Funded mostly by donations, underground workshops are converting civilian drones designed for hobbyists, filmmakers and farmers into lethal weapons of war
in his garage and began to make plastic tailfins. The idea was to attach them to hand grenades, turning them into miniature bombs that can be dropped from drones.
Yet the role of drones in the defence of Ukraine is growing. A Ukrainian colonel in Kyiv, speaking on condition of anonymity, says that, counting their role as reconnaissance machines for artillery, the flying robots now directly or indirectly play a part in more than 70% of Russian casualties. The hacked-together drones tend to be cheaper, and in some cases more effective, than some purpose-designed military machines. The result, says the colonel, is a “new level of war”.
Engineers describe the work as exciting. Once a design is crafted, feedback from users comes quickly. Many of the best creations are distributed to other workshops by organisers like Swat. He points to a computer file that instructs 3printers to make one particularly deadly object. A plastic encasement that holds ball bearings, it fits around an anti-tank mine, turning it into an anti-personnel weapon that can be dropped from bigger drones.
The Eyes of Army crew spends part of its time at the front, flying combat missions at night with the permission of Ukrainian commanders. Enough donations pile up for the team to now and then produce, at a cost of about $35,000, a full attack package for other civilian warriors. Besides the modified drone, this includes an off-road vehicle upgraded with light armour, a control computer with goggles, and multiple battery packs to allow the drone to fly several sorties in quick succession.
Ukrainian troops fly both machines in the heavily jammed airspace around Bakhmut, an embattled eastern city. Around 50 or so drones, from both sides, are in the sky at any one point, says an official. Operators there tell the workshop’s boss, whose pseudonym is Boevsskiy, that the7 is more resistant to Russian electronic warfare than is the Switchblade 300—though they will not go into the technical details.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Pro-war Russian military blogger wounded in car bombingPro-war Russian military blogger wounded in car bombing Russian officials blamed Ukraine and the West for the attack and said it would be treated as an act of terrorism, but no evidence was provided for the claim.
Consulte Mais informação »
Russian oil ban costs Polish oil company PKN Orlen millions a day, says boss\n\t\t\tExpert insights, analysis and smart data help you cut through the noise to spot trends,\n\t\t\trisks and opportunities.\n\t\t\n\t\tJoin over 300,000 Finance professionals who already subscribe to the FT.
Consulte Mais informação »
Ukraine accuses Russia of using phosphorous bombs in bid 'to destroy' BakhmutUkraine has accused Russian forces of using phosphorous bombs in a bid 'to destroy' the city of Bakhmut.
Consulte Mais informação »
Ukraine war latest: Russian army 'blackmailed and humiliated'; massive wave of strikes across Ukraine; hundreds evacuated from near nuclear plantCivilians have been killed in a wave of attacks overnight on cities, populated areas and military positions, the Ukrainian army has said. Watch Russians lay wreaths in memory of soldiers killed in the Second World War ahead of its Victory Day celebrations in the stream below.
Consulte Mais informação »
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly heads to US for talks on UkraineThe visit follows an escalation of Russian attacks on Ukraine on the eve of the Victory Day holiday.
Consulte Mais informação »