ZALA Aero claims that its idle ammunition played a crucial role on the battlefield; truck-mounted launch system appears in rehearsal for Victory Day
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The Russian drone manufacturer ZALA Aero revealed that its Lancet kamikaze drone has already destroyed 121 Ukrainian T-64 tanks since the start of the war. In a statement released this week, the company presented combat videos as evidence and highlighted the vulnerability of the T-64 to high-precision attacks.
“The T-64 has become the most mass-produced tank of the Ukrainian army,” said ZALA. According to the company, ZALA Z-16 reconnaissance drones provided real-time coordinates to Lancet operators, allowing attacks from unexpected angles, often resulting in the detonation of the tanks’ internal ammunition.
Originally developed in the 1960s, the T-64 forms the backbone of Ukraine’s armored forces. Modernized variants, such as the T-64BV and T-64BM Bulat, have been equipped with reinforced armor, thermal sensors, satellite navigation, and new communication systems. Ukrainian estimates suggest that around 800 units were operational at the beginning of the conflict.
Lancet: range and precision with aerial surveillance support
Lancet
The Lancet drone has been widely used by Russian forces to attack tanks, self-propelled artillery, radars, and other high-value targets. It can stay in the air for up to 60 minutes, has a range of up to 40 km, and is guided by electro-optical sensors with real-time video transmission.
Typically, it operates in conjunction with UAVs like the ZALA Z-16, which provides surveillance, target designation, and damage confirmation. The Z-16 can operate for over four hours, reach altitudes of up to 5,000 meters, and continue its mission even under electronic warfare interference.
New Lancet mobile launcher displayed in Moscow
Telegram @CyberspecNews
On April 20, an image taken during a nighttime rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow revealed a new mobile launch system for Lancet drones, mounted on a KamAZ 8×8 truck.
The system appears to carry two drones alongside a rear rail launcher. According to military analysts, this new configuration shows a significant tactical shift, allowing for mobility, agility, and reduced vulnerability to enemy attacks.
With off-road capability and high performance, the KamAZ allows launches on various terrain types and indicates that Russian forces are integrating mobile loitering munitions into their conventional combat doctrine.
The display of the launcher during official preparations signals that the system is in an advanced operational stage, ready for use in large-scale conflicts.
Source and images: ZALA Aero / Telegram @ZalaAero / Wikimedia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
