Russo-Ukrainian War: The Sukhoi Su-24MR Fencer-E

Source: ArmyInform

     Photographed in late May 2024, the Sukhoi Su-24MR (NATO reporting name Fencer-E) “Yellow 11” rests in its revetment. The aircraft belongs to the 7th. Tactical Aviation Brigade “Petro Franko”. The Su-24MR is the dedicated reconnaissance variant of the Su-24M tactical bomber and first entered service in 1983 with production ending in 1993 after 130 examples were built.

     Externally, the Su-24MR looks much like the Su-24M upon which it is based. But, there are some visible differences which tell them apart. The first can be seen underneath the fuselage, along the centerline, a bit forward of the side intakes. In place of the Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23M rotary 23mm cannon, a fairing contains a AP-402M panoramic 90.5 focal length camera and behind it, a “Aist-M” (“Stork-M”) TV camera/reconnaissance system. Of interest, the cassette cartridge that stores the photographs taken by the AP-402M can be jettisoned, the cartridge falling to earth via parachute.

     Another external means to tell the Su-24MR apart from the Su-24M assumes it is fitted with a SRS-14 “Tangazh” (“Pitch”) ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) pod, as fitted here underneath the fuselage. The SRS-14 is designed to detect emitting radars then determine their origin point, the type of radar(s), and the mode the radars are operating in. Another specialized pod which is used is the Shpil'-2M (“Spire”) laser imager with a 25cm resolution. Altitude affects the image quality so that when flying at low altitudes, the quality improves to almost photographic levels. The “Spire” can be used day or night and the image data can be transmitted to ground stations in real time.

     On the outer pylon of the right wing looks to be a M-341 Efir-1M (“Ether-1M”) radiation detector. It measures radioactivity levels and records the data onto magnetic tape or, if desired, the pod can transmit the data to ground stations. The drop tanks are PTB-3000 models which hold 793 gallons of fuel each.

     The nose-mounted Orion-A radar suite used by the Su-24M is replaced with a RDS-BO “Shtyk” (“Bayonet”) SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar). The minimum range of the radar is .2 of a mile to a maximum range of 17 miles. The RDS-BO (sometimes designated the M-101) is a pulse-only radar, is able to classify ground targets, and is equipped with a moving target indicator. This data is compiled via the BCR-1 intelligence complex (which also assesses information taken in from other sensors).

     Because the Su-24MR is unarmed, it is fitted with extensive defensive systems, collectively called the BKO-2M Karpaty complex. It consists of the SPO-15M Bereza (“Birch”) which alerts the crew to being “painted” by radar and also homing radar as used by missiles. Against infrared homing missiles, the L-082 Mak-UL (“Poppy”) detector is fitted for alerting to missiles that utilize infrared seeker heads. Another piece of the complex is the SPS-161/162 Geran-F (“Geranium-F”) radar jammer along with the APP-50A flare dispenser. The entire complex was controlled by a Neon-F digital computer system.

     Other reconnaissance equipment include the A-100 oblique mounted camera which has a 1,000 focal length. The aperture for the camera is mounted underneath the left air intake. Finally, there is a “Zima” (“Winter”) infrared sensor system mounted beneath the right air intake and it can just be seen near the rake fitted to the edge of the intake.

     “Yellow 11” first saw combat during the Donbas War when, on July 2, 2014, a separatist fired MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense System) struck the aircraft while it was operating over Slavyansk, Donetsk Oblast. The strike caused a fire which forced the crew to shut down one of the engines. The stricken Su-24MR was able to return to base but upon landing, a new fire started which caused significant damage before it was extinguished by ground crew. It would take many months to repair the aircraft but in April 2015, “Yellow 11” was back in service.

For more information on the Su-24M, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2025/06/russo-ukrainian-war-sukhoi-su-24m.html

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Swarmly Poseidon H10 Mk.III Reece Drone

Source: The National Review

     A Ukrainian police officer of the Rifle Battalion of the National Police Zaporizhzhia prepares a Poseidon H10 Mk.III reconnaissance drone for a mission on May 23, 2025. FPV drones get much of the limelight when it comes to videos circulated on social media. However, those videos that show a overhead view of a FPV drone hitting a target come from a reconnaissance drone loitering over the target area. Reconnaissance drones from both sides are a constant presence in the airspace over Ukraine. It is very difficult to move by daylight and not get spotted by a reece drone. Even darkness is no guaranty due to drones using thermal or infrared optics. Once a reconnaissance drone spots a target, it is evaluated and if found to be the enemy, then the coordinates are relayed to artillery, rocket, or FPV drone assets to take the target under fire and eliminate it.

     The Poseidon is designed and built by the Cyprus based company Swarmly, Ltd. and in May 2022, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense issued a contract to Swarmly for the purchase of a undisclosed number of Poseidon H10 Mk.III drones for evaluation. In time, the Poseidon was ultimately accepted for service in the Ukrainian military. Pilot training for the Poseidon is conducted at the 190th. Training Center. Of interest is this particular drone's camouflage which consists of black spray painted Ukrainian tryzuby (tridents) using a stencil while the upper surface looks to be a green hue to make it blend into the ground if viewed from overhead.

