Why Ukrainian drones are not effective against Russia

At the beginning of the Ukrainian war, drones appeared as an unexpected source of victory over Russian forces.

Success stories have taken control of the news cycle, played a number of videos on social media, and show that Ukrainian drones are slowing down Russia’s progress.

Ukraine’s Ad-Hawk drones, in particular from small consumer aircraft used for surveillance to the famous Turkish design Biraktar TB2 drones, have been credited with producing Putin’s tanks and weapons.

Russia, on the other hand, has learned from the humiliation of drones in the early months of the invasion. Experts have told Eisard that Russia is improving its defense system and destroying many of Ukraine’s drones.

“Russia’s current electronic warfare and air defense system is better organized and organized compared to the early months of the war,” said Samuel Bendet, a naval analyst at the Center for Detective and Robotic Military Systems. .

Russian forces are using early warning radar to intercept drones and electronic weapons, Bendet said.

They also use a variety of tools to fire drones, such as machine guns and air defense systems.

Russia’s Defense Ministry says a recent video recording of a Ukrainian drone shows the Krasukha-S4 electronic warfare system.

According to Mark Kansian, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Ukraine has used drones in the past because Russia has not organized its defense system.

“The drones were able to play such a role because the Russians were slow to develop an air defense system.

Russia has better organized a ground-based air defense in the Donbass region, where the focus of the war has shifted.

Ukrainian forces are now restricting drones because Russian troops are easily overrun and the loss of drones is costly.

While single-use drones, such as the Swichblad and Phoenix spirit, can cost thousands of dollars each, TB2 drones can cost $ 1-2 million each.

Ukraine has received about 50 TB2 drones from the Turkish arms company Bear since the Russian invasion.

In the early days of the war, mercilessly effective, TB2s began to be fired in Russia, and the Ukrainian army was reducing its use.

The United States recently announced plans to sell MQ-1C Gray Eagle-powered General Atomics, more powerful than TB2s.

However, two unnamed Ukrainian Air Force pilots told the war zone that the drones, each valued at $ 10 million, could be shot down in the first place.

According to Kanchian, Russian air defenses are completely short, and medium range missiles and drones are particularly vulnerable because they fly low and slow.

The Ukrainian pilots I spoke to said that the role of drones was limited.

Instead, Ukrainian forces have argued for access to modern fighter jets from their Western allies.

Although Ukraine’s drones are gaining momentum in this new phase of the war, Russia is flying more drones, especially for reconnaissance, reconnaissance and reconnaissance missions, according to CNN expert Bennett.

“Although we can’t see Russian drones, they see us. All we can do is hide,” a soldier told The Sunday Times.

Bendet said the next few weeks could include the Russian military, which wants to better organize and advance its offensive.

“It is trying to trap Ukrainians in pockets around certain cities and towns and to push and crush Ukrainian defense in general. The drones are playing a key role in providing the Russians with intelligence, control and intelligence capabilities. From the ground and from the air,” Bendet said.

“So we see drones on the Russian side, thinking it’s more important to move forward, thinking the war will continue as it is.”