I think you are over thinking the problem. Fixed u/c is lighter, less complex and doesn't fail. It's a very thin structure so probably doesn't impart much drag on the craft decreasing it's range significantly. It means the craft can be recovered easily as apposed trying to catch it or land it on a dolly. It's only viable to have a u/c that can be raised by more complex (and more expensive) drones.

The drone is a Liutyi (Fierce in Ukrainian.) built by Ukrainian company JSC, a state-owned concern encompassing over a hundred of manufacturers.

Based on previous statements by officials, it has a warhead of 75 kg and an operational range of over 1,000 kilometers.

As for GPS guidance, the Russians don’t have enough jammers to cover the battlefield, let alone the whole of Russia….

My brother-in-law spent many years in installing and servicing them including Russia. I asked him and he said that if you know where to hit, you can hinder more or less production in the whole refinery for a substantial time. We live in a globalised economy and Russians were dependent on technologies from the West either partly or fully for years. It is not that trivial to replace destroyed equipment by local sources especially if it must be in larger numbers. Thinking that it will not have an impact is rather naive and the whole problem escalates. In September Russia imposed ban on exporting diesel and now in March on gasoline which is unheard of measure.
Russia has a huge territory and to defend it is quite a challenge. This is not just a symbolic act, it may create quite an effect.

Taking out the cracking columns is inconvenient but the resulting fire must have a bigger impact

But these are one way drones so recovery is unecessary.

And no u/c is even lighter, simpler and less draggy than a thin fixed u/c. The drag penalty will be enough when every extra km of range counts.

What's wrong with using a drop-off lauch dolly ?

I submit that the Ukrainians operating these devices know exactly what they are doing, and are doing it very well indeed.
If there was a better way of building and operating them I think they would be doing it.

ANOpax

Either the designers are very stupid, or they have given this matter much more thought than you or I have.

Which do you think is the more iikely?

The latter, of course.👍🏻

Wow. Clearly a bunch of you lack an enquiring mind (which is a little worrying on a pilot's forum).

The simple explanation for the presence of a fixed u/c is that the drones are multi-role and not purely designed for kamikaze missions.

Judging by this article the Liutyi attack drone is similar to the reconnaissance one I pictured.

https://mb6k2s.c97.org/en/news/2024/3/13/587386/

At least they had covers on them…..well, covers with splits!

Interesting. There are big differences in these numbers.

so why not a cheaper drone without the u/c for kamikazi?

so you don't have to search for the right drone, just grab the next one,

Wouldn't be surprised if UKR launches a volley of these things at one target. Must have been no joke watching the Seababies heading for your ship and knowing that its chums are also on their way, out of your sight. Very wisely UKR says nothing about it, more power to their elbows.

A cheap weapon that can saturate your defences. Quite a daunting task for a conventional military. Anticipates AI v AI combat in the near future.

False flag?

As one reply notes, “Remember everybody, the best place to store your gas cans is in the cockpit of a scrap helicopter in front of a CCTV camera”…

Link includes 3 videos.
Security Services in the Moldovan Breakaway-Region of Transnistria are reporting that a One-Way “Suicide” Drone today Struck a Mil Mi-8 Utility Helicopter, which appears to have been Inoperable, with the Transnistria Air Force at a Small Airfield near the Capital of Tiraspol resulting in its Total Destruction.

The Drone is claimed to have entered Transnistria Airspace from the direction of Odesa in Southern Ukraine.

With the previous conscription and losses that will wipe out the native Ukrainian population of the region, doubtless replaced by offering their land and property to Russian carpet baggers…

After the fake "elections", the russians plan to mobilize up to 300,000 citizens of Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories, — State Border Service

To confirm the plans of the Russians, the DPSU published a corresponding document handed over by one of the Ukrainian special services.



Note implementation and completion dates:
25 March, 2024 and 01 June, 2024.

Absolutely, this. If you have something that will do the job, why spend time and resources developing something else. Ideal? No. Effective? Yes. Let not the perfect defeat the good.

No fracking towers irreplacable, these items have multi year lead times with limited amount of a manufactures certified to produce them and afik none in russia. They might be able to get some replacements from china but imagine the west would be closely watching for any and would come down like a hammer on china.