What stops drones just killing everything and whoever has the most winning every battle? How are they being defeated? What limits their use? Why aren’t infantry utterly terrified going into battle when drones seem able to blow them up without warning, dropping bombs out of nowhere? Can they be detected being small and flying low? Do they do air-to-air combat?
In: Technology
Basically ECM to jam transmission between controller and drone. Mainly the small FPV drones(ones you seen with explosives strapped to it or dropping grenades).
See plenty of these small drones diving into trenches. So infantry are scared of them. As where there is one, others are nearby, enemy artillery will be informed of your position as well. Also small enough that skilled pilot can fly the drone into the underground opening/sleeping area inside a trench.
Example when Ukraine made that river crossing beach head. Russia kept using small drones to hit the small patrol/speed boats used to reinforce the beach head.
Other drones like the Russian Lancet, bigger version but still way smaller than your standard reaper, global hawks etc. This drone can autonomous attack a target, set to loiter in an area, then hit a suitable target. One of the main ways to attack vehicles and have a great range. Has hit areas 40 miles inside Ukrainian held territory against an Ukrainian airbase. So new versions probably have a longer Range.
So small drones can hit a tank/ifv. Go for engine or tracks. May get lucky chain reaction kill from hitting the engine. Once immobilised the crew leaves the vehicle as it’s now a steel coffin. Follow up drones or artillery will hit it. Due to massive minefields, tank hits mine, crew leaves then drones/artillery destroy/further damage the tank. Vehicle can’t be retrieved as enemy will have fire control over that area.
Russia upgraded the Iranian drones it received. Added small jet engine, larger warhead, stealth coating. Even some found with thermobaric warhead( fuel vacuum
Bomb)
Then you get moments of the small drones seeing enemy small drone in the area. Then just waiting and following it. If it’s just a recon unit it may go back to its operators. Then enemy has the operators location and artillery strike can be called in.
Plus hitting a highly defended target, Geran/Shaled drones are used in large number to help overload defences. Then other missiles follow in amongst the confusion. Russia even adapted some cruise missiles to fire off flares/chaff to distract defences during final stages of flight.
Russia production has kicked in so are producing large numbers. They are getting hands on and brutal lessons in drone warfare and adapting to it.
Ukraine soldiers will have to teach NATO advisers how this new strategy works.
US was supplying the Switchblade portable drone since start of the war.
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