New Russian drone tactics test Ukraine's artillery defenses
In recent days, numerous recordings have emerged depicting attacks by Russian Vandal drones on Ukrainian artillery positioned in hideouts behind the front lines. We explore how this is possible and the challenges it presents.
The proliferation of inexpensive FPV drones operating on advanced fibre optics, akin to many anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), has effectively turned the battlefield back to its state around the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023.
It has become apparent that jammers are ineffective against drones controlled via fibre optics, leaving the options of either neutralising them or employing some form of armour capable of withstanding or prematurely detonating the drone. For the moment, partially effective defensive measures include nets, although one of the recordings shows that even the smallest gap can render them ineffective.
Additionally, a dual-drone attack approach is possible, where one drone carries a thermobaric warhead designed to breach the net, allowing the second drone equipped with a cumulative warhead to proceed.
Roles have reversed — Russian artillery is a shadow of its former self
The nature of the current war in Ukraine results in the greatest losses being inflicted by artillery systems, and in this area, the Russians have noticeably lagged behind the Ukrainians in recent months, despite their significant advantage at the war's outset.
Stocks of post-Soviet ammunition have been depleted, and although North Korean supplies have addressed 60% of Russia's requirements, the situation is more critical regarding barrels for artillery systems. Russia lacks a reliable source for them (local production is insufficient), leading to the deployment of relics such as the Koksans or outdated howitzers like the M-46 or even the M-30 dating back to the Battle of Berlin.
Russians are also attempting to compensate for their lack of firepower by increasing the use of aviation to deploy powerful guided FAB glide bombs with UMPK modules. They have little choice because NATO artillery systems, particularly those with a calibre of 155 mm and a barrel length of 52 calibres, offer a greater range than Russian artillery, even with the cheapest and most plentiful ammunition.
New Russian drones destroy Ukraine's essential equipment
Artillery systems are typically positioned about 10 to 20 kilometres from the front lines — about 30 kilometres in the case of Western systems capable of firing up to 30 kilometres with the most common ammunition or more with superior rounds. It is specifically the Polish Krabs, French Caesars, German PzH 2000s, or Ukrainian howitzers 2S22 Bogdana that are currently causing the greatest losses to the Russians.
The Ukrainian strategy involves keeping howitzers concealed in camouflaged hideouts, moving them out to execute fire missions, and returning them swiftly. Due to their range and the inadequate counter-battery capabilities of the Russians, drones have become their only solution.
However, these drones were previously ineffective due to the dense network of Ukrainian jammers, which has now changed with the rise of fibre-optic controlled drones with a range exceeding 30 kilometres. These drones enable Russians to target valuable assets in the Ukrainian rear, which, unfortunately, they are currently doing.
The only protection against them involves shooting down the attacking drone, detonating it, or entangling it in a net stretched around the target. A minimal defence would involve guards placed around the artillery hideout, equipped with weapons featuring thermal vision and SMASH-type modules from Smart Shooter, but in the Ukrainian context, the most accessible option remains smoothbore shotguns.
