Ukrainian 'Shark' drone strikes fear into Russian forces, revolutionizing modern warfare
In Ukraine, a special breed of shark exists: dangerous, precise, bloodthirsty, and extremely enraged with Russia. These sharks serve our army with commendable loyalty" - the Ukrainians tout their unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and understandably so. Currently, the drone manufactured by the local enterprise, Ukrspecsystems, is one of the top-notch reconnaissance devices in the world.
9:06 AM EST, December 17, 2023
The Russians potentially view the Ukrainian construction with a mix of awe and anxiety. These drones are exemplary for reconnaissance, even at lofty altitudes, and for directing advanced artillery and missile systems such as the M777 howitzer or the renowned M142 HIMARS launchers.
The Ukrainians constructed the UAV "Shark" post the war breakout, and it hit the mark.
From its inception, the "Shark" was designed in answer to threats from Russia and has been optimized for modern combat and military needs. Sounds promotional? Let's include that it's highly effective on the front and plays a key role in the success of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It easily detects infantry, tanks, and other vehicles.
Its range covers approximately 50 miles of flight or 4 hours of airtime. The UAV Shark outperforms its Russian and international counterparts in one area: it boasts a "high resistance to electronic warfare measures," making it less susceptible to jamming than drones like Bayraktars, known since the war's outset, or American Reapers.
Interestingly, it was assembled in just about six months. When Russia launched an attack on Ukraine and intense fighting ensued, engineers from Ukrspecsystems constructed a "Shark" in a mere few months, subsequently testing it in the heat of battle and immediately enhancing it. They then set out for hunting.
This is another ingenious invention by the Ukrainians and their contribution to modern warfare. Following in their footsteps, the Russians established special units operating unmanned vehicles and striking targets on the battlefield. The Ukrainians were the first to train as many as 10,000 operators who began decimating occupiers with inexpensive, mass-produced drones.
The subsequent step was constructing their own devices, which are cheaper and superior to their Western counterparts.
The Russians are scared of the already legendary "Baby Jagi", a sizeable and highly efficient machine, about which Vladimir Putin's cohorts spin tales. It's also a machine manufactured in Ukraine. The invaders intercepted several, but can't duplicate them due to lack of the necessary components. The same holds for the increasingly common "Sharks".
The use of drones and electronic warfare is emblematic of this war. The Russians own powerful jammers and equipment that reign supreme in the electronic battlefield. But the Ukrainians are already a step ahead, as they're able to circumvent the enemy's "barriers" and subsequently annihilate targets. Sharks are hunting, and they'll certainly claim many major catches.
