Liutyi Drone: 1,700 km Range, 75 kg Warhead & Ukraine's Deep Strike Against Russia's Su-57 Felon

Ukrainian Liutyi (AN-196) long-range strike drone – Capable of striking targets 1,700+ km behind enemy lines. (Image: Ukrainian Defense Forces / Speedo Science)

On April 25, 2026, Ukrainian unmanned systems forces struck multiple Russian aircraft at Shagol Air Base in Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia — 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles) from Ukraine's border. The target list included Sukhoi Su-57 Felon stealth fighters (Russia's 5th-generation answer to the F-22) and a Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber. The weapon: Ukraine's domestically-produced Liutyi (AN-196) long-range one-way attack drone. While damage assessments are ongoing, this strike marks the deepest Ukrainian drone penetration into Russian territory since the war began. This is the engineering story of Ukraine's 1,700-km killer drone and the high-value aircraft it hunts.

1. The Strike: What Happened at Shagol Air Base

• Date: April 25, 2026 (confirmed by Ukrainian General Staff on April 30/May 1)
• Location: Shagol Air Base, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia — deep in the Ural Mountains
• Distance from Ukraine: Approximately 1,700 km (1,056 miles) — deepest drone strike of the war
• Targets: Multiple Sukhoi Su-57 Felon stealth fighters + one Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber
• Attacker: Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
• Weapon: Liutyi (AN-196) long-range one-way attack drone
• Status: Damage assessment ongoing — but the strike itself is confirmed by official sources

"Ukraine just demonstrated how far modern drone warfare has evolved," said military analyst sources. "UAVs struck multiple Russian aircraft including advanced Sukhoi Su-57 fighters and a Sukhoi Su-34 at Shagol Air Base in the Ural region. The target sits roughly 1,700 km from Ukraine's border, highlighting a growing ability to reach deep into Russian territory." [Source: Ukrainian General Staff / OSINT]

2. 5 Fast Facts About the Liutyi Drone Strike

• 1. 1,700 km Range — Deepest Strike of the War: The Shagol Air Base strike represents the longest-range Ukrainian drone attack confirmed to date. At 1,700 km from Ukraine's border, the Liutyi drone traveled farther than any previous Ukrainian one-way attack UAV, demonstrating a quantum leap in Ukraine's deep-strike capability.
• 2. Su-57 Felon: Russia's Most Valuable Aircraft: The Su-57 Felon is Russia's only 5th-generation stealth fighter, with an estimated 30-40 operational units. Each aircraft costs approximately $100-120 million. A single Su-57 loss would be a catastrophic propaganda and military blow to the Russian Aerospace Forces.
• 3. Liutyi Carries a 75 kg Warhead: The AN-196 Liutyi carries a 75 kg (165 lb) high-explosive fragmentation warhead — 50% larger than earlier versions. This is sufficient to destroy or severely damage any aircraft caught on the tarmac, as well as fuel depots, munition storage, and command facilities.
• 4. 1,700 km Flight at Low Altitude: To reach Shagol Air Base undetected, the Liutyi likely flew at low altitude (2,500-3,500 ft) for over 6-8 hours, using terrain masking to avoid Russian air defense radars. The drone's composite airframe (carbon fiber + plywood) provides a minimal radar cross-section.
• 5. Strategic Implications: No Safe Haven for Russian Airpower: Before this strike, Russian commanders believed that air bases in the Ural Mountains (1,700 km from Ukraine) were safe from attack. The Liutyi strike proves otherwise, forcing Russia to redistribute air defense assets away from the front lines to protect rear-area bases — weakening defenses in occupied Ukraine.

"The targets were located at a distance of about 1,700 km from the state border of Ukraine," the Ukrainian General Staff stated. "Confirmed results of measures to reduce the possibilities of the opponent to strike civilian objects on the territory of Ukraine." The strike is a watershed moment in the drone war, demonstrating that distance is no longer a guarantee of safety for Russian high-value assets. [Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine]

3. The Liutyi (AN-196) Drone: Technical Specifications

The Liutyi (Ukrainian for "fierce" or "brutal") is Ukraine's domestically-produced long-range one-way attack drone, designed to strike deep into Russian territory with precision and affordability.

• Official Name: AN-196 Liutyi
• Type: One-way attack drone / loitering munition
• Wingspan: 3.5-4.0 m (11.5-13.1 ft)
• Length: 4.4 m (14.4 ft)
• Takeoff Weight: 250-300 kg (550-660 lbs)
• Airframe Material: Composite materials + plywood (low radar cross-section)
• Propulsion: 2-stroke piston pusher engine (rear-mounted propeller)
• Warhead (early version): 50 kg (110 lbs) high-explosive fragmentation
• Warhead (2025-2026 upgrade): 75 kg (165 lbs) high-explosive fragmentation — 50% larger than original
• Maximum Range: 2,000-2,500 km (1,240-1,550 miles)
• Range to Target (Shagol strike): 1,700 km (1,056 miles)
• Cruise Speed: 250-300 km/h (155-186 mph)
• Operating Altitude: 2,500-3,500 m (8,200-11,500 ft) — low-altitude terrain masking
• Navigation: GPS/GLONASS + inertial navigation system (INS) — fully autonomous flight
• Cost per Unit: Estimated tens of thousands of USD — far cheaper than cruise missiles ($1M+) or fighter jets ($100M+)

Analysis: The Liutyi represents the ultimate expression of asymmetric warfare: a drone costing perhaps $20,000-$50,000 can destroy a $100 million Su-57 fighter jet on the ground. The 75 kg warhead is sufficient to destroy any aircraft caught in the open, and the 2,000+ km range allows Ukraine to strike targets across European Russia, including Moscow (500 km), St. Petersburg (1,000 km), and now Chelyabinsk (1,700 km). The composite airframe provides radar stealth, and the low-altitude flight profile exploits gaps in Russian air defense coverage.

