Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade releases video showing hybrid air defence system
The 3rd Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has released a video showing the Dragon H73 mobile anti-aircraft missile system, which combines Soviet R-73 missiles with American HMMWV vehicles.
Source: the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade on Facebook
Details: "This mobile fire system, built on the chassis of the first HMMWV, is designed to strike both tactical aircraft and large drones like Orlan or Shahed. We use it all the time, as the system is capable of operating both during the day and at night," said the commander of the Dragon H73 system, who goes by the alias Shaman.
Dragon H73.
Photo: Screenshot from the video by the 3rd Brigade
The Dragon H73 is equipped with a module carrying two Soviet R-73 air-to-air missiles.
Soviet R-73s on a MiG-29 fighter jet.
These missiles were developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s for launch from fighter jets, but over the past decades various countries have adapted them for launch from land or sea-based platforms as part of air defence systems.
This is not the first time Ukraine has used these missiles in a surface-to-air role. For example, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine integrated R-73s onto Magura V5 uncrewed surface vessels, which were used to shoot down two Russian Mi-8 helicopters in December 2024.
Magura V5 uncrewed surface vessel with integrated R-73 missiles.
Photo: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
Also in 2024, the Come Back Alive charity foundation integrated these missiles into the Soviet Osa anti-aircraft missile system, investing UAH 14 million (about US$336,496) into the modernisation.
Osa anti-aircraft missile system with integrated R-73 missiles.
Photo: Come Back Alive
The UK Gravehawk air defence system, developed specifically for Ukraine, also operates using R-73 missiles.
Gravehawk anti-aircraft missile system with integrated Soviet R-73 missiles.
Screenshot from the video by UK Ministry of Defence
The R-73 remains in service in several dozen countries worldwide, making it potentially available on the global market as well as from Ukraine's own stockpiles. Even before the full-scale war began, Ukrainian companies had announced their capability to repair and modernise these missiles.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Check your Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order ASAP, as some retailers are reportedly cancelling them
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Some US retailers have reportedly cancelled Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders This allegedly includes Walmart, Target, and GameStop Consider double checking the status of your pre-order if you have placed one If you managed to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order recently, then you might want to check your email inbox as it seems as though some retailers have started cancelling them. As reported by Vice, would-be Nintendo Switch 2 owners have been flooding the r/switch subreddit to complain that their pre-orders of the upcoming Nintendo console have been inexplicably cancelled. The majority of those reporting cancellations seem to have shopped at Walmart. "We're sorry, we had to cancel these items," reads a message in the Walmart app on one posted screenshot. In these instances there seems to be no real explanation as to why the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order was cancelled, though I suspect that it may be due to stock issues. Some retailers likely banked on having access to much more stock than they do, leading to the need to cancel certain pre-orders. In the comments to these posts, others are reporting cancellations from Target and GameStop. Bear in mind that these cancellations are currently unverified, though it definitely wouldn't hurt to double check your order just in case. If you're unlucky enough to be affected, visit our how to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 guide for recommendations on how to get your hands on one. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch on June 5 and demand is likely to be high. According to industry analysts, it could sell 100 million units by the end of 2029 and become the "fast-selling console ever". It costs $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for a bundle that includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World. It seems Hellblade 2 is finally getting a physical release to coincide with the PS5 launch this summer if this listing is correct The Nintendo Switch 2 has been spotted at retailers ahead of its June release - but the reported stock numbers aren't huge Yes, you can use a USB mouse on Nintendo Switch 2, as demonstrated by a Koei Tecmo producer
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Weaponized Russian Jet-Powered Target Drone Shot Down Over Black Sea: Ukraine
