After Ukrainian drones successfully hit a major Moscow oil refinery tonight, for the second time this week, social networks were flooded with footage of dramatic explosions and flames above the Russian capital.
However, one recording in particular caught the attention of military analysts. On it, one can allegedly see and hear a specific flight of a missile, which many suspect is BARS – the latest Ukrainian rocket-drone, the use of which has not yet been officially confirmed.
If these suspicions turn out to be correct, it would mean that tonight the Ukrainian forces tested their new, closely guarded defense marvel for the first time in combat. So far, namely, there has been no public evidence that BARS has been launched, and its detailed specifications and appearance are still kept as a military secret.
What exactly is BARS? Hybrid missile and drone for strikes deep in Russia
According to available information and foreign analysis, BARS (which translates as ‘Snow Leopard’) represents a new medium-range Ukrainian strike weapon, capable of targeting military and energy infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.
VIDEO Dramatic footage from Moscow! Refinery on fire, captured moment of impact
What makes BARS special is the fact that it belongs to a new, hybrid class of so-called ‘drone-missiles’. It is a system that combines the best characteristics of a classic cruise missile and an unmanned aerial vehicle, he writes United24media.
This advanced weapon uses compact jet engines that give it tremendous speed. Its great advantage lies in the flexibility of the launch, as it can be fired both from mobile platforms on the ground and from combat aircraft. With an estimated range of as much as 700 to 800 kilometers, Moscow is within its reach without any problems, and at those distances it carries a relatively small but highly effective warhead weighing between 50 and 100 kilograms.
Due to its specific design, low trajectory and speed, BARS would be an extremely tough nut to crack for Russian air defenses, which explains how it managed to get through the air defense ‘umbrella’ guarding the Russian metropolis. The main advantage of this system is its scalability – it was designed in the private sector with the aim of mass production within Ukraine itself, which allows for regular and cheap precision strikes.
BARS is not the only trump card
The development of BARS is part of a broader and dramatic jump in the Ukrainian military industry. Over the past year, Ukraine has increased the production of its own missiles as much as eight times, producing more than 100 indigenous rockets. In addition to BARS, in this new family of Ukrainian long-range assets there are several more dangerous and already proven systems.
The first among them is Peklo, a cruise missile that is most comparable to BARS, with a range of up to 700 kilometers and a speed of 700 kilometers per hour. This system has already entered rapid series production where as many as 100 units were produced in just three months, and its low price comes from the fact that it consists of as much as 70 percent of the components produced in Ukraine itself.
Another important asset is the Palianytsia, a ground-launched jet-propelled missile with a range of about 600 kilometers and equipped with advanced satellite and inertial navigation systems for maximum accuracy on target. Finally, there is Ruta, an extremely fast drone-missile that reaches speeds of up to 800 kilometers per hour with a range of up to 300 kilometers, and which, in addition to devastating strikes, can potentially be used for demanding reconnaissance missions.
While Peklo, Palianytsia and Ruta already recorded their combat successes, BARS was a great unknown until today. Tonight, it seems, the mysterious ‘Snow Leopard’ finally left its first mark.
