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Secret Ukrainian Horynych bomber squadron surfaces with reusable aircraft
Secret Ukrainian Horynych bomber squadron surfaces with reusable aircraft
Efosa UdinmwenSat, July 18, 2026 at 1:10 PM UTC3 min readAdd Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.Key takeawaysPowered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.- Ukraine unveils squadron of Horynych reusable bomber drones converted from civilian aircraft for long-range strike operations.
- Modified ultralight aircraft now carry full-sized OFAB-100-120 aerial bombs into combat, indicating an expanded operational force.
- Reusable bomber drones designed to return safely for repeated missions after releasing payloads, with recent strike targeting underground Russian logistics facility near Armyansk in occupied Crimea.
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Credit: Serhii Sternenko
Ukraine unveils reusable Horynych bomber drones built from civilian aircraft
Secret drone squadron expands Ukraine's long-range strike capability significantly
Modified ultralight aircraft now carry full-sized 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.
AdvertisementAdvertisementOfficial 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 SkyRanger Swift and Nynja ultralight 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 throughout bombing missions.
Each aircraft appears to carry one OFAB-100-120 bomb weighing approximately 100kg beneath the fuselage during long-range operations.
AdvertisementAdvertisementUnlike one-way attack drones that are destroyed after striking their objectives, these aircraft are designed to return safely for repeated missions after releasing their payloads.
The appearance of at least ten drones together indicates the capability may have developed into a larger operational force rather than remaining a limited experimental effort.
The absence of leaves on nearby trees suggests the images may have been taken several months before their public release.
If that assessment proves accurate, Ukraine may have maintained this reusable bomber fleet for an extended period before officially revealing its existence.
Reported strike focused attention on expanding deep attack capability
According to Serhii Sternenko, adviser to Ukraine's Defense Minister, the aircraft participated in an overnight strike against an underground Russian logistics facility near Armyansk in occupied Crimea.
AdvertisementAdvertisementArmyansk lies close to the Perekop Isthmus, an important land corridor linking occupied Crimea with Russian-controlled territory and supporting military supply movements across the region.
These underground facilities serve as hardened storage and distribution sites for fuel, ammunition, and military equipment supporting Russian military operations.
The strike was reportedly carried out jointly by Ukraine's Air Force, the Lazar Group, and the Venom Unmanned Systems Center.
Neither Ukraine's military nor its Ministry of Defense has officially confirmed the number of aircraft involved or the extent of damage.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIndependent assessments of the reported attack have not yet been published, leaving several key operational details unverified by outside observers.
Ukraine has previously used modified civilian aircraft in long-range strikes, including a June 2025 attack using an A-22 Foxbat towing an unpowered glider.
That glider carried a 100-kilogram warhead and struck a Shahed drone production facility in Alabuga, marking an earlier tandem strike configuration.
Ukraine has also used converted SkyRanger aircraft since 2024, although earlier sightings typically involved individual aircraft rather than a larger operational group.
AdvertisementAdvertisementWhether this expanded Horynych fleet can sustain repeated missions deep inside Russian territory remains unverified without independent confirmation of results.
Ukrainian officials have offered no additional public timeline for when the broader Horynych program might expand its operations further significantly.
There is also no information on the size of the fleet or the extent of damage that it can cause.