Ukrainian troops turn to shotguns to combat fiber drones
The proliferation of fiber-optically controlled drones is rendering electronic warfare systems ineffective. As a result, soldiers must rely on smoothbore shotguns or specialized targeting modules on rifles for protection. Here's how they manage.
The video below shows Ukrainians exiting their vehicle to shoot down an incoming Russian FPV drone controlled via fiber optics. The soldier recording uses a semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun resembling one of many Turkish bullpup designs equipped with detachable magazines.
After a few shots, the Russian drone explodes in front of the vehicle, allowing the soldiers to continue. The use of a civilian car suggests that this action took place somewhere behind the front lines, where civilian cars are commonly used by both sides to deliver supplies. This incident highlights the threat posed by FPV drones, which are capable of flying over six miles and pose significant risks to last-mile logistics.
Shotguns as anti-drone defense — last resort weapons
The only option for protection against fiber-optically controlled drones or those supported by artificial intelligence algorithms is their physical elimination. The most common and quite effective tool in the hands of a skilled marksman is a semi-automatic smoothbore shotgun with a high-capacity magazine, allowing for several rapid shots.
The effective range for shotguns varies from about 30 to 70 yards, depending on the length of the chamber and type of shot. However, special anti-drone ammunition known as ALDA has been developed, providing striking effectiveness up to 130 yards. Shotguns are a temporary solution because other, more effective options are unavailable or limited.
Better solutions include modules like SMASH, which can combat drones at distances up to 330-440 yards or even 660-770 yards, depending on the caliber of the weapon used. Unfortunately, not many of these have reached Ukraine.
