It can take months for a pilot to train, and years to develop a truly skilled pilot, so the side with the best drones often has a huge advantage in conflict zones.
Unmanned aerial vehicles are also an important game-changer in the current war in Ukraine. In February, one of the world’s major military powers decided to launch military operations against its neighbors. Some optimistic scholars believe that Kyiv will fall in a few days, but the current situation does not look like anyone can really predict what will happen next. Russia was pushed back in the country’s capital, and the war was fought mainly in the eastern part of the country, centered on areas Russia was trying to annex.
So, since drones are a major differentiator, victory may depend on whether one side can get the most out of its drones and take out enemy drones at the same time, and Ukraine just got a technology that will help it do to this point.
How does the Vampire anti-drone system work?
Traditionally, drones have often fought by jamming their communications capabilities, which involves jamming the radio signals that connect the drone and its operator. In response to this situation, many drones and similar vehicles have been fitted with anti-jamming devices, which has led to a jamming/anti-jamming arms race.
The vehicle-agnostic modular tray-mounted ISR rocket device (Vampire) doesn’t actually bother to do these things — it just blasts enemy drones out of the sky with rockets. This lightweight system is incredibly maneuverable and designed to be mounted on a variety of vehicles. If Ukrainian forces were short of supplies as a last resort, it could tether the Vampire to the back of a pickup and still effectively hunt down Russian drones. Installation requires two people, two hours, some basic tools, and any vehicle with a body. Everything – including the power supply – is included on the tray.
Ukraine is getting supplies of counter-drone systems as part of the latest $3 billion aid package, a U.S. Defense Department announcement said. The exact number of Vampire systems shipped to Ukraine is currently unknown, but in a conflict with such nuances, anything could make a difference.
Russians aren’t the only ones with drones
Drones are a big part of modern warfare, and the Ukrainian side in the conflict has used its own drones well since the conflict began. The drone most closely associated with the Ukrainian Armed Forces is the Turkish Bayraktar TB2. The Bayraktar is relatively cheap, especially compared to U.S.-made drones like the Predator. Of course, cheap is a relative term, and the TB2 will still cost you millions if you’re allowed to buy one.
Since Turkey, the maker of the TB2, is a NATO member, the drone’s standards will be in line with those of the world’s richest and most powerful military alliance. The light UAV can operate for a long time of 27 hours and has been well used by the Ukrainian army. At last count, the country has lost eight TB2s in its arsenal. That loss was partly offset by the dozens of pieces of Russian material that the drone took out in the process.
Not all drones have to be lethal, though. One of the flying technologies that gives Ukraine an advantage has no weapons at all. The Black Hornet, which resembles a spy gadget, is 6 inches long and can be a mile away from the operator. The UK and Norway have already sent some 850 micro-drones to conflict zones, where they will play a variety of roles. These tiny drones are ideal for reconnaissance of enemy positions and structures, which should give Ukrainian forces a better understanding of the battlefield and allow them to carry out effective planning. They are also helpful in search and rescue operations.