Ukraine’s $48,000 MICH 2000 Drone Emerges as Tu-95 Bomber Killer
Ukraine has revealed more details about the MICH 2000, a long-range attack drone that has reportedly been used by the country’s Security Service, the SBU, against Russian military and industrial targets.
The drone came into the spotlight after a July 16 strike on Russia’s Engels-2 air base, where Ukrainian officials said it struck a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber. The SBU claimed the aircraft suffered critical damage, and later satellite imagery reportedly confirmed its destruction.
The MICH 2000 reportedly has a range of up to 2,000 kilometres and can carry a warhead weighing between 25 and 60 kilograms, depending on its configuration. Its basic version is reported to cost about $48,000.
The drone’s design has an unusual history. According to reporting by Euromaidan Press, Ukrainian developers initially sought to purchase China’s ZTK-150, a similar long-range unmanned aircraft. After the proposed purchase was blocked, Ukrainian engineers developed their own version. The Ukrainian model reportedly retains the general outline of the Chinese aircraft but has been substantially modified.
The Chinese ZTK-150 reportedly cost around $50,000, making the Ukrainian MICH 2000 slightly cheaper in its basic configuration. The manufacturer claims that little of the original Chinese technology remains beyond the aircraft’s general shape.
The MICH 2000 is reportedly operated exclusively by the SBU’s Alpha special operations unit. Its reported targets include Russian ports, military facilities and industrial sites, including locations deep inside Russian territory.
The targeting of the Tu-95 is particularly significant because the aircraft is one of Russia’s main strategic bombers. Tu-95s have been used to launch long-range cruise missiles against targets in Ukraine during the war.
Ukraine has increasingly attempted to strike Russian aircraft before they can launch missiles, rather than relying solely on air-defence systems to intercept incoming weapons. The strategy became especially prominent during the 2025 Operation Spiderweb attacks, which targeted Russian bomber bases.
The manufacturer reportedly produces around 6,000 MICH 2000 drones annually and aims to increase production to 10,000. If those figures are accurate, the drone could provide Ukraine with a relatively inexpensive way to conduct repeated long-range strikes against high-value military targets.
