One early April day, near Terny in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, a Russian T-72 tank entered the fray but quickly encountered trouble as it snagged on barbed wire, causing its tracks to malfunction. In its erratic path, it collided with a BMP fighting vehicle.
As the events unfolded, a Ukrainian first-person-view (FPV) drone observed the scene. Though its modest one-pound warhead inflicted minimal damage, it was enough to unsettle the tank’s crew, who promptly abandoned their vehicle, only to fall prey to subsequent drone attacks.
The Ukrainian army's elite 12th Azov Brigade swiftly organized a daring raid into the no-man’s-land outside Terny with the objective of retrieving the abandoned T-72. This particular tank, among the over 2,600 lost by Russia in its ongoing 26-month war on Ukraine, carried an electronic-warfare system strapped to its turret. This system aimed to disrupt the radio signals connecting Ukrainian FPV drones to their operators, stationed miles away in trenches or bunkers.
Despite the Russian intentions, the jammer proved ineffective, prompting Ukrainian interest in understanding its shortcomings. FPV drones are crucial assets in the Ukrainian arsenal, and countering FPV drone jammers has become a priority for Russian forces.
An ongoing drone arms race characterizes the conflict's 600-mile front line. Russians experiment with various combinations of radio transmitters and antennae to jam Ukrainian drones, while Ukrainians constantly develop new technology to stay ahead of the jamming attempts.
For the Ukrainians, knowing the capabilities of Russian jamming equipment is essential for adapting their drone technology. As they churn out thousands of FPV drones monthly, costing only a few hundred dollars each, this information becomes increasingly critical.
During multiple perilous nights, the 12th Azov Brigade successfully retrieved the T-72, navigating through hazardous terrain while under Russian artillery fire. Upon inspection, they found the jamming equipment to be makeshift and ineffective, consistent with previous encounters with Russian counterdrone technology.
Russian troops often lack adequate protection against enemy drones, as their equipment is outdated and poorly constructed. This inefficiency on the battlefield contrasts with Russian claims of electronic-warfare prowess.
While the failure of Russian jamming equipment is favorable for Ukrainian defense strategies reliant on FPV drones, it underscores a broader issue: the vulnerability of drones to physical armor. Russian armored vehicles now commonly feature drone-defeating armor, diminishing the effectiveness of FPVs, particularly against heavily fortified targets.
The reliance on FPV drones by the Ukrainian forces stems partly from shortages of heavier munitions, exacerbated by delays in US aid due to political maneuvering. These drones, though valuable, are inferior to traditional anti-tank missiles and artillery.
Despite the advancements of Russian troops in Ukrainian territory since January, the solution to the firepower disparity lies not merely in adapting drones but in re-arming with heavier weaponry. However, this necessitates substantial support from allies like the United States, who hold the capacity to supply such equipment in the requisite quantities, providing a lasting solution to Ukraine's firepower dilemma.
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