Hezbollah Uses Soviet Tu-143 Drones Converted into Cruise Missiles Amid Growing Conflict with Israel.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, supported by Iran, has escalated significantly with Hezbollah’s use of Soviet-era Tu-143 drones, converted into cruise missiles. On September 23, 2024, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released a video claiming to show an airstrike that occurred several weeks earlier, targeting a house in southern Lebanon containing what they referred to as a "DR-3 cruise missile" ready for launch. The DR-3 is another designation for the Soviet Tu-143 Reys reconnaissance drone. This conversion marks the first known appearance of these modified drones in Hezbollah’s arsenal.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

According to IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the missile was hidden inside a house, and Hezbollah had created a specific opening for its launch (Picture source: X Channel @manniefabian)

For months, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been on the rise, driven by a series of border incidents and inflammatory rhetoric from both sides. Hezbollah, which already possesses a large stockpile of missiles and rockets, views the introduction of the converted Tu-143 as a new offensive capability. Originally designed for reconnaissance, this drone has been adapted for long-range strikes, a tactic also used by Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

The IDF used a photo of the Tu-143 to illustrate the missile they claimed to have destroyed before its launch. According to IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the missile was hidden inside a house, and Hezbollah had created a specific opening for its launch. "The terrorists created a designated opening for the missile launch. Here, you can see how we identified the terrorists preparing the missile for launch," Hagari explained. The IDF claimed that they precisely struck the missile and its infrastructure, eliminating the threat shortly before it could be fired.

The Tu-143 is independent of runways, using rocket assistance for launch from a rail on a trailer or launch vehicle. In its cruise missile form, it has an estimated range of around 200 kilometers and is capable of carrying a 272-kilogram warhead, allowing Hezbollah to target cities as far away as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. However, the accuracy of these converted missiles remains uncertain unless substantial upgrades have been made to their guidance systems.

Israel has voiced concerns about Hezbollah’s use of civilian structures to hide and launch weapons, complicating counter-strike efforts and raising humanitarian concerns. The IDF claims to have destroyed additional weapons hidden within civilian homes and buildings in Lebanon. Hezbollah, on the other hand, claims to have an extensive underground network for launching its weapons, including multiple rocket launch systems.

The origin of these converted Tu-143 drones is not entirely clear. Russia had previously supplied some of these drones to the Assad regime in Syria, which is also supported by Hezbollah’s key ally, Iran. Additionally, Tehran has provided Moscow with ballistic missiles and drones as part of a growing military relationship between the two nations. It is possible that Hezbollah obtained these drones either via Syria or directly from Iran.

In its cruise missile form, the Tu-143 has an estimated range of around 200 kilometers and is capable of carrying a 272-kilogram warhead, allowing Hezbollah to target cities as far away as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (Picture source: WikiCommun)

This escalation comes in the context of increased tensions following the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah launched its most recent campaign of missile, rocket, and drone strikes against Israel the day after, and both sides have been trading fire almost daily since. Israel has conducted heavy bombardments of Lebanon for several days, with some analysts suggesting that a limited invasion might be considered to create a buffer zone, allowing thousands of residents in northern Israel to return to their homes.

Recent coordinated explosions targeting thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah in Lebanon have also contributed to the growing tensions. Hezbollah has attributed these explosions to Israel and vowed retaliation. Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, has threatened Israel with "severe retribution and just punishment," claiming that the retaliation will occur "where it expects and where it does not."

In response to the escalating violence, the Pentagon announced on Monday that additional U.S. troops would be deployed to the region. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s spokesperson, did not provide specific details regarding the number of troops or their mission, citing operational security reasons.

This drone was adapted for long-range strikes, a tactic also used in Ukraine by Russia, as shown by the debris found (Picture source: X Channel @COUPSURE )

The extent of Hezbollah’s converted jet drone arsenal remains unknown, as does whether these weapons have already been used. Unlike in Ukraine, no wreckage has yet been found confirming their use in Lebanon. This situation highlights the spread of improvised long-range strike tactics in current conflicts.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah’s known arsenal includes the following:

Hezbollah possesses the DR-3 missile (Tu-143), which has a range of several hundred kilometers, an explosive warhead weighing between 2 and 3 tons, and a missile weight of 300 kilograms. The group also has short-range attack drones, like the Model 107, which are used for surveillance and attack purposes. These drones have a range of 15-100 kilometers and carry a 1.5-kilogram warhead, capable of striking targets across Israel, particularly critical infrastructure, with the aid of advanced targeting systems.

Regarding rockets, Hezbollah has a large stockpile of short-range rockets, with a range of up to 50 kilometers and the ability to carry warheads of up to 100 kilograms. The group also has heavy rockets with a range of up to 15 kilometers, carrying warheads of up to 1,000 kilograms.

Finally, Hezbollah possesses long-range rockets capable of penetrating fortified targets, with a range of 50-200 kilometers and warheads weighing between 100 and 500 kilograms. This diverse arsenal represents a serious threat to Israel’s security.