China showcases FPV drone technology as battlefield evolves
Countries worldwide are closely observing the conflict in Ukraine and taking note. A key feature of this war is the use of drones, and the Chinese are developing similar FPV drone strike units. Here is a demonstration of their use.
China's People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has released a video showcasing a strike unit using FPV drones. The demonstration occurred on a site with a specially constructed obstacle course. Tasks included attacking other drones with nets, ramming airborne objects, or conducting an attack through windows into a building.
In this instance, the attack was executed by several drones, with the first breaking the window and the others flying inside to destroy mannequins with explosions. The footage also shows an attack on a fortified position, like a machine gun emplacement or a vehicle's driver. The entire attack looks impressive; however, each FPV drone had its individual pilot.
FPV drones — a new nightmare for soldiers on the battlefield
Racing drones of the FPV type, named for First Person View, have become in Ukraine the second most prioritised means, after artillery, for combating vehicles like even T-90M tanks and individual soldiers.
Initially, these were civilian constructions stripped of their housings, but over time, mass production based on DIY (Do-It-Yourself) drone parts developed in both Ukraine and Russia. Essentially, what's needed is: a frame, a battery, a control system with an antenna, electric motors with rotors, and a camera.
The result was a drone costing a few hundred pounds capable of carrying a payload of about 3 kilograms, like the PG-7VL grenade which can penetrate 50 centimetres of armour. With a larger battery, this allows for a range of about 10 kilometres.
FPV drones — over time they've needed a "cable" or AI
However, over time, both sides developed effective electronic warfare systems that severely limited their use, so alternatives began to be sought. Presently, there are two active routes. The cheaper one involves drones connected to the control station via deployable fibre optic cables. This setup ensures resistance to interference but greatly limits range.
The other method incorporates computing systems using artificial intelligence algorithms into the drones enabling a fully autonomous attack on a target designated by the pilot in the last few dozen or few hundred metres. This is the most expensive solution, but Ukrainians have already achieved promising results.
Defending against such drones is challenging and so far, no one has found a perfect solution in the necessary quantity. It's no wonder that China, with its own ambitions, is developing this, what could be considered, low-cost precision warfare.
