The New Hunters: FPV Drones as Tank Killers on Ukrainian Frontlines
The battlefield is morphing. What was once a domain ruled by hulking steel beasts is now being reshaped by something far smaller, far more agile. We’re witnessing a tactical shift in real-time, played out in the wheat fields and shattered towns of Ukraine. Here, Ukrainian forces are leveraging the power of First-Person View (FPV) drones to neutralize Russian armor, turning a once-dominant threat into vulnerable targets. The videos analyzed for this report lay bare this new reality. These aren’t the sterile, detached views from high-altitude Predators or Reapers. These are intimate, visceral glimpses into the hunt, often from the drone’s own perspective as it closes in on its prey: a Russian tank, unaware of the danger descending from above. The imagery is stark, the implications profound. We see Russian armored columns falter, their crews caught in a desperate scramble as these small, nimble hunters strike. We see the human element of the machine – a crew is a son, a father, a person with hopes and dreams. And yet, they are a cog in the machine of war. We see an inferno of the consequences of actions, and are left to think about the ethics of the whole situation. The destruction is a symbol of the shift in war. This page delves into the tactics, the technology, and the stark realities of this evolving warfare, focusing specifically on how Ukrainian FPV drones are being deployed to counter the Russian armored threat, changing the game and potentially influencing the outcome of this conflict.
Tactical Adaptation: Russian tank crews, initially leading assaults, are now holding back, using tanks for support rather than spearheading attacks. This indicates a shift in tactics in response to the perceived threat of FPV drones. Russian armored units are adjusting their strategies in response to the effectiveness of Ukrainian FPV drones. They are also showing signs of disorganization and poor coordination, as highlighted in incidents where Russian tanks collided with each other during an attempted assault.
Psychological Warfare: The constant threat of drone attacks is visibly impacting Russian morale. Footage shows crews abandoning disabled vehicles and fleeing on foot, indicating a high level of fear and uncertainty.
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Combined Arms: The videos showcase effective integration of FPV drones with other weapon systems like artillery and anti-tank mines. This combined arms approach maximizes the impact of each system, creating a layered defense that is difficult for Russian forces to overcome. Ukrainian forces are integrating FPV drones with traditional military assets like Bradley IFVs, artillery, and anti-tank mines. This synergy amplifies the effectiveness of each component, presenting a formidable challenge to Russian advances.
Cost-Effectiveness: The use of relatively inexpensive FPV drones to destroy multi-million dollar tanks highlights a significant cost disparity, potentially offering a sustainable advantage to Ukrainian forces in a protracted conflict. FPV drones represent a cost-effective solution for Ukraine, with each drone costing significantly less than the armored vehicles they target. This asymmetry could provide Ukraine with a strategic advantage in terms of resource allocation and sustainability in warfare.
Urban Warfare Implications: One video showed the specific use-case of adapting to urban fighting. We see here how Ukrainian drone operators target exposed Russian infantry sheltering inside structures with heavier FPV drones equipped with explosives. This approach is not just targeting but also degrading Russian infantry in newly established positions and settlements. This capability will have broader implications for the continued fight in built up areas.
A Glimpse into the Future of Conflict
The success of Ukrainian forces in deploying FPV drones against Russian armor raises questions about the future of armored warfare. Are tanks becoming obsolete in the face of such agile and precise threats? The adaptability of this technology – from reconnaissance to targeted strikes to urban warfare – suggests a significant shift in the character of combat. While traditional armor still holds a place on the battlefield, its dominance is clearly being challenged. The integration of artificial intelligence and autonomous capabilities into drone technology could further amplify their effectiveness, potentially leading to a future where swarms of autonomous drones overwhelm traditional defenses, and humans make decisions outside the immediate kill chain. The implications are far-reaching, extending beyond the immediate conflict and demanding a reevaluation of military strategies and procurement priorities worldwide.
The Hunters and the Hunted
The videos highlighted on this page offer a stark portrayal of a new era in warfare. The hunter and the hunted, the powerful and the vulnerable, the costly and the cost-effective – all redefined through the lens of FPV technology. As you delve deeper into the content below, consider the tactical, strategic, and human dimensions of this evolving conflict. This isn’t just about technology; it’s about how innovation, adaptation, and courage are shaping the battlefields of today and tomorrow. The age of the tank is far from over, but its invincibility is undoubtedly being tested, one FPV drone strike at a time. We will explore the future of the Russian armor’s vulnerabilities to these agile and precise threats as warfare tactics continue to evolve and what this means for the future of conflict.
