The Security Service found uranium in Geran-2 warheads striking Chernihiv Oblast and warned residents not to touch drone fragments, which can release radioactive dust.
But this is weird because drones arent projectiles in that sense. This is pretty much equivalent to putting very slightly radioactive lead ballast in a drone. All it is doing is slowing the drone down and reducing it’s range. Very odd.
Its a terrible way of doing that though, if you wanted to do that there are far lighter materials (i.e. you can carry more) and you’d disperse it as a powder from altitude.
Ah, I misunderstood. Its a missile ON another missile (the one way drone) for shooting down other drones that try and take it down and that missile has a usually tungsten fragment warhead which is being replaced with DU.
Still weird but not completely baffling in that case.
As I said, drones arent projectiles in that sense.
A uranium (or tungsten, or even jacketed lead) dart hitting a target straight on with a sharp point while going multiple times the speed of sound is armour penetrating. Just putting a heavy metal in a subsonic aircraft carrying high explosive does nothing to help it penetrate armour and likely would impede it.
But this is weird because drones arent projectiles in that sense. This is pretty much equivalent to putting very slightly radioactive lead ballast in a drone. All it is doing is slowing the drone down and reducing it’s range. Very odd.
If they’re not expecting the drones to return, this could be a ‘salting the earth’ tactic.
Its a terrible way of doing that though, if you wanted to do that there are far lighter materials (i.e. you can carry more) and you’d disperse it as a powder from altitude.
Like I said, its weird.
I’m not surprised it makes little sense. Remember this was/is a “Special military operation”. Emphasis on Special…
They’re putting it in the munitions on the drones
Ah, I misunderstood. Its a missile ON another missile (the one way drone) for shooting down other drones that try and take it down and that missile has a usually tungsten fragment warhead which is being replaced with DU.
Still weird but not completely baffling in that case.
The drone is a kamikaze drone. It delivers the warhead and destroys itself.
The uranium is armor piercing. That’s why they use it.
As I said, drones arent projectiles in that sense.
A uranium (or tungsten, or even jacketed lead) dart hitting a target straight on with a sharp point while going multiple times the speed of sound is armour penetrating. Just putting a heavy metal in a subsonic aircraft carrying high explosive does nothing to help it penetrate armour and likely would impede it.
The R-60M missile uses a continuous rod warhead – the DU is apparently included for “enhanced fragmentation”.