As the fighting in Idlib shows, attack using unmanned aerial vehicles in modern conditions is becoming one of the most effective air operations against ground targets. Naturally, the question arises about, how to resist it.
Unmanned aircraft, being one of the relatively new air force tools, it is no coincidence that it is becoming more widespread. Relatively inexpensive compared to UAVs not only save money, but also minimize human loss. UAVs have no crews, accordingly, there is no one to die in the event of a strike by enemy aircraft or air defense.
One of the most famous examples of the use of drones to attack land and sea targets were the events in the Persian Gulf. Yemeni Hussites with the help of drones attacked oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, which are at least 900 km from Yemen. Drones completed mission reconnaissance missions, and then hit. In addition to drones, cruise missiles also participated in the Hussite attack, which hit already set goals.
Interestingly, Saudi Arabia, which spends a lot of money on defense and surpasses most countries of the world in its military budget, was unable to repel these attacks. The air defense system did not respond, and oil facilities were hit, causing tremendous damage to the Saudi economy.
In Syria, with the help of drones, militants of radical groups have repeatedly tried to attack the Russian air base Hmeimim. Fortunately, unlike saudi air defense systems, our anti-aircraft missile systems worked effectively: enemy drones were struck on approach to the base and couldn’t drop bombs on its territory. But then Turkish drones in Idlib proved to be very effective.
Turkey pays great attention to the development of unmanned aircraft and has a large number of drones. Therefore, as soon as the situation in Idlib escalated, Turkish Armed Forces launch regular attacks on Syrian government forces with UAV.
That played a role here, that Syrian airspace was closed to Turkish aircraft. Therefore, the Turks attacked with drones and caused very great damage to the Syrian troops with these attacks.: UAVs hit military columns, checkpoints and even for individual military vehicles.
Now, from the use of single drones, they are moving to attack tactics with their swarm. With certain control from the ground, drones can line up in battle formation. So far, these are very primitive figures and short-lived actions., but with the development of artificial intelligence, the possibilities of attack by a swarm of drones will also improve.
Its undoubted advantages are, that a large number of unmanned aerial vehicles are involved in it. At the same time, small drones are the most dangerous, which are extremely difficult to detect on air defense radars. If they act in a swarm, then the air defense forces simply will not be able to repel the simultaneous attack of dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The great danger of the spread of such tactics lies in the fact, that drones actively use not only the armed forces of states, but also non-state, including terrorist armed groups. Thereby, terrorist actions take on a whole new look, their devastating effects are seriously increasing. Respectively, new challenges arise for the air defense forces - to improve their technical and tactical capabilities to repel attacks as separate drones, and UAV groups.
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One of the main tools to counter the attack of drones are electronic intelligence, drone control channels. Besides, development of means for suppressing control channels of unmanned aerial vehicles is necessary. With their help, drones can be disabled long before, how did they reach the goal.
Naturally, air defense weapons need further development. Now the most effective against drones are the Pantsir-C1 complexes, as for complexes such as S-400, then their use against UAVs is unprofitable: one rocket, launched from S-400, can cost like hundreds of drones, especially when it comes to drones, manufactured by terrorists in semi-artisanal conditions. The use of electronic suppression means also becomes an effective defense of the environment.. Intercepting control of an enemy drone is ultimately capable of harming the enemy, including damage to the technology plan.
Ilya Polonsky
