Impact of FPV drones on warfare

Impact of FPV drones on warfare

Racing Drones Turn Kamikazes: The New Face of Warfare

A year after their invention, both Ukrainian and Russian forces are already utilizing thousands of racing drones outfitted with improvised warheads. These drones, known as kamikazes, are strapped with explosives that destroy the drones themselves upon impact. The drones, officially called First Person View (FPV) drones due to the operator donning goggles that display a live video feed from the drone, are revolutionizing warfare by allowing strikes that were previously out of reach for traditional weaponry. Videos posted online showcase FPVs diving into tunnels to attack tanks or racing after speeding vehicles. Faster, more nimble, and cheaper than regular drones, FPVs are poised to transform the battlefield.

Armies have long used consumer quadcopters to drop grenades autonomously. However, FPVs require a skilled remote pilot and are purpose-built for speed and maneuverability. They can loiter as well as fly. Ukrainian inventors pioneered homemade versions of these munitions, which are now being replicated by the Russians. Assembled by volunteers or soldiers themselves using components provided by fundraisers, their electronics are simple, and commercial parts make them inexpensive to produce. The cost of one Ukrainian-made Pegasus attack drone, for instance, is a mere $462 compared to the larger and more refined SwitchBlade drones supplied by America, which cost $52,000 or more each for a smaller antipersonnel warhead. While FPVs have a lower success rate of 50%-80% in destroying targets, compared to 90% for American Javelin anti-tank missiles, their low cost more than makes up for it.

FPVs may lack long-range capabilities, but their live-feed to operators’ goggles allows them to hit targets beyond the line of sight, including those obscured by trees, buildings, ridges, or trenches. They can effectively supplement artillery attacks and are difficult to jam electronically as they rely on analog video signals to fly at low altitudes. Furthermore, FPVs can carry larger warheads than small quadcopters, which makes them capable of stopping lighter armored vehicles like personnel carriers, self-propelled guns, and trucks. Some experts believe that if deployed en masse in Ukraine, FPVs could potentially play a role similar to that of the machine gun during World War I, deterring advances and leading to a stalemate.

Efforts to increase FPV production are underway in Ukraine. Escadrone, a non-profit organization, currently produces around 1,500 drones per month and aims to ramp up production even further. However, the challenge lies in training enough operators. Operating an FPV requires dexterity and quick reflexes, and training in Ukraine takes approximately one month, with a pass rate of 60-70%. Candidates with video game skills fare better. On the other hand, Archangel, a Russian volunteer group comprising programmers, engineers, and drone instructors, claims to train FPV operators in just two weeks.

As FPVs continue to iterate, more applications for these drones are expected to emerge. New models appear on the market regularly, with both Ukraine and Russia now employing FPV dive bombers capable of launching multiple attacks. In a recent announcement by Ukraine’s Minister for Digital Transformation, the country revealed an initiative called “the Army of Drones,” which incorporates artificial intelligence to enhance target acquisition. This opens up the possibility of autonomous FPVs that do not require skilled operators, are immune to radio jamming, and can be launched in swarms, significantly improving their success rate.

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Not only are Ukraine and Russia exploring the potential of FPVs, but other countries are expressing interest as well. In November, America’s Department of Defense solicited information from defense contractors based on the Ukrainian experience. While NATO’s stringent certification process for components may slow down adoption within its member countries, smaller nations with limited defense budgets, as well as non-government actors, may eagerly learn from the Ukrainians. With FPVs representing a disruptive technological advancement in warfare, the future battlefield landscape is set to change, necessitating a reevaluation of traditional defense strategies.