In the Russia-Ukraine war, drones have almost become a normalized weapon of choice, with millions of small attack drones produced and used by both sides each year. In addition to using artillery and bombs, Russia has also utilized drones extensively. One well-known example is the suicide drones provided by Iran, including the ZALA “Swallow” loitering munition.
The Swallow drone has a flying range of less than 30 kilometers and has played a significant role on the front lines, primarily used by the Russian military to attack various Ukrainian artillery systems and air defense systems. For Ukrainian forces, the Swallow drone poses a major threat, leading them to continuously research ways to counter it.
Compared to passive defense, active defense can be more effective. Starting in 2024, the Ukrainian military began using enhanced First Person View (FPV) drones to intercept Russian surveillance drones and Swallow drones in the sky. The FPV drones aggressively collide with these unmanned aircraft, effectively neutralizing them, thus serving as an active defense measure. The use of FPV for active interception has proven effective, as the frequency of Russian military drone strikes has sharply decreased in recent months.
Despite Russia’s reaction to the lifting of missile restrictions by the United States and the United Kingdom, by deploying the Hazelnut medium-range hypersonic missile, Ukraine remains undeterred. The Ukrainian military continues to launch ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles and Storm Shadow cruise missiles to target Russian interests, while France has also lifted restrictions on the use of SCALP-EG cruise missiles. Within less than a week, the Ukrainian forces have launched a total of 33 ATACMS, Storm Shadow, or SCALP missiles against targets in Russia proper, once again pushing the red lines.
While the United States is investing in developing expensive laser weapons, it also places emphasis on developing various means to intercept drones. The Coyote anti-drone system, developed by Raytheon Technologies Corporation, is a loitering attack munition. This compact drone can be deployed from vehicles, ships, or helicopters, not only serving as a loitering munition against enemy targets but also capable of intercepting drones, showcasing its versatility.
On October 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded a $250 million contract to Anduril Industries for the purchase of 500 sets of reusable Kestrel interceptors and portable Counter-Pulse Electronic Warfare equipment to defend against drone attacks targeting the U.S. military.
For video content, visit:
Clean World Channel:
https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/QbjYDNxOJB
Mark Space Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/馬克時空-Mark-Space
Mark Space Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/markspace5/
Mark Space X Platform:
https://twitter.com/Mark__Space
Program Production by Mark Space.