian territory remains to be verified without independent confirmation of the results.
Ukrainian officials have offered no additional public timetable for when the Horynych program could significantly expand its operations.
There is also no information on the size of the fleet or the extent of the damage it can cause.
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