Ukraine Increasingly Fielding Counter-Drone Warfare Interceptor FPVs

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The strategic focus of the Ukrainian drone development effort is impressive. The initial target for this development is Russian reconnaissance drones, reducing Russia's artillery capabilities. 

Helicopters, light planes and attack drones will likely be next. JL

Militarnyi reports:

In early May, the Ukrainian Defense Tech Support cluster started looking for developers to create interceptor drones. Two months later, the Russian military is increasingly complaining about the interception of its reconnaissance copters by Ukrainian drone-hunters. The potential loss of a significant number of reconnaissance drones and copters by the Russian army could severely hamper their ability to adjust artillery fire, giving the Ukrainian military an advantage on the battlefield. Ukrainian drones have destroyed many Russian reconnaissance aircraft in the air, including other ZALAs, Orlan-10s, and even a Lancet loitering munition.

The Russian military complains about the interception of its reconnaissance copters by Ukrainian drone-hunters, according to Militarnyi.

Ukrainian forces have already proved their ability to intercept Russian medium-sized reconnaissance drones of the fixed-wing type using FPV drones.

And this trend seems to be spreading to small reconnaissance drones like Mavic.

 

Telegram channels affiliated with the Russian army are increasingly complaining about the loss of their “frontline scouts” to Ukrainian drones hunting them.

In particular, the Black Swan Strike Group of the 225th Separate Assault Battalion recently posted a video of a drone operator ramming a Russian Autel copter, causing it to crash.

“Another successful aerial duel from the Black Swan pilots. This time, the invaders lost an Autel reconnaissance drone. I wonder how our pilots find them?” the military commented on the result of the strike.

 

The potential loss of a significant number of reconnaissance drones by the Russian army could severely hamper their ability to control the battlefield and adjust artillery fire. This may give the Ukrainian military an advantage on the battlefield.

 

The video shows the downing of an enemy copter without the loss of a Ukrainian drone. But even if it were lost, it would still be beneficial, as the difference in cost could be a multiple of five FPV drones.

Counter-drone warfare

In early May  the Ukrainian Defense Tech support cluster Brave1 started looking for developers to create interceptor drones.

“Our goal is to bring together developers and engineers who will create effective solutions to destroy enemy reconnaissance drones such as ZALA, Orlan, SuperCam,” the statement read.

That same month, the first video of a Russian ZALA 421-16E reconnaissance drone being intercepted by a Ukrainian FPV drone was posted online.

 

Since then, Ukrainian drones have destroyed many Russian reconnaissance aircraft in the air, including other ZALAs, Orlan-10s, and even a Lancet loitering munition.

 

At the same time, other Ukrainian units continue to search for Russian reconnaissance aircraft control centers and their operators for further destruction with high-altitude weapons.