Wooden drones have been used by russian forces in Ukraine for a while now. A photo of such a handmade device was published on Facebook by Serhii Flash, a serviceman of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and an air reconnaissance and electronic warfare specialist.
It is important here to note that it wasn't an isolated case of creativity by russian soldiers made to fill up the gaps on the frontline but a systematic trend of using cheap and simple solutions for a variety of tasks.
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In this particular case, the wooden UAV in the photo published by the expert managed to fly from southern Ukraine almost across entire Ukraine. Its task was to check the quality of air defense in the city of Myrhorod in central Ukraine. Serhii Flash noted that its flight coincided with the russian cruise and ballistic missile attack on the Myrhorod Air Base.
Evidently, one of the functions these drones can carry out is a visual observation of air defense operating in a designated area.
When Ukrainian military took this drone down, they noticed corner reflectors which made it intentionally more visible to air defense systems. Apparently, it should increase the chance that anti-aircraft systems engage with it and spend expensive ammunition.
Hence the best way to counter them is to deploy electronic warfare systems that will allow air defense systems to save interceptors for more important targets.
The specialist also pointed out that in order for such a drone to be able to gather intel on its own, it must be equipped with an Iridium satellite modem. Otherwise, Ukrainian air defenses are studied by a russian agent on the ground at the destination point.
Also, he emphasized that this type of UAV stores a flight map in their memory, so he urged everyone in the Ukrainian army who managed to take one down to call in specialists who know how to retrieve it.
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