Baba Jaga drones: Ukraine's latest weapon in aerial warfare

Various types of drones have become an inseparable element of the Ukrainian battlefield. The mass use of drones requires increasingly unusual and cost-effective solutions. We present the Baba Jaga drone hunting other drones.

Various types of drones are a huge problem because attempting to cross open terrain is suicidal, as numerous reconnaissance drones monitor it. If they detect enemy soldiers or vehicles, artillery fire, a swarm of FPV drones, or heavy "Baba Jaga" bombing drones are called to their position.

Shooting them down using portable anti-aircraft systems like the PPZR Piorun or FIM-92 Stinger is not cost-effective, as these expensive systems are better reserved for more valuable targets such as helicopters, aeroplanes, or cruise missiles.

In contrast, artillery systems are rare, and older radar systems have trouble detecting very small drones. Jammers are also not an ideal solution, as they do not guarantee 100 percent effectiveness. For this reason, Ukrainians and Russians have begun using FPV drones to hunt other drones.

This is an effective solution but results in the loss of the "kamikaze" drone. This becomes a problem due to drone shortages or parts for their production, leading to the development of reusable methods. One such method is dropping fragmentation grenades on enemy drones, as seen in the video below.

"Baba Jaga" drones are commercial agricultural drones adapted for warfare, such as the DJI FlyCart 30, capable of flying at altitudes up to 3 kilometres and ranges of 20–30 kilometres with a payload capacity of up to 30 kilograms.

Such a payload allows for carrying, for example, several PG-7VL grenades or 82 mm mortar rounds, causing significant damage. Recently, there have been cases of experimenting with guided ammunition based on a laser beam.

Alternatively, these types of drones are also used as signal boosters for FPV drones, enhancing their performance in areas with jammers. Recently, a "Baba Jaga" drone was seen carrying the "BAD Two" robotic dog into the operational area for covert surveillance. Now, they have a new task of shooting down enemy drones with "bombs."