File image.
The Russian military has begun to equip its reconnaissance drones with a special system that allows them to maneuver to evade incoming drone interceptors.
To make up for a shortage in air defenses, Kiev forces expanded the use of interceptor drones over the last year. However, the new Russian system appears to be very effective against this threat.
Three videos posted to social networks on June 3 showed Russian ZALA Z-16 and Albatros M5 reconnaissance drones equipped with the new protection system successfully evading Ukrainian interceptor drones over the special military operation zone.
The Z-16 and M5 are among the most used drones by the Russian military for reconnaissance along and behind the front. The first has an endurance of over 12 hours and an operational range of 150 kilometers, while the second can stay in the air for up to 4,5 hours and operate within a radius of 300 kilometers.
The protection system installed on the drones seen in the footage is reportedly made up of an upward-facing camera equipped with an automated identification system capable of detecting incoming drones. Once a threat is detected, the drone equipped with the system executes automatic evasive maneuvers in real time, without operator input.
Interceptor drones, mostly especially-built FPV quadcopter, are highly maneuverable. However, they have a limited endurance, no real tracking capabilities and use a hit-to-kill method to take down their target. Thus, hitting a maneuvering drone with more endurance is near impossible, and a miss could constitute a complete failure for the interceptor that will likely lose all of its power while trying to catch up.
The system was first tested on the Z-16, then was fitted to the M5. More reconnaissance drones will likely be equipped with the system in the near future.
Combined with electronic warfare means, the new system could significantly boost the survivability of Russian drones in the special military operation zone.
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