General Cherry AIR Drones Downed Over 1000 Russian Molniya UAVs in December

In December, anti-aircraft drones of the Ukrainian manufacturer General Cherry destroyed over 1000 Russian Molniya strike UAVs.

The company reported this, citing a report by Delta’s operational awareness system.

The company also noted that this is a third of all Molniya drones shot down last month. They also added that they continue to improve the General Cherry AIR UAV platform, taking into account combat experience and changes in the tactics of enemy UAVs.

They also released a video of the downing of a Russian Molniya by the 39th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment:

The Molniya is a Russian airplane-type kamikaze attack drone with a simple design. It is made of cheap materials, including plywood, plastic, and cardboard. As a result, it has low radar visibility, which makes it difficult to detect by conventional air defense systems.

According to available data, the range of the Molniya is about 30-40 kilometers, and the warhead can carry a warhead weighing up to 7 kilograms. The drone is actively used for strike missions, as well as for reconnaissance and fire adjustment, in particular over frontline settlements.

The Russians are constantly improving the lethality of their Molniya UAV and it is already seen in various configurations, including fitted with thermite incendiary mixture, thermal imaging cameras and AI modules, as well as “carrier drones” that deliver FPV drones to greater distances.