Russian soldiers' anti-drone gear fails, increases visibility
The Russian method of hiding soldiers from Ukrainian drone attacks is proving ineffective on the battlefield. Rather than making it harder for Ukrainian pilots, the camouflage has the opposite effect.
The advancement of technology is reshaping warfare and posing new challenges for soldiers. The Russian military introduced a solution intended to help them evade detection by Ukrainian drones. However, the outcome is quite different: The equipment meant to provide effective camouflage actually increases the visibility of soldiers. According to "The Telegraph," special coats and thermal blankets fail to deliver the intended cover on the front lines.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army colonel, points out that this type of protection does not perform its intended function. Instead of concealing body heat, it creates cold spots on viewers, which stand out against the warmer surroundings. This makes soldiers easy targets for Ukrainian drones.
The Ukrainian armed forces utilize drones operated by special units to maintain control over them. As reported by UNITED24 Media, these devices employ thermal imaging, effectively and precisely locating the enemy. This capability makes the drones exceptionally dangerous for adversaries. They can locate and eliminate enemy positions even at night, thwarting attempts to hide.
This was supposed to protect Russian soldiers from drones
An incident near Lyman underscores the problems with this solution. Russian soldiers wearing so-called "anti-drone coats," who attempted to approach Ukrainian positions, were swiftly detected by Ukrainian FPV drones.
Another Russian assault group had access to higher quality thermal blankets, but they were unable to use them effectively. The blankets did not fully cover the soldiers' bodies, leaving their arms, legs, and even heads exposed, thus revealing their positions. Nick Reynolds from the Royal United Services Institute notes that Russian soldiers often struggle to use their equipment properly. Even high-quality thermal blankets, if used incorrectly, will not offer protection against an attack.
Some thermal suits available to Russian soldiers can be purchased online for as little as $47. These suits are typically made of multi-layered materials, such as polymers, microfibers, and fabrics with metallic particles, and weigh about 5 lbs. Despite these features, their effectiveness remains questionable.
