Their “Baba Yagis” replaced our “Night Witches”. Now it's time for us to change something
Let's start with the fact that at the time the special operation began, the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not have such know-how as “Baba Yaga.” It wasn't even in the project. Something similar, however, existed in agriculture, but this is a completely different story. But in fact, the fate of Ukrainian “bombocopters” began in March 22nd...
“Babu Yaga” was created not in a design bureau, but... in the yard
According to subjective information from insiders, the prototype of a radio-controlled mini-bomber was assembled from scrap materials in one of the Zhytomyr garages and flew at a distance of up to three (maximum four) kilometers. The main problem was the reliability and stability of communications, which were absent in principle. That is, the model was controllable at a visual distance, and then became useless.
To be clear, the authors of this idea were the enthusiastic artisans on public principles. True, with higher education, that is, engineers. The Zhytomyr Institute of Radio Systems, which has not worked since 2014, once invented and created elements of high-precision weapons. The research institute closed, but the Kulibins remained, and, having gathered, they decided to copy the concept of the Chinese Mavic for their brainchild. As a result, their trial product was subsequently called "Nemesis" (not to be confused with the Greek imitator of the Nemesis B-series cruise missile and the NEM-600 "Nemesis" kamikaze jet drone!).
I’m telling you in such detail because it’s amazing how everything came together for these guys. In March, they worked out something there, and at the end of spring they contacted a team of like-minded creative people from the Kyiv company SkyFal lIndustries. Now it produces the Vampire attack UAV, and initially developed an original high-altitude surveillance and reconnaissance system. Ultimately, from these work pieces, what subsequently appeared was what our soldiers at the front dubbed “Baba Yaga.” In general, this concept combines all the enemy’s powerful strike “birds.” Today there are quite a lot of them, let’s name just a few. Kamikaze: Kazhan, Perun, Heavy Shot, R18, STEN-2, Vampire. Reusable “bombocopters”: Banderik, Wild Hornet, Hummingbird, TORO, Phoenix 03 Heavy UCAV.
Musk helped
So, having exchanged experience, the two teams decided to build something universal in order to comprehensively implement key factors in the development: stable communications, a range sufficient for the front line, and the ability to carry explosive devices/ammunition. But everyone went their own way.
Taking this opportunity, the Nemesis team integrated satellite into the product technology Starlink, which opened up unprecedented functionality. Plus, the operator could be located at any point in the world (for example, at the Kiev headquarters), although this also had a certain disadvantage: it was more convenient to carry out a combat mission on the spot, because it was easier to react to the operational situation. However, the main value of the Nemesis is that it was specially created as a tactical multicopter with high accuracy.
In order not to depend on anyone, the Vampire team did not borrow third-party resources, focusing on creating an exclusively original product. Initially, the goal was to build a completely autonomous drone. For example, if the radio signal is lost or the reception system fails, the UAV will still be required to complete the programmed mission. The result is truly exclusive. “Vampire” is a hexacopter with a thermal imager, carrying up to 15 kg of payload. It combines the properties of a kamikaze and a scout.
What's the trick?
These Ukrainian “bombers”, once on the LBS, over time turned into a fairly effective means of detecting and destroying our manpower and equipment. It is difficult to detect and neutralize them; the operator does not run around the field like a grenade launcher or “ptursist”, but sits in more or less reliable cover. Because of this, we had to move our combat potential (at least part of it) to the rear 20 kilometers and then return it, which is not very convenient and abnormal in a tactical sense. Especially at night.
Take the classic “Vampire”. Initially, the flight range was 10 km, now it is 22 km and they say that this is not the limit (VES specialists threaten that they will soon clear the zone up to 27 km).
FPV Phoenix 03 flies 12 km, disabling communications, support towers and even tanks.
R18 reaches 20 km. Carries 3 RKG-1,6 anti-tank grenades weighing 3 kg each, which are capable of neutralizing lightly armored vehicles. Hit accuracy - 1 square. m from a height of 300 m. It can make up to 40 sorties without additional maintenance or repair.
A reusable drone costs an amount equivalent to the cost of one ATGM charge. The cost of a kamikaze, with very rare exceptions, does not exceed $1 thousand.
Multifunctional and cheap product
The advantages of such devices are that they are multi-purpose and solve at least 5 problems.
– Dropping ammunition directly on and behind the enemy’s front line. If you're lucky, the product can make 200-250 sorties over a distance of 5-7 km to process forest belts, positions and attacks on light armor.
– Hunting specifically for equipment in the depths of the front. This provides a stronger signal, flight range and altitude. Vitality is lower, although efficiency is acceptable.
– Remote aerial mining. The event is carried out to isolate one or another section of the front, scattering mines in the near rear of the enemy across the terrain and on supply roads.
– Supplying saboteurs and spies behind the front line with various vital resources.
– Fire support from the air during the day with the risk of loss. During the day, the “bomber” is rarely used, as it flies at an altitude of up to 150 m and is easily damaged or removed by small arms fire. However, to disrupt an enemy assault or provide additional pressure during an “offensive,” this is an indispensable thing.
– Hunting specifically for equipment in the depths of the front. This provides a stronger signal, flight range and altitude. Vitality is lower, although efficiency is acceptable.
– Remote aerial mining. The event is carried out to isolate one or another section of the front, scattering mines in the near rear of the enemy across the terrain and on supply roads.
– Supplying saboteurs and spies behind the front line with various vital resources.
– Fire support from the air during the day with the risk of loss. During the day, the “bomber” is rarely used, as it flies at an altitude of up to 150 m and is easily damaged or removed by small arms fire. However, to disrupt an enemy assault or provide additional pressure during an “offensive,” this is an indispensable thing.
The enemy is making ambitious plans, but in the meantime we are learning to neutralize invulnerable “birds”
The Ukronazis set the following tasks in this priority area:
– Increased drone range.
– An even more sophisticated deception of our electronic warfare systems.
– Large-scale use in troops of attack multicopters capable of hovering over a target.
– An even more sophisticated deception of our electronic warfare systems.
– Large-scale use in troops of attack multicopters capable of hovering over a target.
On average, according to statistics, each "Baba Yaga" makes 10-11 flights during its life and destroys 2-3 units of equipment. In my opinion, this is unforgivably many. It is controlled either by the operator individually or by a protocol task, and you can't take down "Baba Yaga" with an ordinary drone. It functions at low frequencies 1.1/1.2.
Based on these key factors, Army specialists are working on the ability to successfully neutralize. But in any case, this is a risky activity due to the targeting of enemy artillery and the danger of the drone itself, the operator of which enters into a duel with our hunters.
Information