Espreso. Global

How to combat FPV drones and whether active defense will help?

3 January, 2024 Wednesday
17:00

The question of how to counter FPV drones and conventional drops is becoming more relevant every day, as a new batch of videos appears showing expensive armored vehicles being destroyed by these extremely cheap means

client/title.list_title

Defense Express writes about this.

The article notes that for NATO countries, this situation is more than critical because when a $500 FPV drone can destroy, or at least send a tank worth more than $32 million for long repairs, it is critical. At the same time, only recently has a mass-produced solution appeared to combat other threats that have existed for a long time, such as rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank missiles. The answer to this was the defensive aide suite (DAS), which detects the approach of a threat and destroys enemy ammunition on approach with a directed explosion in automatic mode.

And the first really popular serial model of such an active defense system was the Israeli Trophy from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which is installed on Leopard 2 and Abrams. There are alternatives, including another Israeli complex, Iron Fist from Elbit Systems, or the German StrikeShield from Rheinmetall.

The first actual combat use of the Trophy during Israel's war against Hamas demonstrated that this system does not always work as it is supposed to. Moreover, it does not react to drones with drops.

A much bigger problem is the system's ability to recognize the threat itself and separate it from a false one. It's one thing to separate a piece of soil that has flown out from under a crawler from a rocket-propelled grenade, and another to separate a drone from a bird. And that's not all, because the DAS has a banal question of ammunition.

That is, now the serial versions of defensive aide suite need to be adapted to new types of threats in the form of drones, which means time, money, and efficiency.

Alternatives for DAS

Defense Express states that the DAS has quite interesting alternatives to counter drones. And it's not just about projects with combat lasers, which require a significant increase in the energy capabilities of an armored vehicle. And not even just about EW, whose portable system is already an obvious situational solution.

First, any electronic warfare system works in both directions and second, it can only have an impact until drones massively acquire "machine vision" and no longer depend on communication with the operator at the terminal area.

But attention can be paid to two alternative systems. The first is a system that will blind drones. After all, even "machine vision" requires an image from a camera, and it can already be blinded.

“The Australian Electro Optic Systems, which is known in Ukraine for supplying Slinger anti-drone anti-aircraft systems, has chosen this option, with a low-power laser that cannot destroy a drone but can make it "blind." Its new Dazzler combat module is designed to counter drones at a distance of up to 2 km using a laser system, and a traditional 30-mm automatic cannon is already being proposed for destruction,” the article explains.

The second way is to integrate an automatic drone tracking and destruction system into the tank's machine gun turret. Such systems are already operating quite successfully, in particular in Ukraine, and allow for the effective destruction of targets of this class.

At the same time, their effectiveness can be increased by using not machine guns, but a full-fledged automatic cannon with programmable detonation.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Thursday
13 February
22:00
Exclusive
Heart of Ukraine: interactive Valentine’s Day installation unveiled at Kyiv’s railway station
21:45
Exclusive
'Starved and tortured': freed Azov fighter reveals horrors of Olenivka prison
21:31
Exclusive
Putin, Zelenskyy will not get everything they want, but peace will be achieved — U.S. Defense Secretary
21:20
Exclusive
Ukraine Russia war live map, February 5-12
Russian army returns to using armored vehicles near Pokrovsk – Ukrainian military
21:10
OPINION
Operation against Poroshenko: strategic move to divide society
20:57
Exclusive
Ukrainian intelligence destroys Valdai radar near Moscow: expert explains how
20:42
Exclusive
Sanctions against Poroshenko might be politically motivated before elections - MP
20:24
U.S. sanctions ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan who issued Putin arrest warrant
20:11
Exclusive
Ukraine risks future war as Trump rejects NATO membership and security guarantees
19:56
Fico publishes photo with Putin, says calls Ukraine and EU are "losers"
19:40
Exclusive
Many EU politicians see Ukraine ceasefire as done deal — Espreso correspondent from Brussels
19:25
'Nothing discredits Hungarian officials more than their actions': Ukraine’s MFA on Budapest’s accusations
19:10
Exclusive
"Approaching Mariupol, we realized this was a real major invasion": former POW told about city's defense
18:55
Press release
Kostiantyn Zhevago considers sanctions imposed on him illegal - businessman's press service
18:41
Exclusive
Russian military drills ahead of February 24 were wake-up call - released Azov fighter
18:25
'Any deal made behind our backs won’t work': Kaja Kallas on negotiations with Russia
18:07
'Poland, Europe, entire West need full cooperation': Tusk urges ending disputes over Ukraine
17:51
Hungary’s Orbán slams EU statement on Ukraine peace talks as 'worthless'
17:34
Trump must be more realistic on Russia talks — Ukrainian MP on Trump-Putin call
17:16
Trump's British ally Farage backs Ukraine joining NATO despite past criticism
16:54
Russia deliberately targeted Mariupol shelters marked "Children" and "Civilians" — Azov soldier, released from captivity
16:33
Moldova recovers Russian drone wreckage, summons Russian ambassador
16:15
Two newest Russian radar systems explode near Moscow
15:54
Exclusive
No reason to say Ukraine's fate will be decided behind its back — military expert
15:35
China suggests Putin-Trump summit as solution to end war against Ukraine
15:16
Russia denies talks of recognizing Crimea, occupied territories as Russian in Trump-Putin call
14:53
Secret Gravehawk air defense system for Ukraine unveiled – and it's not what you'd expect
14:40
Ukraine’s parliament work blocked by MPs protesting political repression
14:21
Ukraine's role crucial in peace talks after Trump-Putin call, NATO chief says
13:56
Zelenskyy imposes sanctions against Ukraine’s former President Poroshenko
13:38
Exclusive
"Unprecedented case in nuclear energy history": Expert on Ukraine buying reactors from Bulgaria
13:15
Poland warns Ukraine not to expect NATO invitation to “fall from the sky”
12:54
Trump's ex-advisor: Kremlin drinks vodka straight from bottle after Trump-Putin talk
12:35
Around 7,000 civilians remain in Ukraine’s Pokrovsk as evacuation continues
12:15
Review
Return to pre-war borders is unrealistic: New Pentagon chief's statements at Ramstein and Ukraine's stance. Serhiy Zgurets' column
11:52
Russian forces block water and humanitarian aid deliveries to civilians in frontline areas
11:35
"Putin would say he won": Trump says he'll keep supporting Ukraine
11:16
Russian civilians evacuated to Ukraine after Russia’s deadly strike on shelter
10:54
116 clashes occur at front on Feb. 12: Russia launches over 5,000 strikes on Ukraine
10:33
European countries and Ukraine demand a say in any peace talks
More news