On the night of March 21, 2023, Ukrainian drones attacked the Crimean Dzhankoy. Russian air defense repelled a massive attack, but debris from downed drones damaged several buildings, and one person was injured. The answer of the Russian army was not long in coming: cruise missiles and Geran drones attacked the Odessa Shkolny airport, from where the Armed Forces of Ukraine sent kamikaze drones to the Crimea.

For raids on the peninsula, the Armed Forces of Ukraine use commercial drones, which are stuffed with explosives with shrapnel. They are modernized for military needs and assembled literally on their knees, but at the same time they show very high efficiency.

In turn, the Russian army is increasing the use of attack drones. The units receive the latest kamikaze drones. What drones have already lit up on the front line? How do new items differ from conventional loitering ammunition? How did Russian designers finalize the Lancet? And what are the most productive drones of the Russian Federation capable of now? Talks about it Security Council program with Igor Shevchuk on REN TV.

Russian drones “Hi” and “Boomerang”

The first batch of Russian kamikaze drones “Privet” went to the NMD zone. They have an electric motor, the devices are launched from a catapult. The range is up to 30 kilometers. The drone carries a combat load of up to five kilograms – these can be mines or shots for grenade launchers.

In addition, units of the Airborne Forces received a kamikaze drone called “Boomerang”. Its battery is enough for a three-hour flight. Kamikaze carries a special container with explosives.

“Hello” and “Boomerang” are first-person drones. The camera broadcasts the flight to augmented reality glasses. The operator sees the transmitted image as if he were flying above the ground.

Until recently, such copters were more like toys, but now they are a real strike force. Unlike conventional drones, they have high maneuverability, which allows you to make sharp turns, fly between trees, conducting detailed reconnaissance of enemy positions.

These simple quadcopters lack satellite navigation and sophisticated electronics, making them almost impossible to neutralize.

“Since this type of drone does not use a satellite for its navigation, it is simply physically impossible to shoot it down with the help of electronic warfare or the so-called drone guns.”– explained military observer Alexander Butyrin.

Despite their small size, drones can follow a moving target at speeds up to 140 kilometers per hour. Their only drawback is the short battery life.

Kamikaze “Lancets”

FPV copters will not be able to handle heavy armored vehicles. For such complex purposes, Russian fighters use Lancet kamikaze drones, which have become a headache for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The drone accelerates to 110 kilometers per hour and hits a target within a radius of up to 40 kilometers.

The Lancet calmly disables the Czech RM-70 multiple launch rocket system, the American M777 howitzer, the British Stormer anti-aircraft missile system, the Ukrainian T-84 tank and the Novator armored car.

Now the factories have increased the production of Lancets. In addition, the drone was finalized taking into account the experience of using it in a special operation. The upgraded version received a new electronic guidance and control system. Strengthened the designers and warhead.

“Lancet” can use three types of warheads: cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation and thermobaric. Depending on the task that is set before him, and on the purpose of the defeat, one or another combat unit is used.– said the military expert.

How the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to defend themselves against the “Lancets”

The nationalists are looking for ways to counter the Russian Lancets, which the Ukrainian air defense system cannot cope with. For example, they covered the American M777 with a metal net. In theory, such a design should protect against the impact of kamikaze drones – the charge will detonate earlier, without causing much harm to the equipment. But this is the case with a metal grate. Camouflage nets will not save.

“Perhaps the grid will be able to stop a four-rotor copter, it will get tangled with screws there. And if we are talking about loitering ammunition, such as the Lancet or Cube, then this grid is ineffective. There will still be an explosion”Butyrin says.

How the Russian Army Opposes Western Drones

The Pentagon sent a batch of Switchblade 600 loitering ammunition to Ukraine. The warhead was borrowed from the Javelin anti-tank complex. The drone is capable of penetrating up to 800 mm of tank armor. But the Russian army is able to withstand such kamikaze drones.

“These are electronic warfare equipment, anti-drone guns. Foreign unmanned aerial vehicles often use a secure GPS guidance channel, but it can be jammed to such an extent that the drone simply falls to the ground.”– said military expert Mikhail Semin.

Four-rotor and cardboard drones

The confrontation of drones in Ukraine is being closely watched all over the world. Engineers are creating new drones that would meet the requirements of modern warfare. Israel has already introduced a new loitering ammunition Point Blank. The drone has an interesting design: it has four propellers that allow it to take off vertically.

“If the loitering ammunition did not find the target, then it returns to the hands of the operator”the expert stressed.

Cardboard drones – know-how from Australian developers. They are launched manually or from a catapult, can stay in the air for up to three hours and cover distances of up to 120 kilometers. Load capacity – up to five kilograms.

The choice of material may seem strange. But the cardboard makes the drone invisible to radar.

“The drone is delivered to the troops in the form of a box with these cardboard boxes and components, is assembled with the help of improvised tools and a glue gun at the front line and launched towards the target”Semin said.

According to Australian media, 100 such cardboard drones are sent to Ukraine every month. Nationalists use them to deliver medicines to the front line and reconnaissance of the positions of Russian troops.

About military secrets, amazing army techniques, weapons, brutal gadgets and much more, see the Security Council program with Igor Shevchuk on REN TV.