The following information provides some evidence of the UK’s direct involvement in the West’s proxy war on Russia using Ukraine.
I became aware of this most interesting information in a 38 second video published by RT on Rumble: British Banshee Jet-80 kamikaze drone this morning. Thankfully, someone posted the clip on YouTube which is easier to share on this platform.
This is the description from the RT video on Rumble:
The Russian Federal Security Services intercepted British Banshee Jet-80 kamikaze drone loaded with explosives over Donetsk People’s Republic, the head of the DNR Denis Pushilin reported.
According [to] Pushilin a transcript of the drone’s flight mission showed its target was a major civil infrastructure site in Mariupol.
The Directorate of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia for the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), together with units of the military commandant's office and Rosgvardiya, intercepted a British kamikaze drone Banshee Jet-80 in the Novoazovsky district in the south of the DPR. This was announced on February 19 by the press service of the department.
It is clarified that after the controlled landing of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), explosives engineers defused the warhead in the form of 7 kg of explosive. The charge was eliminated on the spot.
As a result of decoding the flight mission of the British UAV, it was established that it was aimed at a large object of the civil infrastructure of the city of Mariupol and was supposed to circle over the Novoazovsky district and hit the object from the Taganrog Bay.
Earlier in the day, it was reported that soldiers of the Central Group of Russian troops attacked the positions of two brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and shot down 23 Ukrainian drones in the Krasnolimansk direction.
The special operation to protect Donbass, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the background of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
Watch more relevant videos and details about the situation in Donbass on the Izvestia TV channel.
There is a bit more technical information on the QinetiQ website regarding these surveillance drones which have more uses than what they specify and say out loud, especially given the Pravda post above which mentions the discharge of 7 kilograms of explosives from the warhead of the British Banshee Jet 80+.
Featuring industry-leading speed and enhanced power, The Banshee™ Jet 80+ Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a dual-jet training target with impressive payload capacity designed for Threat Representation and military operational training.
Fitted with twin 40 kg thrust gas turbine engines, the Banshee Jet 80+ has an 80 kg static thrust, attributed to the impressive 200 m/s airspeed achieved when flying straight and level (ISA Standard). Adding an auxiliary fuel tank guarantees the velocity is matched with stamina, generating a typical mixed throttle mission time over 45 minutes.
With QinetiQ’s CASPA Avionics onboard, the Banshee Jet 80+ has enhanced stabilisation with the added benefit of digital autopilot. Other features, such as integrated GPS, digital telemetry systems, and parachute ejection recovery, ensure effective navigation through various customer training simulations.
Versatile, agile, and equipped with our range of optional payloads, the Banshee Jet 80+ can carry the Rattler Supersonic Target as an ejectable payload, further enhancing the customisation options and ability to meet customer requirements worldwide.
Key Features
Land and sea launching capability
Compatible with surface-to-air, air-to-air and gunnery weapon systems.
QinetiQ was formed in July 2001, when the Ministry of Defence (MOD) split its Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) in two. The smaller portion of DERA, was rebranded Dstl (Defence Science & Technology Laboratory).
The larger part of DERA, including most of the non-nuclear testing and evaluation establishments, was renamed QinetiQ and prepared for privatisation. QinetiQ became a public private partnership in 2002 with the purchase of a stake by US-based private equity company the Carlyle Group.
In 2003, QinetiQ signed a 25 year long term partnering agreement (LTPA) under which we provide UK MOD with innovative and realistic test and evaluation of military and civil platforms, systems, weapons and components on land, at sea and in the air. In February 2006, QinetiQ was successfully floated on the London Stock Exchange and the Carlyle Group sold its stake in the company.
What's in a name? The name 'QinetiQ' results from extensive analysis of all of our capabilities and strengths. It is derived from the scientific term, kinetic, which means relating to or caused by motion. This in turn comes from the Greek kinetikos based on 'kineo', which means 'to move', with connotations towards energetic, enterprising and dynamic. 'QinetiQ' was seen as particularly distinctive and reflects our spirit of innovation and creativity, but also energy, motion and progress.
On March 20, 2023, Advanced Military News posted the following video to promote the stealth New Banshee Jet 80+ Drones which have a range of some 80 miles. This is the description for the video:
The Royal Navy has received new jet-powered Banshee drones capable of soaring at speeds of up to 400mph. The use of the powerful Banshee Jet 80+ is a major step forward in the navy's use of remotely piloted air systems. (RPAS). A new flight has been established at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose's 700X Naval Air Squadron (NAS) to learn how to maintain and securely operate its own fleet of drones.
Originally designed to serve as targets for oncoming missiles. The Banshee, developed by defence firm QinetiQ, simulates threatening aircraft to assist the Royal Navy in staying ahead of air defenses. In 2021, they were first tested on the aircraft cruiser HMS Prince of Wales.
"700X NAS not only operates in-service uncrewed systems for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, but it is also a pathfinder squadron, conducting experimentation of these air systems for defense," said Captain Stuart Urwin, commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose. They genuinely represent the forerunners of our Future Maritime Aviation Force.
The rapid progress they're achieving is extremely exciting. The squadron is a fantastic group of people working at the cutting edge of naval aviation's next major technological leap."
"We have already established the use of RPAS on Royal Navy ships on deployment, but the introduction of Banshee signals a revolutionary step forward in terms of technology," said Lieutenant Commander Martin Howard, commanding officer of 700X NAS. It is critical to note that we are not weaponizing these technologies.
