By KYIV. Nov 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Russian Federation is considering the possibility of returning to service the high-altitude Soviet-era M-55 reconnaissance aircraft, according to a report published on the social network X (formerly Twitter) of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Sunday.
“With an operating ceiling of over 70,000 feet, the aircraft has been recently employed as an earth-sciences research platform. However, it has been observed carrying a military reconnaissance pod, developed for employment on Russian fighter aircraft,” the report reads.
British intelligence says a critical flaw in Russia’s acquisition strategy is the failure to develop adequate intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities, which are critical to the timely and accurate pursuit of targets by air, sea and ground forces.
“There is a realistic possibility that the M-55 will return to frontline … Operating at high altitudes enables the sensors to work at considerable stand-off range. It is almost certain that the aircraft will conduct missions against Ukraine from the relative safety of Russian airspace,” the message reads.
