Russia deploys low‑cost ramming drones in Ukraine conflict
Commercial drones have become an inseparable element of the war in Ukraine and pose a significant threat to both sides. This situation has led to a search for the most cost-effective methods to eliminate them, and the Russians have come up with an intriguing idea. Let's explore what they have devised.
7:53 PM EDT, October 30, 2024
One of the most effective low-cost methods for eliminating reconnaissance drones in Ukraine has been the use of FPV drones as an anti-aircraft solution. In addition to taking down drones, there have even been instances of these drones shooting down helicopters.
While each drone or its armed variant costs about $1,000, which is still dozens or even hundreds of times cheaper than man-portable air-defense systems like the 9K333 Verba, it remains a single-use solution.
It is worth noting that in recent months, China has made it considerably more difficult to sell drone parts to both Russia and Ukraine, prompting both sides to begin using commercial drones more sparingly.
One idea for a reusable anti-aircraft drone involves a net barrier that could destroy an enemy drone’s propellers while preserving its own during a ramming maneuver. The idea might work, but the net should likely have smaller meshes than those in the Russian concept shown below.
Drone destruction by ramming — a simple yet effective method
Kinetic drone counteraction is often the most reliable approach because electronic warfare systems do not always succeed. If the opposing side changes the control signal frequency of their drones to one beyond the capabilities of known jammers—which has already happened—or develops drones that operate autonomously offline, electronic countermeasures become ineffective.
Currently, cheaper counter methods like certain gun systems are limited in number and range, reaching up to 3 miles for the Skynex, and the widespread use of laser weapons is still a future endeavor. In this context, a reusable ramming drone seems like a promising idea.
Of course, at the same time, the opposing side will be exploring protection methods, so we might soon see developments like propeller guards or more sophisticated solutions. For instance, the Russians have started equipping their drones with jammers to disrupt the video signals of attacking drones.
