British-manufactured UAV intercepted by air defense systems

On 19 February 2024, images and videos of a suspected British-made MQM-185B jet powered UAV, based on the Banshee Jet 80+ surfaced online.

The Russian FSB Directorate of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), allegedly claim that air defence systems intercepted the UAV in the Kalmiuskyi District (previously referred to as the Novoazovsky District) of the Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine.

Reports further state that following a controlled landing of the drone, a warhead weighing 7 kg was recovered and rendered safe. It was established that the UAV was aimed at a large civil infrastructure facility in Mariupol.

Manufactured by UK-based defence technology company, QinetiQ, the Banshee Jet 80+ is typically used as aerial targets with an operating range of up to 100 km and possesses a maximum altitude of 30,000 ft.

This news follows the announcement that the UK will supply Ukraine with thousands of UAVs as part of a major drone capability coalition with Latvia. The initiative, announced by UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, will reportedly increase the provision of first-person view (FPV) UAVs to Ukraine.

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