UJ-25 Skyline

The UJ-25 Skyline (Ukrainian: Ска́йлайн) is a jet-powered loitering munition built by the Ukrainian manufacturer UkrJet and operated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is a weaponized derivative of the UJ-23 Topaz target drone, distinguished by its turbojet propulsion and an estimated one-way strike range of about 800 km (500 mi), sufficient to reach Moscow from Ukrainian territory.

Development

UkrJet developed the UJ-25 from its UJ-23 Topaz aerial target, retaining the airframe layout while adapting it for the one-way attack role. The aircraft was first shown publicly in September 2023, appearing in the background of a CNN interview on drone warfare during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Design

The UJ-25 has a missile-like fuselage, forward-swept wings, a V-tail, and a top-mounted air intake at the rear of the fuselage feeding a turbojet engine. It differs outwardly from the UJ-23 Topaz only in the addition of forward canards. Performance figures for the Skyline have not been released; the Topaz cruises at 600 km/h (370 mph), reaches 800 km/h (500 mph), has an endurance of 90 minutes and a mission radius of 400 km (250 mi) with a 10 kg (22 lb) payload. Guidance on the Topaz is by manual control link or a preprogrammed route. The combination of jet speed, small size and low-observable characteristics reduces the reaction time available to air defences compared with the piston-engined Shahed-136 used by Russia.

Operational History

The first known combat use of the UJ-25 occurred on 22 December 2023, when one struck the roof of a house in the Russian-occupied city of Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and failed to detonate. No export customers have been reported.

Variants

• UJ-23 Topaz: Turbojet-powered aerial target drone from which the UJ-25 is derived, without canards.
• UJ-25 Skyline: Loitering munition variant fitted with forward canards and configured for one-way strike missions.