China showcases new drone warfare tactics amid global concerns
All the countries worldwide are closely monitoring the conflict in Ukraine and concluding. A key aspect of this war is the use of drones, and similar FPV drone strike units are being formed by the Chinese. Here's a demonstration of their application.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China has released a video showcasing a strike unit using FPV drones. The demonstration took place on a specially constructed obstacle course, with tasks that included attacking other drones with nets, ramming objects in the air, and conducting attacks into buildings through windows.
In this demonstration, several drones participated in the attack, with the first breaking a window and the others flying inside to destroy mannequins with explosions. The footage also shows an attack on fortified positions, like a machine gun nest or a driver in a vehicle. The entire operation looked impressive, though each FPV drone had its own pilot.
FPV drones — a new nightmare for soldiers on the battlefield
Racing drones of the FPV type, named for First Person View, have become in Ukraine the second most prioritized tool, after artillery, for combating vehicles like even T-90M tanks and targeting individual soldiers.
Initially, these were civilian constructs stripped of their housing, but over time, mass production using DIY (Do It Yourself) drone parts developed in both Ukraine and Russia. Essentially, the needed components include a frame, a battery, a control system with an antenna, electric motors with rotors, and a camera.
The end product was a drone that cost a few hundred dollars. It can carry a payload of about 7 pounds, such as the PG-7VL grenade, which can penetrate 20 inches of armor. With a larger battery, the drone's range extends to about 6 miles.
FPV drones — over time they've needed a "cable" or AI
However, over time, both sides developed effective electronic warfare systems that severely limited their use, prompting the search for alternatives. Currently, there are two active strategies. The cheaper option involves using drones connected to the control station via deployable fiber optic cables. This method ensures resistance to interference but significantly restricts range.
The other approach involves adding computing systems using artificial intelligence algorithms to the drones. This allows for a fully autonomous attack on a target designated by the pilot in the final few dozen or few hundred feet. This is the most expensive solution, but Ukrainians have already seen promising results.
Defending against such drones is challenging, and so far, no one has found the perfect solution in sufficient quantity. It's no wonder that China, also with its own ambitions, is developing this low-cost, precision means of warfare.