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Ukrainian soldiers finish off a Russian tank using an FPV drone 🔥 #warinukraine #tanksUNITED24455,573 views | 16,419 | July 10 2024 20:00:12 (314 comments)[ Read more … ]
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23 May: RUSSIANS DECIMATED! Ukrainians Launch Successful Counterattacks! | War in Ukraine ExplainedReporting from Ukraine352,155 views | 31,124 | May 24 2024 03:45:00 (707 comments)[ Read more … ]
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I am Ukrainian. My country has been invaded by Russia. In this video, I will tell you what happened on the eight-hundred-twentieth day of the war.
Day 820: May 23
Today, there are a lot of developments in the Avdiivka direction.
Here, Ukrainians have halted the Russian breakthrough and commenced counterattacks to regain lost positions.
The main Russian objective to the west of Avdiivka is to take control over the Ukrainian city and headquarters of Pokrovsk. Ukrainians have established numerous defensive lines to defend the city. As Russians had taken huge losses in attacking the Ukrainian lines head-on, they attempted to utilize their breakthrough near Ocheretyne to outflank the Ukrainian defenses and collapse the frontline.
Over the past month, Russian forces have leveraged their breakthrough near Ocheretyne to take control over as many settlements as possible. Ukrainians, initially still suffering from a significant shortage of artillery shells, utilized intense drone strikes to halt the Russian momentum. At the same time, the Russian offensive effort near Chasiv-Yar and Kharkiv limited the Russian ability to reinforce their losses in the salient adequately. With insufficient reinforcements and a high rate of losses, the Russian offensive is quickly stalling.
Despite their quickly draining combat capabilities, Russians continued to attempt localized attacks to improve their tactical situation and consolidate their gains. In particular, Russians tried to increase their buffer zone south-west of Ocheretyne by attacking toward the settlements of Sokil and Novopokrovske. Towards Novopokrovske, Russian infantry assault groups advanced through the tree lines with the support of numerous tanks.
Drone operators from the 47th mechanized brigade released geolocated footage of a Russian assault consisting of 2 armored personnel carriers and a T-90M tank. Interestingly, the Russian tank was not leading the assault group and was instead held back for support. The first armored personnel carrier then promptly drove over an anti-tank mine and was destroyed on impact. Russian infantry on the second armored transport then quickly dismounted and attempted to take cover while Ukrainian artillery opened fire on their positions.
The Russian attacks toward Sokil went similarly; Russian assault groups transported by armored personnel carriers attacked the settlement of Sokil. The armored transports drove over mines, whereafter, the infantry dismounted and were engaged by Ukrainian artillery. However, here, Russian assault groups managed to take up positions in the clearing halfway down the road. Another failed Russian assault was also halted halfway, but this time with an FPV kamikaze drone. Ukrainian artillery crews then opened fire on the remaining Russian infantry with cluster munitions. Ukrainians also deployed a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle to finish off the Russian vehicle together with the infantry.
After the attacks, Ukrainians decided to degrade the Russian infantry, not only in their newly established positions but also in the settlements themselves. Geolocated footage shows how Ukrainian drone operators intensely targeted Russian infantry with FPV kamikaze drones during the day and drone-dropped grenades at night. Ukrainians also detected a large group of infantry moving into one of the houses to take shelter there. Ukrainians later detected many more of these shelters and equipped their FPV drones with heavy explosives to effectively collapse and destroy these buildings. Besides destroying all Russian infantry inside, collapsing…
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Ukrainian Drones Chase Russian Tanks. These Attacks Were Thwarted by FPV DronesUNITED243,333,201 views | 37,112 | November 12 2024 18:21:03 (2,522 comments)[ Read more … ]
In this video, we’ll show you how Ukrainian forces destroy Russian weaponry in the battles for Ukraine. You’ll witness explosions of Russian tanks, detonations of armored vehicles, Himars strikes, Javelin usage, and much more.
