How a Chinese UAV became a Ukrainian long-range weapon

Ukraine has successfully transformed Chinese-made civilian drones into potent long-range weapons, a development that has surprised analysts and expanded Kyiv's strike capabilities against Russian targets.

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This drone's story began thousands of kilometres from the front line – not in a Ukrainian garage or design office, but at a factory in China.

The story began in late 2023 when Ukrainian UAV developers traveled to China to procure ready-made civilian drones for military adaptation. Initially, they acquired models like the Mugin-5 PRO, which cost around $15,000 each and could carry up to 25 kg of explosives for distances of up to 500 km. These drones were fitted with explosives and used for strikes deep behind Russian lines.

This adaptation process has led to the creation of the Ukrainian MICH-2000 drone, a system now exclusively operated by the Security Service of Ukraine's Special Operations Centre Alpha. While initial observations of drone strikes bore resemblance to Iranian Shaheds or other potential candidates, the drone in question was identified as the MICH-2000, whose origins trace back to a Chinese factory.

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Capable of flying up to 2,000 km and carrying as much as 60 kg of explosives, it is building an ever-longer record of targets struck inside Russia.

The MICH-2000 boasts impressive capabilities, with a flight range of up to 2,000 km and the capacity to carry up to 60 kg of explosives. This significantly enhances Ukraine's ability to conduct "deep-strike" operations, a capability long sought by its military, engineers, and politicians. The development highlights Ukraine's ingenuity in leveraging available technology to counter Russian aggression.

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At around US$15,000 apiece, the aircraft could carry up to 25 kg of explosives to targets as far as 500 km away.