4. The Targets: Su-57 Felon and Su-34 Fullback

Specification	Su-57 Felon	Su-34 Fullback
Role	5th-gen air superiority / multirole fighter	Tactical fighter-bomber / strike aircraft
Maximum Speed	Mach 2.0 (1,320 mph, 2,470 km/h)	Mach 1.8 (1,190 mph, 1,900 km/h)
Combat Range	1,250 km (775 miles)	600-1,100 km (370-680 miles) with combat load
Weapons Payload	7,500 kg (16,500 lbs) internal + external	8,500 kg (18,700 lbs)
Crew	1 pilot	2 (pilot + weapons officer)
Operational Units (est.)	30-40 (very limited production)	120-140 (primary strike asset)
Unit Cost	$100-120 million	$35-50 million
Key Weakness (for this strike)	Vulnerable on the ground — limited numbers make each loss catastrophic	Primary launcher of cruise missiles against Ukrainian cities

↔️ Swipe the table to the right to view all comparison data.

Strategic Importance: The Su-57 Felon is Russia's most advanced fighter, designed to counter the F-22 and F-35. With only 30-40 operational units, each Su-57 is a national asset. A single loss would be a catastrophic propaganda blow and a significant reduction in Russia's limited 5th-generation fighter fleet. The Su-34 Fullback, while more numerous, is the primary platform for launching cruise missiles (Kh-59, Kh-69) against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Disabling Su-34s at their home bases disrupts Russia's ability to conduct long-range strikes.

5. Engineering Insight: How a $50,000 Drone Hunts $100M Jets

The Liutyi drone represents the ultimate expression of asymmetric warfare: a low-cost, expendable weapon designed to destroy high-value targets that cost thousands of times more. Here's how it works:

• Step 1 — Low-Observable Airframe: The Liutyi's composite and plywood construction provides a minimal radar cross-section (RCS). Unlike metal aircraft, the Liutyi appears as a small, slow-moving target — often dismissed by radar operators as birds or noise.
• Step 2 — Terrain Masking Flight Profile: Flying at 2,500-3,500 meters (8,200-11,500 ft) — below the coverage of many long-range radars — the Liutyi uses hills, forests, and terrain features to hide from Russian air defense systems.
• Step 3 — Autonomous Navigation: Pre-programmed waypoints allow the Liutyi to fly without emitting any radio signals (passive navigation). No signals mean no warning for Russian electronic warfare systems to detect and jam.
• Step 4 — Terminal Descent: Upon reaching the target coordinates, the Liutyi dives onto the target — either an aircraft on the tarmac, fuel depot, or munition storage — detonating its 75 kg warhead.
• Step 5 — Cost Exchange Ratio: Su-57: $100M. Liutyi: ~$50,000. Ratio: 2,000:1. Even if 19 of 20 drones are intercepted, the one that gets through pays for the entire campaign.

"This is the mathematics of modern warfare," said a defense analyst. "Ukraine doesn't need to kill every Su-57. It only needs to kill enough to make basing them anywhere within 2,000 km of Ukraine prohibitively expensive. Russia can either move its Su-57s even farther east (reducing their combat utility) or accept the risk of losing $100M aircraft to $50,000 drones." [Source: Defense Analysis]

6. Strategic Implications: No Safe Haven for Russian Airpower

• Distance is No Longer a Defense: Russian commanders believed that air bases in the Ural Mountains (1,700 km from Ukraine) were safe. The Liutyi strike proves otherwise, forcing Russia to reconsider basing strategies across European Russia.
• Air Defense Redistribution: To protect rear-area bases, Russia must divert air defense systems (S-300, S-400, Pantsir) away from the front lines. This weakens Russian air defense coverage over occupied Ukrainian territory, potentially exposing Russian supply lines and command posts to Ukrainian strikes.
• Psychological Impact: Striking the Su-57 — Russia's most advanced fighter — is a significant propaganda victory for Ukraine and a humiliation for the Russian Aerospace Forces. It demonstrates that no Russian aircraft is safe, regardless of how far it is from the front.
• Production Limitations: Russia cannot quickly replace Su-57 losses. Production is limited to 2-4 aircraft per year due to engine and electronics constraints. Every Su-57 lost is a permanent reduction in Russia's 5th-generation fighter fleet.

"The broader strategic question remains unresolved: whether military pressure — however advanced — can achieve political objectives," said a military analyst. "But the Liutyi strike has fundamentally changed the risk calculus for Russian airpower. Basing aircraft in the Ural Mountains is no longer a guarantee of safety. Russia must now defend a 2,000-km deep battlespace — a task its air defense forces are not equipped to handle." [Source: Military Analysis]

7. Why It Matters

The Liutyi drone strike on Shagol Air Base matters for three reasons. First, it demonstrates that Ukraine has developed a long-range strike capability that can reach targets 1,700 km behind enemy lines — a capability previously reserved for cruise missile-armed nations. Second, it proves that low-cost drones can effectively hunt high-value aircraft, rendering traditional assumptions about "safe basing" obsolete. Third, it forces Russia to make impossible choices: protect rear-area bases (weakening the front) or accept the risk of losing $100M aircraft to $50,000 drones.

For Ukraine, the Liutyi provides a cost-effective means to strike deep into Russian territory without risking pilots or expensive cruise missiles. For Russia, the strike represents a strategic headache that no amount of air defense can fully solve. And for the global defense community, the Liutyi demonstrates that the drone age has fundamentally changed the calculus of airpower: no air base is safe, and no aircraft is too valuable to be hunted by a $50,000 drone.

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Sources: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, OSINT analysis, Speedo Science Database