#warinukraine #russia #war #dronevideo
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Russian tanks crash into each-other in humiliating new footage of failed attack in DonetskDaily Mail286,446 views | 3,952 | February 5 2024 13:26:31 (308 comments)[ Read more … ]
Humiliating new footage has emerged of a failed Russian armoured attack on Novomykhalivka which shows how tanks crashed into one-another before Ukrainian drones blew them up. Video shows the column getting into a mess as it assembles for the attack, leaving one tank disabled in the field after it crashed into another. Things then go from bad to worse as Ukrainian drones arrive – disabling more vehicles, with crews running for their lives. With the attack over before it even began, yet more Ukrainian FPV drones fly in to finish off the abandoned vehicles. More video shows the attack from the drone’s point of view, with dozens of the cheap craft used to blow up expensive military equipment. As video of the failed attack spread online, Russian war bloggers reacted with a mixture of disbelief and fury. Novomykhalivka is located on the outskirts of Donetsk city, which is occupied by Russia. Putin’s troops are trying to push out from the city and capture surrounding towns, but so-far have met limited success. They have taken Marinka, but have expended huge amounts of men and armour trying and failing to seize Avdiivka.
#Russia #Ukraine #War
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Bradley IFVs messing up Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for eight minutes straightDaily Mail396,485 views | 4,387 | July 23 2024 13:06:31 (261 comments)[ Read more … ]
US Bradley fighting vehicles have proven extremely effective as Ukraine battles to stop the Russian invasion of the country. Video taken by the 47th Brigade somewhere near the town of Sokil shows at least two Bradleys stopping a Russian assault. The Russians have landed troops in a tree-line belonging to the Ukrainians, and the 47th sent Bradleys to fight them back. Video shows the tree-line lighting up with fire from the Bradleys’ Bushmaster chain guns, firing high-explosive shells.
As one Bradley stops shooting the other takes up the fire, keeping the Russians suppressed as they both go in for a closer look. The 47th is the main Ukrainian brigade using the Bradleys, which featured heavily in fighting around Avdiivka. During that battle two of the vehicles were able to take out one of Russia’s best tanks, the T-90M. The Bradleys were able to blind the tank’s sensors, causing it to crash before a drone finished it off. Avdiivka was eventually captured by Russia, so the Bradleys refocused on stopping Russia’s advance to the west of the city. The armoured vehicles were used to wipe out Russian BTRs and the troops they were carrying into battle. Again, their chain guns proved lethally effective against the BMPs notoriously thin armour and against infantry. Particularly heavy fighting happened in the town of Berdychi, where the Russians were held up for weeks without moving forward. Ultimately the Russians have been making slow gains in the area, but the Bradleys have ensured it has come at a high cost. The first time the Bradleys appeared in Ukraine was during Kyiv’s counter-attack in the south last summer. They helped captured the town of Berdychi from Russia. It was hoped the vehicles would prove effective at breaking Russian lines, but they ultimately fell short of this goal. However, they undoubtedly helped save the lives of their crews while inflicting heavy losses on their enemies. #BradleyIVF #Bradley #russia #ukraine #war
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Fight for Donetsk: 79th Air Assault Brigade smashes Russian armoured columnsDaily Mail131,731 views | 2,529 | July 28 2024 13:31:09 (161 comments)[ Read more … ]
The paratroopers recently stopped one of the largest assaults of the war on a town to the west of Donetsk city called Kurakhove. Russia attacked with 45 armoured vehicles and tanks, 12 motorbikes and 200 troops, but were stopped dead in their tracks by the men of the 79th. Drone footage captured huge Russian columns rolling into battle. They were immediately spotted and targeted by the 79th.
Landmines caused the advancing columns to snarl up. Before drones moved in to finish off the remaining vehicles. Grenade-dropping drones took care of any remaining troops. A huge explosion occurred, likely when a tank full of ammo was hit. It is not the first time the 79th have stopped a large Russian attack. On July 18, another Russian column was destroyed. Three tanks were destroyed and two IFVs were damaged. Video shows the column advancing within shooting distance of the 79th’s trenches, before being hit with anti-tank rockets. Disabled vehicles were then finished off by FPV drones. The 79th has been based in Donetsk oblast, just to the west of Donetsk city, for months.
Russia has been trying to advance in this direction since the start of the year. President Putin is hoping to capture the whole of the region from Ukraine. And his troops have been making some progress, particularly around Avdiivka. However, Ukraine has made his army pay a terrible price for the advances. British intelligence reported that Russian casualties are now at their highest rate since the war began – more than 1,000 men killed or wounded per day. And this footage from the 79th shows why.
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Fight for Donetsk: 79th Air Assault Brigade smashes Russian armoured columns
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