Russia is planning to use old An-2 “corncrakers” as fake targets for Ukrainian air defense
Russia has a lot of An-2 airplanes, the so-called “corn growers.” If the plan is implemented, it will create an additional burden on Ukraine’s air defense.
Along with the Prana Network hackers’ information on the cost and number of Russian Shaheds, the same source released documents on Russian plans to unusually use An-2 (corncob) aircraft against the Ukrainian air defense system. The Defense Express website explains how it will work.
The Russians’ idea is to use old An-2 aircraft as unmanned decoys to overload Ukrainian air defense. According to available data, the idea currently exists only as a concept. In addition to diverting the attention of air defense systems, the design should reveal their location or even neutralize them. For this purpose, it is proposed to accompany the AN-2 with Lancet drones. The aircraft must fly at an altitude of more than 4 km to provoke medium- and long-range SAMs.
To save energy, the Lancet is to be powered by an airplane, for which they plan to use a cable. At the same time, the strike drone must move at a sufficient distance from the An-2 to avoid debris in case of a hit on the aircraft. So the leash cable should be long enough. The aircraft itself can also be converted into a kamikaze drone or bomber. As an option, a surveillance drone could follow the AN-2 in the same way.
Photo: Defense Express
Such plans are based on the large number of An-2s in Russia. According to Russians, they have 1400 “corn growers.” There are no problems with spare parts either: they seem to still be made in China. In addition, the aircraft is quite easy to maintain.
But the idea of combat use of the AN-2 is not new. They were already used as drones by Azerbaijan in 2020, though without “trailers.” Despite the grotesqueness of the project, it should not be dismissed; back in 2022, a Russian company intended to develop a technology to convert the An-2 into a UAV in two years.
Another, not so extravagant, idea of the Russians is to produce Iranian Shahed on their own. At the World Defense Show 2024 in Saudi Arabia, they presented the Shahdah as their own development. In particular, we are talking about the clones Shahed-236 (MS 236) and Shahed-238 (MS 237).
