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DanielR

Feb 9, 2024 • 16 tweets • 6 min read • Read on X

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1. It would be easy to overlook this single photo of a mysterious #Ukrainian #drone that was shown on a Russian Telegram channel. This drone crashed in the Belgorod region and there are a number of interesting details.
t.me/Mestb_Dobroj_V…

2. There have been a few previous crashes of this model of drone. One of the crash sites showed a lot of detail including a C3-6 explosive. It is not clear why this drone crashed largely intact.
t.me/UAVDEV/4925

3. These drones use the Chinese-made DLE 170 engine. The engine here has dark oil on the exhaust manifold which suggests a possible engine failure. The fuselage is expensively made from carbon fibre and has fancy aluminum parts.

4. The electronics are curious. Automotive style fuses are used with 23 circuits (23 seems a lot for a small drone). There are also at least six different types of electrical connectors including BNC, SMA, DB9, and DB25.

5. A different crash provides information on how the wing is constructed. Tubes pass through the mounting brackets but the order of assembly is not obvious. Perhaps the spars slide in from the wingtips.
t.me/Mestb_Dobroj_V…

6. The origin of these aircraft is somewhat murky. Three of the same model of drone are in service with the Pakistan Air Force.

7. These aircraft were also on display in Pakistan’s National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP). There are no obvious indications of the aircraft manufacturer or model on the drones. Maybe we should name it, "NASTP YX".

8. More importantly, the mystery drones were displayed along with a KaGeM V3 developed by RE & RP Group NASTP that shows a Baykar logo. Also displayed are a Baykar Akinci, the Baykar corporate logo and the flag of Türkiye.

9. In August, 2023 Baykar announced a very high-profile agreement for research & development within NASTP. Present were Baykar Board Chairman, Selçuk Bayraktar and Pakistan Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif.
baykartech.com/en/press/bayka…

10. Turkish Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadioğlu inspects the mystery drone being assembled at NASTP. This offers a good view of the wing mounts and complicated fuselage construction.

11. Thus, a drone assembled in Pakistan, in collaboration with Türkiye, was sent to Ukraine, filled with explosives and then flown into Russia. One can consider the geopolitical implications. As a complication, Baykar is also working with Ukraine.

ukrinform.net/amp/rubric-eco…

12. Russia claimed to have brought this drone down but perhaps not. The engine does not have a generator and the exhaust is very dirty. We have seen these before. If the battery supplying the ignition runs low, the engine will misfire and lose power.

13. One more interesting detail is the large letter "B" painted on the tail. These markings have appeared only recently on Ukrainian drones.

14.There are similar markings on a drone that crashed into the Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery located deep in Russia. Was the mystery drone also intended for a similar target? If so, the drone may have needed a better battery.

15. It would be helpful if NASTP and Baykar would supply a name for their drone. Also, its construction is very strange. The wing and tail are a conventional design but the fuselage is built more like a very expensive missile.

16. This is a very curious drone. If you enjoyed this thread please consider reposting as a quote: your comments are appreciated.

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More from @DanielR33187703

DanielR

@DanielR33187703

Apr 23

1. Developing a new weapon is hard so why not just copy another company’s design? Fibre optic drones are a hot product and part 4 of this series looked at a company (Skywalker) who developed their own. Other companies have rushed to make similar weapons.

2. Here are two fibre optics kits made by the Chinese company, Skywalker. Opening the boxes is the likely owner of PGI Technology, which operates in China but is effectively russian. Initially, this photo was confusing. Was Skywalker collaborating with PGI Technology? Nope.

3. PGI bought these two Skywalker kits with the goal of copying the technology and selling their own version. The following photos are very unusual since they show the design process. Here is the Skywalker canister with a large drone frame.

Read 25 tweets

DanielR

@DanielR33187703

Apr 4

1. Need to ship weapons? The previous thread in this series showed a small russian company, PGI Technology, making electronic warfare systems in China. But how do they ship these systems & other equipment to russia?

2. PGI Technology showed this photo of equipment being prepared to ship from China to russia. The packing tape has a company name & phone number on it. Note the Wallace restaurant and #24 bus across the street.

3.PGI also showed a video of this heater but it is the background that is interesting. Visible is the company name (3188 Kapro) and a phone number. There are also signs on the steps written in russian.

Read 14 tweets

DanielR

@DanielR33187703

Mar 21

1. This is a look at a small russian company that operates in China and exports military equipment to russia. One interesting aspect is this company manufactures some equipment, including electronic warfare kit, and places its logo on the products.

2. It currently calls itself “PGI Technology” but there are also references to “Dongguan PGI Technology”. Its location is murky but a now-defunct website gave an address in Tangxia Town in Dongguan.

3. This is a very small company likely run by the single person shown here. He is easily identified by a distinctive tattoo on his left arm. Oddly, his face is obscured in some videos but not in others. Here he is testing a drone jammer.

Read 18 tweets

DanielR

@DanielR33187703

Feb 21

1. Combining a low-cost drone with a fibre-optic communication link produces a formidable weapon that is impervious to electronic defenses. Here is a look at how a small Chinese company called Skywalker developed an easy-to-use fibre-optic kit that has changed the war.

2. Skywalker posted several videos while developing fibre optics for drones. The first was a short-range, e.g. 100 metres, test in June 12, 2024. The spool of fibre optic was not on the drone but remained on the ground. A rod prevented the fibre from tangling in the propellers.

3. The first video also showed a number of landmarks that help determine its location. The large building in the background is part of a pharmaceutical industrial park.

Read 33 tweets

DanielR

@DanielR33187703

Feb 16

1. Part 3 of Making Money from a War visits an office with a fantastic view. The Chinese company, Skywalker posted a number of videos including one from a fancy office building. A close look produces questions.

2. Skywalker posted a video showing how to attach a bomb release to a pricey (€13500) DJI Matrice 300 drone. It holds two rounds under the drone with a control module mounted on the top of the drone. There is also an excellent view from the office windows.

3. One question is, where is this office? The shadows suggest this view is towards the west. There is a straight road close to a water front and a group of very tall buildings is seen in the distance. A large, low building is at the bottom of the photo.

Read 16 tweets

DanielR

@DanielR33187703

Feb 13

1. Part 1 of this series looked at a video posted by the Chinese company Skywalker Technology. The video pointed to a company called DSTech UAS. Part 1 showed their factory and offices.

2. Now that the company with three names (DSI Drone System Innos, DSTech UAS, Dongshengtai Technology) has been introduced, let’s look at what they are up to. They make their own fixed-wing drones starting with moulds.

3. Making these drones involves a lot of hand work: notice the lack of powered equipment. Here, vacuum bags are used to press the material into the mould. This company uses both fibreglass and carbon fibre for its drones.

Read 15 tweets

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