"Operation 'Decoy Target': Russians deploy thermobaric drones along with decoys."

A factory in Russia's Tatarstan has started producing drones equipped with thermobaric munitions, capable of penetrating thick walls and targeting locations within fortified buildings or deep underground.

Source. This information comes from Associated Press, as cited by moscowtimes.eu.

The new lethal weapon is used in conjunction with decoy drones that are launched to overwhelm Ukrainian air defense systems during attacks.

The operation, dubbed "False Target," was initiated by the Russians at the end of 2022, the source reported. According to them, the plan involved launching strike drones alongside dozens of "decoys" filled with rags or foam, which cannot be distinguished on radar from those carrying real bombs.

"The idea was to create a drone that instills a sense of total uncertainty in the enemy. So they wouldn't know if it was truly a lethal weapon or a foam toy," said the informant.

Now, with thermobaric shells, there is a "huge risk" that a strike drone could veer off course and end up in a residential area, where "the consequences would be simply horrific," he added.

Thermobaric munitions, also known as "vacuum bombs," generate a more powerful explosion by first aerosolizing the fuel. This creates tremendous pressure, with temperatures reaching up to 3000 degrees. Large-caliber thermobaric munitions can be compared in power to small tactical nuclear warheads, but they do not have the radiation effects associated with nuclear weapons. The shockwave level is such that people can die even at considerable distances from the explosion site.

Ukrainian expert and consultant in military radio technologies, Serhiy Beskrestnov, noted that the Russian army first deployed thermobaric drones in the summer of this year. He estimates that they now account for 3 to 5% of all its UAVs.

"This type of warhead can destroy a large building, such as an apartment complex. They are very effective if Russia attempts to attack our power plants," he pointed out.

These and other strike drones, along with decoys, are being produced at a factory in the special economic zone "Alabuga."

The assembly line was established at the beginning of this year. Currently, the facility produces about 40 decoys per day.

In the same timeframe, they assemble 10 armed UAVs, each costing $50,000. Moreover, Chinese and Western components are used in their production.

According to the agency's informant, decoys make up more than half of the drones that have recently been launched against Ukraine.

In October, Russia launched at least 1889 drones at Ukraine – an increase of 80% compared to August. According to an AP analysis, less than 6% of them managed to reach their target.

However, the Russian army continues to refine its tactics. For instance, it launches more powerful missiles immediately after the drones, when the air defense systems are already exhausted.