News
Mystery of Russia’s secret weapon downed in Ukraine
When two white vapour trails cross the sky near the front line in eastern Ukraine, it tends to mean one thing. Russian jets are about to attack.
But what happened near the city of Kostyantynivka was unprecedented. The lower trail split in two and a new object quickly accelerated towards the other vapour trail until they crossed and a bright orange flash lit up the sky.
Was it, as many believed, a Russian war plane shooting down another in so-called friendly fire 20km (12 miles) from the front line, or a Ukrainian jet shooting down a Russian plane?
Intrigued, Ukrainians soon found out from the fallen debris that they had just witnessed the destruction of Russian’s newest weapon – the S-70 stealth combat drone.
This is no ordinary drone. Named Okhotnik (Hunter), this heavy, unmanned vehicle is as big as a fighter jet but without a cockpit. It is very hard to detect and its developers claim it has “almost no analogy” in the world.
That all may be true, but it clearly went astray, and it appears the second trail seen on the video came from a Russian Su-57 jet, apparently chasing it down.
The Russian plane may have been trying to re-establish the contact with the errant drone, but as they were both flying into a Ukrainian air defence zone, it is assumed a decision was made to destroy the Okhotnik to prevent it ending up in enemy hands.
Neither Moscow nor Kyiv have commented officially on what happened in the skies near Kostyantynivka. But analysts believe the Russians most likely lost control over their drone, possibly due to jamming by Ukraine’s electronic warfare systems.
This war has seen many drones but nothing like Russia’s S-70.
It weighs more than 20 tonnes and reputedly has a range of 6,000km (3,700 miles).
Shaped like an arrow, it looks very similar to American X-47B, another stealth combat drone created a decade ago.
The Okhotnik is supposed to be able to carry bombs and rockets to strike both ground and aerial targets as well as conduct reconnaissance.
And, significantly, it is designed to work in conjunction with Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets.
It has been under development since 2012 and the first flight took place in 2019.
But until last weekend there was no evidence that it had been used in Russia’s two-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine.
Earlier this year it was reportedly spotted at the Akhtubinsk airfield in southern Russia, one of the launch sites to attack Ukraine.
So it is possible the abortive flight over Kostyantynivka was one of Moscow’s first attempts to test its new weapon in combat conditions.
Wreckage of one of Russia’s notorious long-range D-30 glide bombs was reportedly found amidst the aircraft’s crash site.
These deadly weapons use satellite navigation to become even more dangerous.
So what was the Okhotnik doing flying with an Su-57 jet? According to Kyiv-based aviation expert Anatoliy Khrapchynskyi, the warplane may have transmitted a signal from a ground base to the drone to increase the extent of their operation.
The stealth drone’s failure is no doubt a big blow for Russia’s military. It was due to go into production this year but clearly the unmanned aircraft is not ready.
Four protype S-70s are thought to have been built and it is possible the one blown out of the sky over Ukraine was the most advanced of the four.
Even though it was destroyed, Ukrainian forces may still be able to glean valuable information about the Okhotnik.
“We may learn whether it has its own radars to find targets or whether the ammunition is pre-programmed with co-ordinates where to strike,” explains Anatoliy Khrapchysnkyi.
Just by studying images from the crash site, he believes it is clear the drone’s stealth capabilities are rather limited.
As the engine nozzle’s shape is round, he says it can be picked up by radar. The same goes for the many rivets on the aircraft which are most likely made of aluminium.
No doubt the wreckage will be pored over by Ukrainian engineers and their findings passed on to Kyiv’s Western partners.
And yet, this incident shows the Russians are not standing still, reliant on their massive human resources and conventional weapons.
They are working on new and smarter ways to fight the war. And what failed today may succeed next time.
News
How Chestnuts Can Be Used in the Household
Chestnuts—those familiar brown fruits often collected by children in autumn—have a surprising range of uses beyond crafting.
Packed with natural soap-like substances called saponins, chestnuts can serve as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional cleaning products, offering sustainable solutions for cleaning, laundry, and even pest control in your garden.
Chestnuts as a Natural Cleaner
You can easily transform chestnuts into an effective, chemical-free cleaner. According to myHOMEBOOK, here’s a simple method to make your own chestnut cleaning solution:
Ingredients: About ten chestnuts
Instructions:
-
Chop the chestnuts thoroughly.
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Pour one to two liters of hot water over them.
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Let the mixture sit for about 24 hours.
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After resting, strain the liquid and bottle it.
This natural cleaning product works wonders on smooth surfaces and dishes and can last up to a month. Plus, it’s cost-effective and free from any chemical additives, making it a fantastic alternative to commercial cleaners.
Travel
KLM’s 105th Delft House is a national monument
For this year’s Delft House, KLM has chosen Het huis aan de drie grachten (house on three canals) in Amsterdam
Continue reading KLM’s 105th Delft House is a national monument at Business Traveller.
News
Putin’s cyber warfare a real-life threat in UK
Cyber experts are warning of potentially grave consequences for public safety
October 11, 2024 8:33 pm(Updated 9:43 pm)
It sounds like the plot of a Sunday night TV drama. Instead it’s real life – as today’s iweekend cover story reveals.
A Russian hacking group that receives protection from the Kremlin has successfully targeted one of the systems underpinning Britain’s ambulance services.
Security sources concede that the attack is a real threat to our emergency services. Cyber experts warn of potentially grave consequences for public safety.
