Some months ago we published pictures showing a Tu-143 Reys drone, recovered almost intact, in a field by the pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine.
Here is an extremely interesting video showing the Ukrainian military extracting the Tu-143 from the launching truck, preparing, and finally launch the spacecraft-like drone.
The Tu-143 is quite similar to the Tu-141, though substantially smaller. It has an operative range of about 60 – 70 kilometers and a low-level flight capability.
It is truck-launched and recovered by means of a recovery-parachute, deployed from a hatch on the upper side of the rocket’s rear fuselage.
Powered by a TR3-117 turbojet with 5.8 kN (590 kgf, 267 lbf) thrust it can reach an altitude of 5,000 mt (16,400 ft) and a top speed of 950 km/h (580 mph). It can carry both photographic and TV sensors with datalink capability to transmit live data to the ground control station.
You can watch the video below.
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