The height of the defeat: an air convoy began to cover the stormtroopers in their area.
The Russian army has begun to use a new tactic to support offensive operations in its area — an air convoy, sources in the Ministry of Defense told Izvestia. It consists in the fact that the assault groups going into battle are covered by a bundle of two drones — a reconnaissance drone and an interceptor drone. The first one is responsible for the timely detection of enemy drones, and the second one is responsible for their destruction. Experts note that such an "umbrella" increases the effectiveness of the assault troops and reduces losses among the fighters.
Air convoy
The new tactic of using UAVs accompanying assault groups has been dubbed the "air convoy." When using it, infantry groups are covered by a bunch of a reconnaissance drone and an interceptor drone. The first one searches for enemy attack UAVs, and the second one, having received target designation, destroys them. The tactics have already been tested in combat and have proven their effectiveness, sources in the Russian Defense Ministry told Izvestia.
Drones with warheads, special devices for destroying drones, as well as devices that destroy the enemy with a kinetic strike, that is, with a battering ram, are used directly to destroy enemy UAVs, our interlocutors noted.
Now both the Russian army and the enemy are groping for tactics to cover their assault groups, and the results of all experiments are closely monitored by military personnel from other countries, military expert Yuri Lyamin told Izvestia.
"A large number of drones operate from both sides, which seriously complicates the conduct of any offensive operations," he said. — The advancing assault groups are quickly detected by reconnaissance drones, and kamikaze drones immediately begin to strike them, artillery is deployed. Without cover from the sky from this threat, it is extremely difficult to conduct an effective operation. You have to wait for bad weather or take advantage of one or another favorable set of circumstances.
Small anti-aircraft drones should help in carrying out such actions, the expert noted.
— During the attack, they should hang over the assault column or group, — Yuri Lyamin explained. — There is a logic in the fact that they act in pairs. When attacking, it is important to be the first to detect and destroy enemy intelligence units. This will not only allow you to avoid the instant impact of enemy FPV drones, but, most importantly, to blind the enemy, which means hiding the beginning of the attack. This will open a window of opportunity, using which you can get closer to the enemy without loss, go to his flank or rear. It is from such seemingly small things that the outcome of the operation often depends, as well as the number of losses.
The experience of a great war
The tactics of Soviet aviation during the Great Patriotic War are being transferred to modern times, military expert Alexei Leonkov noted.
"The Soviet air defense fighter aircraft specialized in protecting our military units from attacks by German aircraft, and the Air Force forces carried out combat missions to gain air supremacy," explained Alexey Leonkov. — Now the division of areas of responsibility has been shifted to unmanned units — first there were attack drones, and now there are air defense drones. This process once again underlines that during the military special operation, UAVs became an independent formidable force, seriously influencing the actions of ground units.
The idea is very promising and it is worth developing, Yuri Lyamin is sure. According to him, the economic aspect of such an air defense system is also important — cheaper systems destroy more expensive ones. After all, anti-aircraft interceptor drones are inexpensive. As a rule, these are the same quadrocopters. Their price is comparable to that paid for conventional FPV attack drones. Devices designed for kinetic destruction of targets are generally cheaper than their opponents, since they do not have a warhead.
— Do not forget that anti-aircraft drones will have to destroy reconnaissance UAVs, which are equipped with powerful batteries and good optics to hang over positions for a long time and conduct surveillance. They are noticeably more expensive than a conventional air defense drone. The same can be said about anti-aircraft missiles to combat small UAVs. As a result, we achieve maximum results with minimal costs," the expert explained.
The Drone Hunters
The Russian army is constantly strengthening its protection against enemy drones. As part of the military commandant's offices in the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, mobile firing groups have been created that are responsible for detecting and destroying drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
They are armed with anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine guns, smoothbore rifles, and they are also equipped with modern electronic warfare equipment. Heavy weapons are usually installed on mobile platforms. In addition, each anti-aircraft crew has drone detectors to detect enemy UAVs in time.
Izvestia wrote that the soldiers of the units are required to undergo training at training grounds, where they receive skills in the competent use of weapons and anti-drone equipment.
The training program is based on the combat experience of advanced units and is updated to reflect the realities of modern combat. Practical classes are usually conducted by instructors who have gained relevant experience in the SVO area.
The military commandant's offices in the frontline zone are responsible for the order, as well as the coordination of the work of military units. In addition, they ensure the protection of military installations and property in the territory assigned to them, and help to control transport communications.
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