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) says its air defense unit shot down a Russian jet drone headed to the Black Sea port city of Odesa. A spokesman for GUR told us that it was a Dan-M, a target drone the Russians have converted into a cruise missile-like capability. A Ukrainian military publication, however, suggested it could have been an Iranian-designed jet drone. In a post on Telegram Friday, GUR released a 34-second video claiming to show the interception. It opens with the launch of a missile and then cuts to a different view, showing something exploding upon hitting the water. It does not show the intercept itself. Shot Down Over the Black Sea: russia's Newest Jet-Powered Drone Destroyed by DIU-Developed Missile System — Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (@DI_Ukraine) May 30, 2025 The drone was downed by 'a mobile anti-aircraft missile system equipped with R-73 missiles, developed by specialists of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine with the support of foreign partners,' GUR stated. This is a ground-based system, GUR spokesman Andrii Yusov told us. In addition to equipping its Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter fleets, Ukraine has used the Soviet-era heat-seeking R-73 air-to-air missiles on a range of platforms, including two types of so-called 'FrankenSAM' surface-to-air missile systems and drone boats. Claims of the intercept come a day after Ukrainian electronic warfare expert Serhii 'Flash' Beskrestnov first stated that Russia had fired three Dan-M jet drones at Odesa from Crimea. 'Dan-M is a jet target for training and testing air defense, which the Russian Federation converted into an attack UAV,' Beskrestnov stated on Telegram Thursday. Beskrestnov said that the Dan-M has a maximum altitude of about 5.5 miles, a flight time of between 25 and 40 minutes and can travel between 400kph (about 250mph) and 750kph (about 466mph). This morning, Russia attacked with a new type of attack jet UAV "Dan-M". They were launched by a group from Crimea, – "Flash""Dan-M" is a jet target for training and testing air defense, which the Russian Armed Forces converted into an attack UAV. In the original, the target… — MAKS 25 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) May 29, 2025 'Provided the warhead was installed where the parachute used to be, it should weigh several dozen kilograms,' according to the Ukrainian Defense Express news outlet. 'All in all, it gives Russian forces a weapon to strike targets based on known coordinates at ranges 300 (about 186 miles) to 400 km (about 250 miles).' The Russians introduced an improved Dan-M variant in 2020, the publication stated. The drone 'received a partial update of the onboard electronics and a new small-sized MGTD-125E turbojet engine with a 125 kgf output to replace the MD-120 with its 120 kgf,' the publication stated. 'The Russians claimed the new engine's production process involved additive manufacturing (3D printing) to make parts of the combustion chamber and nozzle.' In his Telegram message, Beskrestnov said it was unclear why the Russians took the time to convert the target drone into a weapon '[u]nless they have a large number of these UAVs.' He also noted that at the beginning of the war, Ukraine used converted jet reconnaissance drones 'because we did not have cruise missiles and long-range attack UAVs.' As we reported previously, those were Ukrainian Soviet-era Tu-141 and Tu-143 reconnaissance drones fitted with warheads to strike Russian targets (and in one case, accidentally strayed into airspace over the Croatian capital, Zagreb). It is possible that the jet drones were being used to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses, a retired Russian Navy officer who uses the @Capt_Navy X handle told The War Zone. 'We are actively looking for new reserves and new approaches to combat missions,' he said. 'A number of implementations (I'm not talking about Dan-M) that I see suggest that this project has also entered the working stage.' 'We have no problems with ammunition supplies,' he added. 'At a minimum, this can saturate the enemy's air defense system.' Russia has been pummeling Ukraine with long-range drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles. While neither GUR nor Beskrestnov said how the Dan-M was launched, Capt_N shared a video published on YouTube in 2020 showing a modified version of the drone being fired from helicopters as well as a ground-based launcher. In addition to weaponizing target and reconnaissance jet drones, Russia has purpose-built options, as well. In January 2024, evidence emerged that Russia was using jet-powered Iranian-made Shahed-238 drones. Ukraine has also adapted target drones from the UK and from its own industry for similar purposes. By way of comparison, we previously pointed out that 'target drones by their very nature have latent capabilities that can be employed in support of combat missions. The U.S. military notably demonstrated this with its employment of BQM-34 Firebee target drones to disperse chaff along various corridors to help clear routes for crewed combat aircraft in the opening phases of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. In Vietnam, similar drones even carried out air-to-ground combat roles.' Today, in the U.S., we are seeing target drone designs being adapted to work as collaborative combat aircraft in the 'loyal wingman' role, providing for a compelling low-cost, low-risk, high-capability proposition. Defense Express questioned why Russia would convert a Dan-M into a weapon, suggesting there is a limited supply of these drones. 