16 Russian Grad Rocket Launchers Destroyed By Ukraine In 2 Weeks

In another example of Ukrainian strategic targeting, Ukrainian drone operators have struck 16 Russian Grad rocket launchers in the last two weeks. 

Their elimination reduces the effectiveness of Russian attacks, because without artillery support, such assaults tend to falter as the defenders are able to prepare for and then decimate such attacks. JL

Militarnyi reports:

Ukraine destroyed 16 Russian BM-21 Grad missile systems in just two weeks using FPV strike drones. To counter this, Russians are massively equipping the Grad systems with slat armor but such armor cannot cover the openings where the missiles are loaded and released.  To hit the Grads, Ukrainian drone operators use radio repeaters, which extend the range of an FPV drone by amplifying the video signal from the drone’s camera to the pilot’s receiver.

The Security Service of Ukraine managed to destroy 16 Russian BM-21 Grad missile systems.

The SSU reported that the result had been achieved in just two weeks.

In order to destroy the grads, the SSU used FPV strike drones.

 

The Ukrainian drone operators primarily tried to hit the launcher with rockets. To counter this, Russians are massively equipping the Grad systems with slat armor.

 

However, the slat armor cannot cover the places where the shells are loaded and released.

The destruction of the Russian Grad missile system. Fall, 2024. Ukraine. Footage from SSU video

These are the spots that Ukrainian drone operators are trying to hit, which leads to powerful detonations.

 

It is not unlikely that the SSU uses radio repeaters for FPV drones to target Russian artillery, which allow them to fly long distances to search for the artillery.

In June, it was reported that a Ukrainian FPV drone had managed to fly tens of kilometers and hit a Grad rocket launcher.

A Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Matrice 300 RTK drone with relay antennas for FPV drones. Photo credits: Charitable Foundation “SOS palīdzība Ukrainas armijai”

Radio repeaters extend the range of an FPV drone by amplifying the video signal from the drone’s camera to the pilot’s receiver.

 

Conventional FPV drones have a limited flight range due to poor connectivity over long distances.

A Russian Grad missile system in the camera of a Ukrainian drone. Fall, 2024. Ukraine. Footage from SSU video

For this purpose, antennas are mounted on other drones, which improve communication between the operator and the attack drone from the air.