"The Ukrainian soldiers were equipped with night vision goggles, sniper rifles, remotely detonated mines, drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and others capable of dropping small 1.5kg bombs."
* * * * *
They made their own drones, equipped them with small bombs, snuck up on Russian vehicles and let 'em drop.
The trio of drone incidents has amplified concerns that Russia’s war in Ukraine could spill over into NATO countries, even if unintentionally, forcing the alliance to decide how to respond — if at all — to incidents that occur inside its borders.
US defense officials say the errant drones that entered NATO territory appeared to be largely inadvertent. Since the start of Russia’s invasion, the US military has established a deconfliction line with Russia to reduce the risk of miscalculation and make sure the two militaries operating so close together don’t inadvertently clash. The US has tested the line “once or twice a day,” according to a senior defense official, but so far, it hasn’t been needed.
* * * * *
Could one errant drone flight be enough to start a war? Stay tuned...
https://ukrspecsystems.com/drones/leleka-100-electric-uav
"LELEKA-100 unmanned aerial system has been officially on service in Ukrainian Armed Forces since 2015. Our solution has received positive feedback from Ukrainian Army officers, drone operators, and intelligence agents. It is one of the most commonly used drones of its class in the Ukrainian Army and has most of the flight hours recorded. Leleka-100 even participated in a Military Parade in honor of the Independence Day of Ukraine." According to https://twitter.com/UAWeapons one of these was downed recently by electronic warfare.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17663028/ukraine-punisher-drones-russian-forces-putin-invades/
"The unmanned planes - with a 7.5-foot wingspan - carry up to three high explosive bombs which can wipe out troops and vehicles within 50 metres.
They loiter for hours 1,300 feet above the battlefield up to 30 miles behind enemy lines directed by a pilot on the ground manning a laptop computer.
A smaller reconnaissance drone called a Spectre flies alongside to identify targets before the Punisher homes in for the kill."
* * * * *
I hope to read more about this after the war.
“Williams Drone successfully completed several flights, but unfortunately one drone crashed in the Open Cut following a battery cell failure,” Weber said. “A second drone was used for several additional flights before the control system forced an emergency landing within the Open Cut. The drone manufacturer is being consulted to help understand what may have caused the emergency landing. Until more is known, application of the capping compound has been suspended.”
* * * * *
Those darned malfunctions! Even the backup failed. Bummer.
Imagine being a grunt in the front lines knowing that you can be buzzed, spied on, and attacked by drones.
https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1494250407731896322?s=20&t=niaNmJcUFkUex-cyP-pjnw
* * * * *
1001 uses for a drone!
