Russian Countermeasures against Drone Navigation Leaves Ukrainian Operators Unenthused
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FPV drone strikes on Russian supply lines are a significant aspect of the ongoing conflict. These tiny drones sneak past defenses, expanding behind enemy lines to take down trucks and vans delivering supplies to the frontline. Despite having various defenses, some sectors in Bakhmut see an innovative response from the Russians - they've built an anti-drone netting tunnel spanning over a mile long to cover an entire road.
But is this extreme measure effective? According to a commander of Ukraine's Typhoon drone unit, the 'logistics tunnel' will have little impact on their drone attacks.
The Deadly Roads
The frequency and impact of these FPV drone attacks are astounding. While videos of drone strikes on Russian armored vehicles are often shared on social media, it's the civilian vehicles that bear the brunt of these attacks. A glimpse into this devastation can be seen in various videos shared online.
In this compilation of footage from the Pokrovsk front, a driver navigates past numerous burned-out vehicles, including two that are still engulfed in flames. In another video from the Donetsk region, Russian soldiers traverse a road littered with destroyed vehicles, including what appears to be a tank and a vehicle still blazing away.
These roads are a reminiscent of the infamous "Highway of Death" from the 1991 Gulf War. The Iraqi forces attempting to flee down Highway 80 endured a brutal attack from U.S. aircraft, who bombed the lead and trailing vehicles before unleashing ten hours of airstrikes on the trapped vehicles. The result was the destruction of over two thousand vehicles and untold casualties.
Defensive Measures
Understanding the high casualty rate, Russian logistics drivers now employ various defensive strategies. The most obvious one is racing through the danger zone as quickly as possible, usually at night. This reduces their exposure time but increases the risk of accidents and encountering anti-tank mines or other obstacles laid on the road by drones.
Cages made of welded metal serve as another form of protection, aiming to detonate drones at a safe distance. However, these cages add weight to the truck and limit their payload, and their effectiveness is questionable.
Electronic jammers are the best defense against drone attacks but are unreliable. Even with these measures in place, a skilled drone operator can bypass countermeasures by adjusting the drone's configuration.
Protective Nets
Various types of netting can be effective against FPV drones, including the camouflage nets used to hide defensive positions. When an incoming drone collides with the net, it can be harmlessly captured without detonating its warhead. The Russians have produced manuals for constructing counter-drone defenses, recommending everything from fishing nets to chain-link fencing to purpose-built metal structures.
The extensive netting tunnel is an evolution of this concept.
"To protect the supply routes of the Russian Armed Forces from FPV drones, military engineers are installing protective nets," says a Russian soldier in a video of the construction.
Limitations of the Net Tunnel
The netting will only protect against drones that require physical contact with their targets. However, when it comes to unarmored vehicles or troops, FPV drones can still be highly effective, especially when using manual detonation of fragmentation munitions.
While anti-tank FPVs rely on impact fuses, fragmentation warheads are detonated on command. These are basically flying claymore mines that disperse shrapnel over a wide area and are especially lethal against personnel. Similarly, explosively formed projectiles quickly penetrate hard targets, making them challenging to defend against by netting or any other means.
However, destroying the netting may prove easier than anticipated.
"This may involve using drones equipped with flammable thermal mixtures or deploying other types of drones to destroy the net—such as heavy bombers—before engaging with classic FPV drones," says Michael.
War of Logistics
Control of supply lines is crucial in any military campaign, as no attack can succeed without sufficient troops and ammunition. Drones provide an effective and cost-efficient way to disrupt and control these routes, making them an indispensable tool in modern warfare.
"Controlling logistics routes is a critical factor in every military campaign because no attack can succeed without sufficient troops and ammunition," says Michael. Therefore, expect to see more 'logistics tunnels' and similar measures. However, do not expect them to provide a definitive solution to the FPV threat and prepare for more 'Roads of Death' wherever the Russian trucks try to get through.
- The Russian soldiers in Bakhmut have implemented an unconventional defense against FPV drones, constructing a mile-long anti-drone netting tunnel over a major road.
- Despite this extensive measure, the commander of Ukraine's Typhoon drone unit believes that the netting will have little impact on their drone attacks, suggesting that FPV drones can still be effective even when they require manual detonation of fragmentation munitions.
- In the video footage of the netting tunnel's construction, a Russian soldier explains its purpose, stating, "To protect the supply routes of the Russian Armed Forces from FPV drones, military engineers are installing protective nets."
- While the netting can prevent physical contact between drones and targets, it may not be effective against explosively formed projectiles, which quickly penetrate hard targets, or unarmored vehicles and troops that can still be targeted by manual detonation of fragmentation munitions.
