- Ukraine unveils reusable Horynych bomber drones built from civilian aircraft
- Secret drone squad significantly expands Ukraine’s long-range strike capability
- Modified ultralight aircraft now carry full-size aerial bombs into combat.
Ukraine has publicly revealed what appears to be a previously 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 has expanded beyond isolated experimental missions.
The aircraft are based on ultralight SkyRanger Swift and Nynja airframes originally developed for civilian recreational flying before undergoing military conversion.
Civilian aircraft converted 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 during 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 reaching their targets, these aircraft are designed to return safely for repeat missions after releasing their payloads.
The appearance of at least ten drones together indicates that the capability may have become a larger operational force rather than remaining a limited experimental effort.
The absence of leaves on nearby trees suggests that the images may have been taken several months before publication.
If that assessment proves accurate, Ukraine could have maintained this fleet of reusable bombers for an extended period before officially revealing its existence.
Reported attack focused attention on expanding deep strike capability
According to Serhii Sternenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian Defense Minister, the plane took part in a night attack on an underground Russian logistics facility near Armyansk in occupied Crimea.
Armyansk is located near the Perekop Isthmus, a major land corridor linking occupied Crimea with Russian-controlled territory and supporting military supply movements throughout the region.
These underground facilities serve as hardened storage and distribution sites for fuel, ammunition, and military equipment that support Russian military operations.
The attack was reportedly carried out jointly by the Ukrainian Air Force, Lazar Group and the Venom Unmanned Systems Center.
Neither Ukraine’s military nor its Defense Ministry have officially confirmed the number of aircraft involved or the extent of the damage.
No independent assessments of the reported attack have yet been published, leaving several key operational details unverified by outside observers.
Ukraine has previously used modified civilian aircraft in long-range attacks, including an attack in June 2025 that used an A-22 Foxbat towing an unpowered glider.
That glider carried a 100-kilogram warhead and hit a Shahed drone production facility in Alabuga, marking an earlier tandem strike configuration.
Ukraine has also used converted SkyRanger aircraft since 2024, although previous sightings typically involved individual aircraft rather than a larger task force.
Whether this expanded Horynych fleet can sustain repeated missions deep into Russian territory remains to be verified without independent confirmation of the results.
Ukrainian officials have not offered any additional public timeline for when Horynych’s broader program could expand its operations significantly.
There is also no information on the size of the fleet or the magnitude of the damage it may cause.
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