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Types of military drones
Armed conflicts over the past decade have been characterized by an increasing presence of different types of military drones on the battlefield. Initially these were drones of imposing size and very high technological level, worth several million dollars, such as the famous U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper. Following the spread of commercial drones in the civilian market, however, this trend has been gradually changing, transforming the fate of current and future armed conflicts.
First, the'Access to aerial reconnaissance tools has become commonplace' to any armed unit, regular or irregular, as commonly seen on the Middle Eastern, African and European fronts. Second, the transformation of commercial drones into ground attack instruments - thanks to the ability to carry explosive devices to be dropped on a given target-provided a potential means of warfare for any contender, often drastically reducing costs and optimizing offensive results.
As of 2014, the particular Ukrainian war scenario served as a laboratory for these particular means, and today, in the midst of hostilities, drones have distinguished themselves as some of the deadliest technologies on the battlefield. A brief analysis of the various types that exist can be found below.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
One of the main types of military drones are military or civilian production UAVs. These, in particular, are divided into. Aerial reconnaissance UAVs, thus equipped only with vision systems, cameras, and supporting optical instruments, and armed UAVs. The former originated as a reconnaissance tool and were used on battlefields and within enemy lines to locate troop positioning, major bases, artillery systems, and areas of concentration of men and vehicles.
Depending on the type and model there are different range and different employment capabilities. Occasionally, these systems are equipped with only a basic protection system, capable of offering at least a chance of survival in the event of an attack by surface-to-air missile (SAM) or man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) systems.
Given the lack of human personnel on board or the limited production cost, however, most of these systems fly without any protection whatsoever, representing a fairly easy target to neutralize. In terms of form, however, most models are fixed-wing aircraft, while another type are quadricopter or eight-propeller drones.
Loitering munitions
One of the other types of remotely guided military drones that ply the skies of Ukraine on a daily basis is the Loitering Munitions, or single-use "suicide" drones. These drones, which can have the shape of a miniature aircraft or a quadricopter, were designed with lethal warfare instrument, capable of flying to the target and exploding on direct contact.
Each one is equipped with a specific explosive load and by the visual systems that allow it to be remotely guided. These weapons, created to provide support to troops on the battlefield, are proving more crucial every day to the outcome of the many battles, excelling over the rest in lethality, ease of use and accuracy.
There are now thousands of victims of these tools, just as there are thousands of vehicles knocked out of action. Depending on the medium employed, it is also possible to conduct attacks in depth, as seen in the numerous actions against Moscow, Crimea and the numerous targets to the left of the Dnipro River.
Repurposed first person view (FPV) drones
Another highly effective solution is commonly obtained from the modification of commercial drones intended for the civilian market (FPV). These, readily available in large numbers in every market domestic and foreign, are Equipped with special transport systems capable of releasing, once remotely commanded, explosive devices Of small size on a given target.
Usually, these drones are equipped with a 40mm rifle grenade or, when size permits, with 60mm mortar rounds. In numerous cases, however, Drones can drop one or more hand grenades or some homemade projectiles or from the modification of mass-produced ordnance.
The small size of these drones, combined with their common availability and easy deployment, have turned these systems into the main weapon employed at the front, now. There are thousands of videos testifying to its use, functionality and high operational success in every possible context. In addition, the level of precision in the release phase is so high that, in numerous cases, it has been possible to drop a device inside the hatches of tanks or armored vehicles, causing their almost immediate destruction.
Naval drones
"FPV drones, working at short range, are exactly the kind of opportunity we need to reduce the risk of casualties among Ukrainian soldiers. These drones can efficiently perform reconnaissance tasks in extreme proximity to the front line, or even in the middle of the conflict zone."
Over the past two years, drones have not only determined the course of warfare on land but, For the first time, they put a twist on naval warfare tactics.
To counter Russian Navy operations and to conduct Highly risky operations against infrastructure - mainly Crimean ports and the Kerch Bridge - of strategic interest. These are, in this case Remotely guided vessels that can operate on the surface or underwater, with the ultimate goal of arriving in the immediate vicinity of the target, where they are detonated with devastating results.
For the time being, although there were still several means neutralized by barrage fire from naval and coastal defenses, use of these innovative means has led to damage to some ships, port infrastructure and to of the Kerch Bridge, which connects Crimea to the rest of the Russian Federation.
Vehicle-born Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED)
The latest type of remotely guided system employed on the Eastern European battlefield is Vehicle-born Improvised Explosive Devices.
These particular systems, as easily guessed from the acronym, are obtained from the conversion of vehicles-civilian as well as military-that are equipped with remote guidance systems and armed with a significant amount of explosives. Once made operational, these means are driven to positions held by the adversary, where they are detonated with devastating effects on men, structures, and vehicles.
Originally developed by the numerous Middle Eastern Islamist irregular militias, these systems had enormous spread and use in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Syria, consistently proving to be effective instruments of death and destruction. In the Ukrainian context, there have been a few incidents of VBIED employment by Russian Federation units against entrenched Ukrainian positions.
Although the vehicles were intercepted at some distance from the target, thehigh amount of explosive employed, however, eliminated most of the defenders, thus opening a breach in the defensive lineup.
Thus, for the umpteenth time, a remotely guided vehicle proved to be extremely effective on the battlefield.
Andrea de Poli
Class of 1996, he graduated in 2020 with a degree in linguistic sciences from the Catholic University of the
Sacro Cuore in Milan, later perfecting his studies in Strategic Affairs at LUISS in Rome.
He currently works for the family business group, devoting part of his free time to the
study of major armed, social and political conflicts of the twentieth century and the present day. Over the years, he has
intended special attention also to the entire social, political and economic environment of the Middle
East, Ukraine and North Africa. In 2021, he published "Hezbollah: History, Organization
and doctrine of the Party of God."
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