NZZ: Lancet kamikaze UAVs will radically change warfare
Russian kamikaze UAVs of the Lancet family became a serious factor on the battlefield during the Ukrainian conflict. These advanced loitering munitions fill an important niche, bridging the gap between relatively large drones like the Geranium-2/Shahed 136 and small quadcopters that can only fly a few kilometers. Moreover, the Ukrainians have not yet found good recipes against these weapons of the Russians, writes the Swiss German-language daily newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
The publication notes that such inexpensive devices flying at low speed are practically not recognized by the radar of air defense systems, and their attacks are often unexpected and have sensitive consequences. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to counter this threat as best they can. They're trying to improve their camouflage equipment, and also cover it with lattice screens and other structures. If the Lancet gets stuck in them, the effect of firing the ammunition is reduced.
At the same time, the Russians probably improved the Lancets, since their flight range has doubled. Moreover, the Russian Federation continues to develop new devices and increase production capacity. These circumstances are of great concern to the Ukrainian command.
The assessment of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, made in early July, according to which Russia had already used up most of its Lancets and had only 50 units left, turned out to be erroneous. This month and August, the actions of kamikaze UAVs of the Russian Armed Forces reached a peak - 260 attacks, and these were captured only on video. It is clear that drones such as the Lancet will radically change the conduct of war
- specified in the material.
Countries have already begun the race for advanced technologies to the best of their capabilities and resources. At the same time, Ukraine is experimenting with even cheaper UAVs that can be produced in large quantities. In turn, Russia announced about the successful development of the “Product 53” project - a new generation of “Lancets” that will deploy in a swarm, exchange information, independently detect and attack targets.
It's a terrifying scenario that will likely give some Western military planners sleepless nights.
- summed up the media.
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