UJ-25 Skyline
Ukrainian jet-powered loitering munition, introduced in the early 2020s, deployed in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
| Powerplant | 1 × turbojet |
| Maximum speed | 800 km/h (497 mph) |
| Operational range | 400 km (249 mi) |
| Endurance | 1 hours |
Description
The UJ-25 Skyline is a jet-powered loitering munition operated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Developed by Ukrjet, it is a weaponized derivative of the UJ-23 Topaz target drone.
Design
The aircraft features a missile-like fuselage with forward-swept wings, a V-tail configuration, forward canards, and a top-mounted air intake at the rear that feeds into a turbojet engine. The addition of the forward canards is the primary external feature distinguishing the UJ-25 from the baseline UJ-23. While specific performance figures for the UJ-25 are undisclosed, the UJ-23 Topaz has a cruise speed of 600 km/h (370 mph), a top speed of 800 km/h (500 mph), an endurance of 90 minutes, and a payload capacity of 10 kg (22 lb). The system is guided either via a manual control link or by following a preprogrammed route. Operating as a one-way kamikaze drone, the UJ-25 has an estimated strike range of approximately 800 km (500 mi). Its jet propulsion, small size, and low-observable characteristics reduce defensive reaction times compared to piston-engine unmanned aerial vehicles.
Operational History
The UJ-25 was first publicly seen in September 2023 in the background of a CNN interview about drone warfare during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Its first documented combat deployment occurred on 22 December 2023, when a UJ-25 crashed into the roof of a house and failed to detonate in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Berdyansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.