At a recent demonstration of promising Russian weaponry and specialist equipment, organised for Rosgvardia Special Forces units, ZALA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) were showcased. Senior Rosgvardia representatives, including Colonel-General Oleg Plokhoy and Colonel-General Sergei Prosyanik, attended the event. The demonstration included the ZALA Z-16, Z-20 UAVs, and the ‘Lancet’ family of loitering munitions, which are actively deployed in the special military operation zone.
“ZALA unmanned systems and ‘Lancet’ loitering munitions are pivotal in establishing a unified reconnaissance-strike loop. These technologies enable a swift response to battlefield changes, facilitated by constant interaction between the developers and servicemen on the front lines. Designers routinely implement improvements to the control and communication systems, boosting the effectiveness of the platforms. This is particularly crucial in a dynamically evolving situation,” ZALA Aero stated.
In the first two months of 2025 alone, ‘Lancet’ loitering munitions destroyed approximately 200 pieces of UAF combat equipment, including NATO-supplied M777 howitzers, AHS Krab self-propelled howitzers, and Abrams and Leopard 2A4 tanks. The primary targets for the ‘Lancets’ remain towed artillery, self-propelled guns, and armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs). Additionally, these munitions have successfully engaged communications stations, electronic warfare (EW) assets, SAM systems, and MLRS. Equipped with thermal imagers, the ‘Lancets’ operate effectively at night and can detect camouflaged objects.
On the South Donetsk axis, units of the ‘Vostok’ Grouping are actively pressing back the enemy, employing ZALA Z-16 reconnaissance UAS to identify UAF positions. Loitering munition operators are delivering precision strikes on high-priority targets, eliminating enemy equipment and personnel. According to a serviceman with the callsign ‘Osa’, his team alone has engaged over fifty targets, including tanks and self-propelled artillery.
The ‘Lancets’ are characterised by their high manoeuvrability and low observability. They are capable of remaining airborne for extended periods, awaiting the optimal moment to strike. The materials from which the munitions are constructed do not reflect radio signals, making them difficult to detect and intercept by air defence systems. Their effective employment is highly sought after and essential in modern combat, where stealth and precision are paramount.
Daily, ‘Vostok’ Grouping servicemen identify and eliminate UAF UAV control centres and communications aerials. In the opening days of March alone, ‘Lancet’ operators destroyed nearly two dozen such control centres and over thirty aerials in the vicinity of Novoselka, Konstantinopol, Novoocheretovatoye, and Razliv. This degrades the enemy’s ability to coordinate operations and conduct reconnaissance, contributing significantly to the success of operations in this area.
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