     The Poseidon is a twin-boom design with a high-mounted wing and a twin-fin vertical stabilizer arrangement with a connecting horizontal stabilizer. The total length of the drone is 6.2 feet while the wingspan is 11.5 feet. The Poseidon is a VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) with each boom containing two, 2-bladed propellers that provide vertical flight as well as the ability to hover and maneuver. Mounted in the rear of the central fuselage is a pusher, 2-bladed propeller which provides forward flight (called a cruise propeller in company literature). All five propellers are driven by electrically powered motors which makes the Poseidon quiet in flight and presents a minimal thermal signature. The top speed is 93 miles per hour.

     A valuable capability of the Poseidon is its maximum operating altitude of 3 miles. This puts it out of range of infantry small arms such as the AK-74 and machine-guns such as the 12.7mm NSV and Kord weapons. Even the 14.5mm KPV heavy machine-gun cannot reach the Poseidon if it is flying over 2.5 miles in altitude. The Poseidon at altitude is even outside the effective range of the commonly used ZU-23's 23mm autocannons. The maximum operational range of the Poseidon is 93 miles with a maximum endurance of 2.5 hours.

     Onboard equipment includes a gimbal-mounted daytime camera that provides a 20x synthetic zoom capability. This is not optical zooming and instead, the image or video has its resolution increased via software processes then the resulting image or video is cropped to the original frame size, thus artificially giving the appearance of being zoomed in. A benefit of this is the quality enhancement of the video or images. For low-light or night operation, the Poseidon has a thermal imaging camera with 4x optical zoom.

     The electronics within the Poseidon are hardened to make them resistant to Russian electronic countermeasures such as frequency jamming. Also, onboard flight software allows the Poseidon to automatically avoid threats without operator intervention and if command/control signal is lost, the Poseidon will automatically return to its launch point.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The BRM-1K Korshun

Source: Public Affairs, 117rd. Heavy Mechanized Brigade

     A Ukrainian BRM-1K Korshun belonging to the 117th. Heavy Mechanized Brigade. The BRM-1K is a variant of the venerable BMP-1 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) which first entered service in 1966. The Korshun (“Kite”) appeared in service after 1973 and is designed as a battlefield reconnaissance vehicle, equipped with an array of apparatus to allow the crew within the ability to gather a wide range of information.

     The 13-ton BRM-1K is powered by a UTD-20 6-cylinder, water-cooled diesel engine that develops 300 horsepower. It is paired to a manual transmission with a 6-speed gearbox (5 forward, 1 reverse). Top road speed is 40 miles per hour while off-road in suitable terrain, the maximum speed is 28 miles per hour. Like the BMP-1, the Korshun is amphibious and in calm water, a top speed of 5 miles per hour can be achieved. A total of 122 gallons of diesel fuel are carried which provide the Korshun with a maximum road range of 372 miles and off-road, 236 miles. 

     For armament, the Korshun retains the same 73mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure, smoothbore gun. The gun mount provides a maximum of 30 degrees of elevation and 4 degrees of gun depression while the turret permits 360 degrees of traverse. As the Korshun is not meant to engage the enemy unless forced to, the Korshun only carries 20 rounds of ammunition. By comparison, the BMP-1 carries 40 rounds. The gunner is provided with a 1PN22M gunsight. The two most common projectiles are the PG-15V HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) and the OG-15V HE-FRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation) munitions. The Korshun has no provision for ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles). The PG-15V can penetrate up to 400mm of rolled homogeneous armor at a range of .8 of a mile. As for the OG-15V, it has a maximum indirect fire range of 2.7 miles and a direct fire range of .6 of a mile. Secondary armament consists of a co-axial PKT 7.62mm machine-gun which is provided with 2,000 rounds of ammunition in 250 round belts. The Korshun only has three gun ports, one on each side (towards the rear of the vehicle) with the third being in left rear door. This is one means to identify it from a BMP-1 which has three gun ports per side. Thus, the crew can employ their small arms if need be.

     The Korshun uses the same welded rolled steel armor as the BMP-1 to protect the 6 man crew (commander, driver, gunner, two radio operators, and an equipment operator). As such, the front of the hull has a maximum of 19mm of armor, between 16mm to 18mm on the sides, 16mm of armor on the rear of the Korshun, and 6mm of armor on the top. The turret supports 13mm thick frontal armor, 13mm on the sides and rear, and 6mm of armor on the turret top. As the Korshun seen in the photograph is a early production model, it lacks the fittings for the 902V Tucha smoke grenade launchers on the turret sides. However, the Korshun can inject diesel fuel onto the hot exhaust which generates a smoke screen. 

     Of course, the stock in trade of the BRM-1K is reconnaissance. In the back of the turret is a PSNR-5K (NATO reporting name Tall Mike) surveillance radar. When not in use, the dish is housed within the turret, beneath an armored cover (as shown in the photograph). When raised, the radar can detect vehicles at 4.3 miles and infantry at 1.2 miles. To enable communication between units and higher echelon forces, the Korshun has a R-123M, R-130, and R-148 radio set installed (hence, the two radio operators). Other equipment includes a ERRS-1 radio direction finder (37 mile maximum range), DKRM-1 laser range finder (5 mile maximum range), TNA-3 Kvadrat-1 (“Square-1”) navigation system, IMP-1 mine detector, PPChR radiological-chemical detection system, WPChR chemical detection system, 1G11N gyro-compass, 1T25 survey apparatus, and a pair of 1PN33B night binoculars for crew use. To power systems when the engine is off, the Koshun has a small AB-1-P gasoline powered APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) which has a 1 kilowatt output.