Russia's drone struggle: New tactics against Ukrainian attacks

The growing popularity of kamikaze drones on the front line necessitates continuous adaptation to the enemy's latest tactics and arsenal tools. However, Russian drones often face a nemesis in the form of Ukrainian drones. Consequently, Russians are installing rearview cameras on their drones.

Drones play a significant role on the front line. Both Ukrainians and Russians eagerly use drones. Both sides are continuously adapting to changing combat conditions, as evidenced by the recent emergence of so-called dragon drones, which the Ukrainians showcased for the first time.

The aforementioned "dragon drones" are unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with a container of flammable material (e.g., thermite) used to douse the enemy with fire from above. The Russians quickly decided to adopt this solution in their military, and shortly after that, they demonstrated their tests with their own "dragon drone."

In addition, recently, there has been an increase in attacks where one drone strikes another. This tactic is primarily used by Ukrainians, who frequently share recordings showing their defence equipment hunting Russian drones in mid-flight.

Drones striking other drones have become a significant problem for the Russian Federation, which lacks the means to defend against aerial attacks. After all, attack drones are relatively simple constructions, consisting mainly of an engine and an explosive charge. They lack advanced systems responsible for monitoring the surroundings and reacting to threats. A drone aimed at a target simply flies in a specific direction, making it an easy target to eliminate.

In light of these threats, the Russians have started searching for solutions to protect their drones during flight. One of these solutions was shared by the Defence Express portal, which published a photo of the Russian Zala-421 drone equipped with a rearview camera. The wreckage of this design revealed a camera aimed in the opposite direction of flight, used to observe the situation behind the drone. This allows the drone pilot to look towards potential threats and react when necessary.

It should be noted that the Zala-421 drone, which is often targeted in aerial attacks, is an advanced drone with a different mission than conducting kamikaze attacks. It is designed for reconnaissance operations, capable of staying airborne for long hours, conducting observations from altitudes of up to 3,500 metres, and delivering high-quality imagery.

The Zala-421 was created to meet the Russian Federation's expectations for low-visibility equipment capable of conducting high-altitude reconnaissance. The drone's fuselage is equipped with a digital SLR camera with at least 18 MP resolution, delivering Full HD quality imagery with a 20x zoom capability. The device also has a gyroscopic stabiliser and a thermal imaging camera.

The drone is powered by an electric motor, which allows it to reach altitudes of up to 3,500 metres. The unmanned aerial vehicle, weighing around 10 kilogrammes, can perform reconnaissance missions for four hours, flying at a speed of approximately 110 kilometres per hour. Its maximum range exceeds 200 kilometres, with an operational radius of 45 kilometres. Precise positioning of the drone is ensured by a GPS/GLONASS navigation system working in conjunction with a three-axis magnetometer.