Soldiers Concerned as Russia Outpaces Ukraine in Drone Technology
In the Donetsk region of Ukraine, soldiers piloting small assault drones are expressing their worries about falling behind their adversaries. Despite being pioneers in the use of these drones, soldiers believe that Russia’s investments in its drone sector are giving them the upper hand.
The utilization of agile First Person View (FPV) drones has proven to be a successful low-cost strategy for Ukraine in defending itself against Russia’s potential invasion. Originally designed for racing by hobbyists, these drones have been modified to carry explosives, which has had devastating effects on the battlefield.
Both countries regularly release onboard camera footage from FPVs, which cost only a few hundred dollars, showcasing their ability to target and destroy enemy tanks and radar systems worth millions.
During a test flight in eastern Donetsk, the drone pilots from the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade, currently fighting near Bakhmut, expressed their concerns about Russia’s growing dominance in the drone sector. According to “Komrad,” a 34-year-old drone platoon commander, Russia’s continuous production and supply of drones, specifically for reconnaissance, surveillance, and strikes, have given them an advantage.
While assessing the exact number of Russian FPVs is challenging, Komrad estimates that Russia has about twice as many drones as Ukraine in his sector of the front. He emphasized the game-changing nature of drones in the war and the difficulties they would face if they were unable to keep up.
Komrad’s crew can conduct up to 40 strike missions per day, but due to a lack of drones, the number is often significantly lower.
Yizhak, a 57-year-old former business executive and senior sergeant of the brigade’s drone company, explained that sometimes they have identified ten targets but only have two or three drones available. This results in missed opportunities as they lack the necessary resources to strike all the targets.
Russia has significantly increased its production of FPV drones this year. A state-owned defense enterprise announced plans to manufacture up to 3,000 drones per month starting in May. Additionally, volunteer groups and the defense sector are also contributing to the expansion of drone production.
Ukraine’s government has funded the production of larger, longer-range drones for reconnaissance and assault. However, the majority of small, battlefield-level drones have been acquired through civic organizations and private donations throughout the war. Although the state is now supplying some FPV drones, the pilots of the 80th Brigade claim that this is still the case.
Ukraine’s Digital Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, revealed that overall aerial drone production in Ukraine has increased by more than 100 times in 2023. Another minister stated that Ukraine aims to produce “dozens of thousands” of drones per month by the end of this year.
Yizhak believes that with the government’s support in large-scale manufacturing of drones, the balance of the war could shift in Ukraine’s favor.
