Over the recent days, several interesting videos have appeared on social networks, which clearly demonstrate the next development stage in the application of unmanned aerial vehicles on the battlefield. Namely, for anti-drone combat. One video demonstrates an unknown Ukrainian drone hunting a ZALA 421-16E unmanned aerial reconnaissance system of the russian invasion army. First-person footage shows the Ukrainian drone successfully land a hit but the result is unknown.
Read more: Ukrainian Drones Hit russian Nebo-SVU Radar System Worth $100 Million in Crimea
In another clip published by Ukrainian activist Serhii Sternenko, an FPV drone is also used as an anti-UAV tool. The FPV was deployed against a russian Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone, the footage shows not only the air battle combat itself, but also the Orlan destroyed, on the ground. He credited UAV operators from the Centre of Special Operations "A" (Alpha) of the Security Service of Ukraine for the success of this mission. The events shown in the video took place "a few weeks ago," Sternenko noted.
Я вже вам казав, що підрозділ М2 топ? Ось черговий доказ!Воїни М2 ЦСО А СБУ збили за допомогою вашого дрона російський розвідувальний БПЛА Орлан. Це було ще кілька тижнів тому, але раз вже відео подібних ударів стали публічними, то варто і вам показати. Бо, по-перше, ви на… pic.twitter.com/wJQgl0mmKc— Serhii Sternenko ✙ (@sternenko) June 1, 2024
The activist says in his post that "the emergence of a full-fledged anti-drone system based on FPV is only a matter of time. Although it is not easy, it will definitely happen."
Considering the shortage of surface-launched anti-drone weapons, destroying the enemy UAVs with other drones midair seems like a logical option for the further development of drone warfare technologies in Ukraine.
Furthermore, such air defense FPVs can be useful not only against other unmanned aerial vehicles, but as an asymmetric response against russian helicopters as well. For an example, let's remember the precedent back in 2023, when the Magyar's Birds unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces showed an FPV drone try to intercept an enemy Ka-52 helicopter: in the end, it failed to hit the rotorcraft but at that that time, most likely, it was an impromptu attempt by the Ukrainian drone operator.
Unsuccessful attempt to attack a Russian Ka-52 helicopter using kamikaze FPV. The helicopter was faster, this time. https://t.co/uJ9mIRfyIQ pic.twitter.com/f1PwshLZoK — Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) September 6, 2023
On the other hand, the russian forces have already taken this new threat to their aerial vehicles into account. In particular, in the comment section under a video showing Ukrainians use FPVs against their drones, russians declared they were already preparing similar solutions to apply themselves.
Read more: Russian Ka-52 Helicopter almost Got Shot Down by Ukrainian FPV Drone (Video)