'The very fact that Russians went out of their way to modify the Dan-M for this role is strange, especially considering that nothing is about this drone being mass-produced,' Defense Express posited. 'The stocks of these UAVs should be too low to make the investment worth it.' The publication offered an alternative suggestion. 'In terms of its size and geometric outlines, the Russian Dan is very similar to the Karrar, a mass-produced weapon from Iran,' Defense Express noted. As you can see from images we previously published, the Karrar, an Iranian interceptor drone, does bear a striking resemblance to the Dan-M. In his Telegram message, Beskrestnov declined to say what happened to the jet drones after they were launched. He also declined in response to a query from us. The recovery of fragments from a downed drone, of course, would provide better evidence of its type. Regardless, it does make sense that Russia would adapt target drones with jet performance and relevant range to play a role in the conflict. These systems are built to be disposable — shot down in air defense exercises and test events — and can usually be produced with some scale economically. So using them as improvised cruise missiles or as high-performance decoys that will help more expensive cruise missiles reach their targets is certainly logical. Contact the author: howard@
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
‘Atomic Heart' Hits 10 Million Players, Dev Celebrates With New Label
'Atomic Heart' has been played by 10 million players worldwide. Soviet-styled action FPS Atomic Heart has officially crossed the 10 million player threshold. To mark the milestone, its creators at Mundfish has a huge announcement to make — one that aims to empower developers and investors alike. Atomic Heart has maintained consistently reasonable numbers for a single-player game, with extra incentives for new and returning gamers through three DLCs: Annihilation Instinct, Trapped in Limbo, and Enchantment Under the Sea. Robert Bagratuni, CEO and founder of Mundfish, who was also the game director for Atomic Heart, said: 'What started as a dream has become a reality beyond anything we imagined. We're incredibly grateful to our players for their passion and support — it's their enthusiasm that brought Atomic Heart to life.' Now, the studio is launching Mundfish Powerhouse, a new creative label that hopes to give developers and investors 'the resources, expertise, and support they need to bring their first projects to life.' The initiative will bring Mundfish into the development process from the start, with a particular focus on optimization, technology, and gameplay mechanics. The Mundfish team. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder 'Studios and investors have been approaching us for quite some time,' said Bagratuni. 'Powerhouse will only partner with projects where we see great potential to make noise, not just a handful of indie hits, but big and bold games that can set a new standard.' Powerhouse is already working on new projects; meanwhile, Mundfish is working on the fourth and final unnamed DLC for Atomic Heart as a last hoorah for its most successful game yet. I reviewed Atomic Heart before it launched. It was easily the most excited I'd been for an action FPS in years, because I love alternative histories like The Man in the High Castle, Making History, and The Eyre Affair, so the promise of a high-concept, retro-futuristic world and alternative history — where the Soviet Union becomes a dystopian 'paradise' by the mid-1950s — was irresistible. Within the first hour, you learn that the Powers That Be are about to potentially enslave the populace with the launch of mass neural network Kollektiv 2.0. All boxes ticked. It helped that Atomic Heart was visually stunning in nearly every department, setting a high bar early on. Look at it, though. Despite its incredible art direction and ideas, Atomic Heart was far from flawless. Its unrefined mechanics, weird UI, awkward controls, and unpredictable combat took the shine off its biggest and best ideas. Despite being ostensibly open-world, it didn't give you much incentive to explore. On top of that, the story's pacing, combined with one of the least likable protagonists of the year, made the game feel a bit empty at some of its most crucial points. Still, two years on, I think about Atomic Heart weekly. Like Wipeout 2097, Control, and Rollerdrome, it has a je ne sais quoi cool quality that's so rare in gaming. Even though I still stand by my initial take, I recommend every FPS fan try it, as Mundfish has added plenty of post-launch refinements to iron things out. Maybe wait until it's on sale, though.
