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Converted Agricultural Heavy-Lift

Rotary-Wing UAVThreat: HighOpen-Source Verified

Repurposed commercial crop-spraying multirotor capable of carrying 20–50 kg payloads. Cheap, rugged and widely available, used as a poor-man's bomber by non-state actors and irregular forces to drop mortar rounds, IEDs or incendiaries. The Ukrainian 'Baba Yaga' / Vampire-class variant is also widely used for **remote area-denial mining**, scattering anti-tank mines on Russian supply roads and rear-area MSRs at night.

Technical Specifications

range
5–10 km (RF link)
speed
20–50 km/h
payload
20–50 kg
endurance
10–25 min loaded
frequency
2.4 GHz / 900 MHz
cost Estimate
$8,000–$25,000
altitude
Up to 1,500 m
weight
30–80 kg

Tactical Roles

StrikeResupply

Advantages

  • + Very heavy payload for the price
  • + Available off-the-shelf worldwide
  • + Rugged airframe — designed for daily field use
  • + Minimal training required
  • + Effective at remote mining of supply roads — payload capacity carries multiple TM-62 / PTM-class mines per sortie

Disadvantages

  • − Loud and slow — easy to detect and engage
  • − Short range and endurance under load
  • − Vulnerable to RF jamming on standard bands
  • − Large RCS and acoustic signature

Real-World Usage

  • ▸ DJI Agras T40 / XAG P-series used in Sudan, Myanmar and Mexico
  • ▸ 'Baba Yaga' Ukrainian heavy night bombers (Vampire-class)
  • ▸ Cartel drone-dropped IEDs (CJNG, Mexico, 2021–2025)

Counters This Drone

Countermeasures ranked by effectiveness — tap any system for details

RF Jamming SystemHighGPS Spoofing / Navigation WarfareHighLaser Directed Energy WeaponHighAcoustic Detection SystemHighInterceptor Drone (Drone-on-Drone)HighDirectional EW Rifle / Jammer GunHighC-UAS Autocannon / Dedicated AA GunHighHigh-Power Microwave (HPM)HighRF Detection / Spectrum AnalyzerHighLocalized EMP DeviceHighPhysical Overhead ProtectionHighAI Vision Detection (EO/IR)HighMan-Portable EW BackpackHighNet-Carrying Interceptor DroneHighPassive RF GeolocationHighShotgun / Small Arms InterceptMediumCounter-UAS Radar SystemMediumNet Gun / Net LauncherMediumCyber Takeover / Protocol ExploitationMediumSmoke / Obscurant ScreenMediumAnti-Drone Laser DazzlerMediumDecoys / Signature ManagementMediumMANPADS (Stinger/Igla class)LowMedium/Long-Range SAM SystemLowHardened PNT / CRPA AntennaLowFiber-Optic Specific CountermeasuresNone

⚠ How This Drone Evades Defenses

Active adversary tactics — not passive limitations

  • ▸ Night operations reduce visual engagement
  • ▸ Low-altitude terrain following limits radar
  • ▸ Remote-mining sorties: emplaced mines persist after the drone leaves — no C-UAS system can engage the threat post-drop

Sources & Further Reading