|
Originally Posted by METO Guido
(Post 4007557)
Don’t know the brandnames. Half meter long warheads hang from propeller thrusted platforms. Others are rocket boosted. Some strike target in swarms. One second you’re just taking a pi$$, the next your guts are sprinkled on top.
A Russian fiber-optic first-person view (FPV) drone reached the outskirts of Kharkiv City for the first time on February 25. The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported on February 25 that a Russian fiber-optic FPV drone reached Kyivskyi Raion on the northern outskirts of Kharkiv City for the first time.[22] The Russian Anvar Spetsnaz Detachment (possibly referring to the BARS-25 Anvar volunteer detachment) published geolocated footage on February 25 showing a Russian fiber-optic drone striking a vehicle traveling along the M-03 highway on the northern outskirts of Kharkiv City, indicating that Russian forces flew another fiber-optic FPV drone as far as roughly 21 kilometers from the international border.[23] Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (MoD) advisor on defense technology and drone and EW expert Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov noted on February 25 that Russian forces would have had to find a suitable and long ground corridor through which to fly the drone, as the area is densely populated and contains obstacles that could sever fiber-optic wires in flight.[24] Russian forces are now able to conduct fiber-optic FPV strikes against Kharkiv City itself, and such strikes against Ukrainian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) in the area could foreshadow a battlefield air interdiction (BAI) campaign in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Such increases in fiber-optic FPV range will also allow Russian forces to harass civilian populations in Kharkiv City, similarly to how Russian forces have been using tactical drones to make life near the frontline untenable for civilians.[25] Much of the anti drone activity in the interior of Ukraine is done by fighter aircraft but these aircraft have difficulty surviving near the Russian or Belarus border where they can be targeted by Russian fighter aircraft with long range air to air missiles. The increase in range and the EW resistance of these fiber optic FPV drones has now pushed out the FEBA to essentially the whole distance to at least the northern border of Kharkiv. And while Ukraine has apparently taken out of commission - at least temporarily - the only plant in Russia that was producing the fiber optic fiber, it seems like China is providing as much as Russia currently requires according to ISW. |
Originally Posted by Excargodog
(Post 4007566)
Beats me. More worrisome is that the Russians are now getting fiber optic guided drones all the way from the FEBA (such as it is) to the outskirts of Kharkiv City.
alt=""https://i.postimg.cc/bJqPmX0H/IMG-7932.jpg Much of the anti drone activity in the interior of Ukraine is done by fighter aircraft but these aircraft have difficulty surviving near the Russian or Belarus border where they can be targeted by Russian fighter aircraft with long range air to air missiles. The increase in range and the EW resistance of these fiber optic FPV drones has now pushed out the FEBA to essentially the whole distance to at least the northern border of Kharkiv. And while Ukraine has apparently taken out of commission - at least temporarily - the only plant in Russia that was producing the fiber optic fiber, it seems like China is providing as much as Russia currently requires according to ISW. |
Originally Posted by METO Guido
(Post 4007574)
Now why would China do that? Purity of essence, probably not. Things to get used to; forward reach lengthening rapidly, first person vision in real time now just about anywhere on earth’s surface, engaged units are cannon fodder unless bunkered deep, night & day. How long do you imagine it will take global terror specialists to adapt these toys?
And that’s before you even consider that the drone won’t even stop most of those 20mm bullets. And a certain wing commander I once flew with who was firing up at a dart once lofted a round about 7 miles. We know because it hit a pipeline - fortunately just low pressure irrigation water - that far off range. All those flying bullets eventually come down someplace. For that matter, even if you bring down the drone it’s warhead still might explode on ground impact. But drones are cheap and basically a mobile and precision guided IED with the right controller. |
Originally Posted by Excargodog
(Post 4007587)
The real issue is that these things are cheap - relatively speaking - and defense against them is not. Even shooting them down with ancient second hand F-16As and Bs costs more than the damn things cost themselves. A one second burst from a Vulcan cannon costs damn near $3000 and that’s just delivered at the factory. Actually getting it delivered to the warzone and loaded into a fueled and maintained and piloted aircraft and it gets to be an economic loss.
And that’s before you even consider that the drone won’t even stop most of those 20mm bullets. And a certain wing commander I once flew with who was firing up at a dart once lofted a round about 7 miles. We know because it hit a pipeline - fortunately just low pressure irrigation water - that far off range. All those flying bullets eventually come down someplace. For that matter, even if you bring down the drone it’s warhead still might explode on ground impact. But drones are cheap and basically a mobile and precision guided IED with the right controller. |
Originally Posted by METO Guido
(Post 4007624)
No wonder the Army’s been practicing with ray guns on ELP drone targets. 3k for a 20mm ack-ack burst? Price gouging gone crazy. They ought to check on vendor deals at gun shows.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7486027/ |
Originally Posted by Excargodog
(Post 4007641)
“Ray guns” are even more problematic. In clear weather they tend to travel until they hit something and among the most vulnerable targets is the human retina - especially at night.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7486027/ |
Originally Posted by METO Guido
(Post 4007805)
But the Persia show this year seems off to a solid start. Better than curling even.
But about this issue, it is interesting to speculate how the Iranian situation will affect the Russia-Ukraine conflict. For sure the Russians are losing a source for Shaheds and other munitions, but conversely the munitions the US is expending on Iran won’t be furnished to Ukraine either, and will likely lead to US stockpiles requiring replenishing of the very counter air/drone/missile IRDNANCE that Ukraine most desperately needs. |
Originally Posted by Excargodog
(Post 4007808)
Sadly enough, it’s the first bipartisan issue to hit Congress this year - both ways. Just too bad that it takes a war to get the people on both sides to vote their consciences rather than just toeing the party line.
But about this issue, it is interesting to speculate how the Iranian situation will affect the Russia-Ukraine conflict. For sure the Russians are losing a source for Shaheds and other munitions, but conversely the munitions the US is expending on Iran won’t be furnished to Ukraine either, and will likely lead to US stockpiles requiring replenishing of the very counter air/drone/missile IRDNANCE that Ukraine most desperately needs. https://youtu.be/g4CkaK2rxFo?si=xQyXLofCjnf0hdAP |
Originally Posted by METO Guido
(Post 4007805)
Yeah, always something. Nice air show act anyhow. It is ready for trials? But the Persia show this year seems off to a solid start. Better than curling even.
Originally Posted by Excargodog
(Post 4007808)
Russians are losing a source for Shaheds and other munitions, but conversely the munitions the US is expending on Iran won’t be furnished to Ukraine either, and will likely lead to US stockpiles requiring replenishing of the very counter air/drone/missile IRDNANCE that Ukraine most desperately needs.
|
Originally Posted by John Carr
(Post 4007827)
If Canada was allowed to play, would then engage in shanninagans?
|
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:12 AM. |
Website Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands