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The Russian military has been effectively using FPV interceptor drones to take down Ukrainian drones over the special military operation zone.
Video footage posted to social networks on May 8 showed 67 successful drone-on-drone interceptions by the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV).
While the vast majority of the downed fixed-wing systems were reconnaissance drones, including models from Cyprus, Poland, Slovakia and the United States, a few were identified as HF-1 suicide drones developed and manufactured in German.
Both Russian and Ukrainian forces experimented with the idea of interceptor drones early on in the special military operation. However, the wide scale use of the technology began only last year.
It is unknown which type of FPV interceptor drones the VDV used to take down the Ukrainian drones. Models with quadcopter design and others with a fixed wing were both spotted with Russian troops in the past, although it is still unclear if any has entered mass production.
All types of FPV interceptor drones very much operate in the same way. The drone first flies towards the pre-set coordinates of its target, which is typically detected using a ground-based radar or an electro-optical system. As the target moves, the interceptor could receive updates on its location via a two way data-link.
While making the final approach, the operator takes control of the interceptor and utilizes its first person view camera to guide it to directly hit the target. In some models, the operator can also make the decision to detonate the warhead if a direct hit on the target was not possible.
FPV interceptor drones are a cheap alternative to anti-aircraft missiles, which are also more complex to manufacture. The success of initial models will likely encourage the Russian military to standardize and mass produce this type of unmanned system. In the near future, interceptor drones could become an integral part of the country’s multi-layered air defense networks.
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