Ukraine mastered a new strategy to take down Russian recon drones

8 were recently downed by one brigade

Video footage recorded by Ukrainian forces has revealed how effective one brigade has become at shooting down Russian reconnaissance drones flying over the battlefield.

A disruptive new technology

Reconnaissance drones are one of the many new technologies that have transformed warfare and made the battlefield more dangerous than in previous large-scale conflicts.

The frontline is saturated

On February 6th, The Economist reported that the battlefields in Ukraine have become “saturated with surveillance drones live streaming video footage in real-time.”

Everyone can see everything

“Everyone can see pretty much everything. Armies are having to work out how to fight on what is being called the transparent battlefield,” The Economist continued.

The danger of some tactical drones

Some tactical drones have ranges upwards of 200 kilometers (124 miles) and can spot soldiers at night using thermal imaging. Some of these drones even carry weapons.

Seeing the enemy is easier than ever

Surveying defensive positions and hidden artillery emplacements has never been easier on the battlefield, but both sides have found a way to fight back against recon drones.

Ukraine has been fighting back

Ukraine in particular has been developing counter-drone systems, which include unique interceptor platforms designed to target and destroy Russian reconnaissance drones.

A new kind of warfare in the air

Combat footage of encounters between Ukrainian interceptor drones and Russian recon drones has been slowly making its way online and revealing this new kind of air warfare.

Photo Credit: Telegram @ssternenko

The 80th Air Assault Brigade

On February 22nd, Ukraine’s 80th Air Assault Brigade revealed its growing talents when it comes to using interceptor drones after posting a video that included 8 drone downings.

Photo Credit: Telegram @brigade80

Using cheap drone interceptors

The 80th Air Assault Brigade’s drone pilots used inexpensive first-person view drones in their missions according to the Ukrainian military news website Militarnyi.

Photo Credit: Telegram @brigade80

The brigade took down 8 recon drones

Among the Russian reconnaissance drones knocked out of the sky were three types of high-profile drones, including Supercam, Zala, and Orlan-10 reconnaissance drones.

Photo Credit: Telegram @brigade80

A successful strategy

Militarnyi noted Ukraine has had a lot of success using first-person view drones to target recon drones. The 93rd Mechanized Brigade shot down 50 drones in September 2024.

Photo Credit: Telegram @ssternenko

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