This is a new campaign of electronic warfare launched by Vladimir Putin’s government against the UK. Intelligence sources call it “Cyber Wagner” – a reference to the mercenary army deployed by the Kremlin – and it is intended as punishment for Britain daring to take a stand with Ukraine.
In the UK, our critical infrastructure remains vulnerable to such assaults from state-sheltered cyber armies. In the past 12 months, targets include the British military, Nato, the Ministry of Defence and other Whitehall departments.
The MI5 chief has been outspoken in warning government departments that they must dramatically improve security, now that so many services are dependent on tech that’s vulnerable to attack.
At i, we are very careful about the facts we report, necessarily withholding some names that would damage national security if they were revealed.
But the investigation inside today by Richard Holmes is packed with extraordinary detail, very carefully sourced, and it is certain to be read in Westminster and Whitehall as well as the homes of iweekend readers.
X: @olyduff
News
People in Huddersfield with these surnames could have a fortune waiting in unclaimed estates
Several relations are eligible to stake a claim for unclaimed estates
News
Texas man held in Las Vegas in deadly 2020 Nevada-Arizona shooting rampage pleads guilty
LAS VEGAS (AP) — One of three suspects jailed in Las Vegas following a deadly two-state shooting rampage on Thanksgiving 2020, including the killing of a man at a convenience store in southern Nevada and a shootout with authorities in northwestern Arizona, has pleaded guilty.
Christopher McDonnell, 32, entered his pleas Thursday to 23 felonies, including murder, attempted murder, murder conspiracy, weapon charges and being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm, according to Clark County District Court records.
He had been indicted on 55 counts, and his trial had been scheduled for next month. A felony charge of committing an act of terrorism was among counts dropped as part of his plea agreement.
“Christopher decided taking responsibility for his actions was in his best interest,” his attorney, Ryan Bashor, said Friday. McDonnell remains jailed without bail in Las Vegas. His plea was first reported by KLAS-TV.
McDonnell will face life in prison with a broad range of parole eligibility — a minimum of 21 years and a maximum 164 years, prosecutor Michael Schwartzer told The Associated Press, adding that he will seek a sentence “beyond (McDonnell’s) natural life term.”
Sentencing is scheduled Dec. 13. Bashor said he hopes to win a more lenient sentence.
The plea agreement does not require Christopher McDonnell to testify at a jury trial set to begin Nov. 4 for his former wife, Kayleigh Lewis, 29, and his older brother, Shawn McDonnell, Schwartzer said.
Shawn McDonnell, 34, faces 54 felony charges including committing an act of terror and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Lewis, 29, faces 53 felony charges also including an act of terror, but will not face a possible a death sentence.
Both remain jailed without bail. Their defense attorneys did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Police and prosecutors say the 11-hour rampage began Nov. 26, 2020, and included apparently random shootings that killed Kevin Mendiola Jr. at a convenience store in Henderson, near Las Vegas, and drive-by gunfire that wounded several other people.
It ended near the Colorado River town of Parker, Arizona, after a chase involving officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the crash of a car with a Texas license plate and the wounding of Shawn McDonnell by troopers wielding assault-style rifles.
The three defendants, originally from Tyler, Texas, were returned in custody to Las Vegas, where a grand jury indicted them in March 2021.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said at the time that the crimes amounted to “heinous and random” terrorist acts and an attempt to cause widespread fear in the public.
Travel
British Airways AXES flights from major UK airports due to plane shortages as hundreds of trips cancelled
BRITISH Airways has axed flights around the world cancelling hundreds of trips after it was hit by engine issues.
The flag-carrier grounded aircraft after finding maintenance issues with some of its Rolls-Royce jet engines.
New routes to Malaysia have been canned, while the frequency of flights to Qatar has been halved.
Some services have also been suspended between Gatwick and JFK in New York.
Thousands of flyers will have been affected by the changes and hundreds of craft halted.
The airline has already scrapped 11 routes because of the issue, the Telegraph reports.
BA said the issue is with the Trent 1000 engines used on its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets.
There is excessive wear and tear on them and Rolls-Royce has been unable to supply enough replacement engines and parts.
BA has grounded five planes or 15 per cent of the fleet.
Boeing 777s have been used to pick up the slack, but those too also need to be repaired every so often.
The launch of a Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur route will now be delayed from November to April 2025.
One of the two daily trips to Doha has been canned, while flights between Gatwick and JFK will be suspended for winter from December.
A BA spokesperson said: “We’ve taken this action because we do not believe the issue will be solved quickly, and we want to offer our customers the certainty they deserve
“We’ve apologised to those affected and are able to offer the vast majority a flight the same day with British Airways or one of our partner airlines.
“We continue to work closely with Rolls-Royce to ensure the company is aware of the impact its issues are having on our schedule and customers, and seek reassurance of a prompt and reliable solution.”
BA has contacted customers whose flights have been cancelled and offered alternative travel arrangements.
They said: “Unfortunately, Rolls-Royce, our engine supplier for our fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft, is experiencing challenges,” it said.
“We’re not the only airline experiencing this issue and are doing all we can to work with Rolls-Royce to resolve the situation.”
A Rolls-Royce spokesman said: “We continue to work with British Airways and all of our customers to minimise the impact of the limited availability of spares due to the current supply chain constraints.
“Unfortunately, this is an issue affecting the whole aerospace industry.”
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