Ukraine has launched a large drone offensive against Russian military targets, deploying 114 uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a single night.
This marks one of the most substantial operations of its kind during the ongoing conflict. According to the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence, this large-scale UAV attack is a notable escalation in their military strategy.
The Russian Ministry of Defence (MOD) stated that the attack was largely repelled, claiming that 70 drones were shot down over Crimea, and another 43 were intercepted over the Krasnodar Territory.
Additionally, a drone was reportedly downed over the Volgograd Region, and six uncrewed attack boats were destroyed in the Black Sea by Russian aircraft.
This offensive coincides with the United States’ decision to prioritise the delivery of Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. The US had previously announced a $61 billion military aid package for Ukraine in April, which included these advanced missile systems.
The Pentagon has confirmed that these US-supplied weapons can be utilised for cross-border attacks into Russia.
The urgency of the Patriot missile system deliveries comes as part of a broader strategy to bolster Ukraine’s air defence capabilities. The US House of Representatives recently approved the military aid package, aiming to enhance Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian air strikes and ground assaults.
In response to Ukraine’s increasing military capabilities, Russia has begun targeting Ukrainian air bases. This move appears to be an attempt to hinder Ukraine from deploying their newly acquired F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, which are expected to significantly enhance their aerial combat capabilities.
It shows how useless the Russian Air Force is that they can stop a wave of remote controlled airplanes taking out their bases and refineries.
Partially that and partially it seriously raises questions about the UK air defences. We have nothing that could seriously take on 40 odd drones. Land captor would run out of missiles well before it dealt with that number and we have little in the way of other options. Typhoons only carry so many missiles and can’t be in multiple places at once.
Mass drone warfare changes how air defences need to be designed. Especially as this is just the start of their capability really developing.
Think we need a mix of GBAD (sky sabre ) and AAA systems .But the sky sabre we have are far to few in numbers .There again increase in budget and manpower would help .HMG 😞
Yep. I can see a future where we again go into an anti insurgency war but this time up against someone that is being supplied with drones from iran/China/Russia etc. Being in a remote base with little to no air defences will be a dangerous role.
Lots of us here on UKDJ have been telling “them there” to wake up and get a move on with GBAD as are other European/ Scandinavian countries. Fresh air (and i’m being a wee bit facetious) is useless for defence.
Agreed. To be fair kit has been coming through slower than we would all want but it has been arriving. I can see many of the people on here giving up as the only thing we will be getting is warm words.
To my mind, a land ceptor battery needs a “ciws” , perhaps some of the 40mm truck mounted Bofors paraded out last week, or at least some Ds30m (or whatever) also truck mounted.
Airfields need one or two mounts.
Realistically (we won’t get anything) AAA is the quickest and most viable route to combat drone swarms. Reasonable range on a 40mm Bofors.
Lasers and microwave systems possibly, but much later on.
AA
Indeed. That or a very cheap missile that do not exists.
The Tridon that BAe were showcasing is definitely more suited to a static air defence position compared to a mobile system. It primarily uses an electro-optical turret for search and tracking. Though I can almost guarantee that it can also be linked into a larger network fed by a radar data. Both Russia and Ukraine have shown that drones can be a very effective and cheap force multiplier. That simply cannot be ignored by air defenses. In fact there is a significant delta between the cost of the drone and what is being used to shoot it down. The Self… Read more »
Indeed SPAA 40mm would be a far more cost effecive drone defence.
Putin is swearing blind he’ll respond against those who help plan/program attacks on Russians. Funny how they’re “barbaric” but years of randomly mass shelling, bombing, missile & done attacks against UKR are fine.
If he does attack the US or anyone else we might then have to send in forces that defeat Russia at last.
But then he’s been making these threats since the invasion he propmised he was no planning started.
I fully concur with your comment. The UK Defences are in such run down state we couldn’t defend the Isle of Wight, never mind the British Isles.
Cobblers.
Drones are changing everything, USAF and USN already put their fighters projects on hold. Look uf the declarations of USAF general Daniel Allvin.
From breakingdefense
That is very interesting, in reality a a networked drone heavy environment, probably will not need a new single seat fighter.
So 114 Ukrainian drones deployed and Russia claims they intercepted 113. I wonder if they employ Dianne Abbott to do their maths?.
I’m going to stick with drones, rather than elaborate on ballistic missiles, quasi-ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. As I believe drones have made the biggest impact on the War in Ukraine so far. I think it was the last Azerbaijani-Armian War, was the one that opened peoples eyes on how future drone wars would look like. Where the Azerbaijani TB2s and Harops routed Armenian forces and Russian provided air defences. Roll on to the Ukraine War. I honestly believe Russia seriously and fatally undervalued how effective Ukrainian drones would be. Even though Libyan and Armenian conflicts had showed their systems… Read more »