The unexpected inability of the Russian army to carry out effective offensive actions has stunned Western specialists. However, the analyses indicate well-planned actions from the Ukrainian side. Impacts on the enemy's supply routes and elimination of quartermastership vehicles proved to be a very effective maneuver in slowing down the opponent's attack. Unmanned aircraft, mainly Turkish production, played a peculiar function in this activity. Below we briefly describe how they are utilized by the Ukrainian Air Force.
Analysis
More about our evaluation system:Unexpected Hero – Bayraktar TB2
Especially useful during armed actions in Ukraine proved Turkish production machines, or drones Bayraktar TB2. Many specialists He was afraid.whether they will be able to act in connection with the strong anti-aircraft defence of Russian troops (e.g. modern set Pancyr-S1). However, so far, unmanned workers are doing highly well, effectively hitting the supply lines of the opponent.
Operational capabilities
Drone Bayraktar TB2 is simply a mass-produced reconnaissance-fighting unmanned flying apparatus. It was developed by the Turkish company Baykar Makina. Its dimension is 6.5 metres and its wingspan is 12 metres. The cruising velocity is 130 km/h and the maximum is 220 km/h. The maximum ceiling is 8,200 metres. The combat drones were utilized by Turkey in Syria, Azerbaijan in Mountain Karabach or government forces in Libya. In all conflict, they showed their effectiveness, although they did not gotta face as large a challenge as the war in Ukraine.
Bayraktar TB2 in colors of the Ukraine Air Force. Source: Ministry of Defence of UkraineTB2 drones may carry weapons in the form of MAM glider bombs. In the versions “C” and “L” they are laser guided. Furthermore, their most crucial function is likely to be the ability to direct artillery precisely. Bayraktary have advanced night-to-night optics and modern tracking systems. They may indicate targets for the production rockets of the Ukrainian Wilcha and Wilcha-M type, which fired are by means of BM-30 Smurf kits.
Wilch-M rocket tests. Source: twitter.comUse by the Ukraine Air Force
Ukraine before the outbreak of war has most likely about 20 Bayraktars. Here are any examples of the operational usage of these unmanned vehicles. We will pay peculiar attention to the choice of targets. It presents well the tactics taken by the Ukrainian Air Force staff to usage drones during the defensive war. All visually documented Russian losses from Bayraktar TB2 drones can be found on Oryx's blog. Here. an updated list is available. At this point, it is worth noting that these harm done by unmanned workers are only part of all the losses they have caused.
How indicate Specialists, 1 of the main reasons for the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones is the inability of the Russian Federation Air Force. The deficiency of complete air dominance importantly affects the safety of supply convoys. Russian predominance is limited to any parts of Ukraine. Impacts on Ukrainian air bases proved ineffective, leaving a large part of runways and equipment in use. Besides, how indicates Robert Lee of the American abroad Policy investigation Institute:
“(...) it does not appear that the anti-aircraft defence [Russian troops—rev. ed.], escorting ground forces, is well prepared to face TB2. It is unclear why specified a situation arises.”
Disposal of anti-aircraft defense
One of the main targets for the Bayraktars is the Russian anti-aircraft defense. due to them. Small radar echoes, they are the perfect way to hit the ground-to-air kits in the rear of the opponent's troops. For now. confirmed demolition of at least 9 specified sets by Ukrainian drones. Among them located among another things, the already mentioned modern Pancyr-S1. See below videoOn which Bayraktar destroys the Russian BUK anti-aircraft rocket launcher. specified actions of the Ukraine Air Force are 1 of the reasons why the Russians are incapable to dominate the skies over the invaded country.
TB2 is tracking the BUK anti-aircraft kit. Source: twitter.comImpacts on supply lines
What gives the top impression about the operation of Ukrainian drones is their large freedom in destroying enemy logistics. Confirmed demolition of at least 24 supply and method vehicles. This importantly disrupts the activity of the Russian troops' quartermastership. In conjunction with the actions of another individuals and subdivisions, it should not be amazing that we are seeing a crucial disturbance in the enemy supply chain.
However, the most interesting “conquer” Bayraktars are most likely destruction at least 1 train with tanks filled with fuel for the Russian Army. This is highly awesome due to the fact that it took place in the deep back of the opponent. This failure was peculiarly severe, as supplies of Russian troops very heavy resists on rail transport. The Russian Federation units are much little saturated with supply units than their native counterparts. The losses in transport vehicles are so highly severe. This is 1 of the major logistical problems of the invading army. The following is available compilation drone strikes for military purposes of all kinds. It even developed song in honour of Ukrainian unmanned workers.
Moment of demolition of the Russian supply train. Source: twitter.comOther drones
However, Ukraine not only uses the unmanned Turkish production. In Army equipment are besides home production machines, or drones Punisher. They are much lighter than TB2, but are more hard to detect. Their wingspan is over 2 metres. These drones operate at a low altitude of up to 400 metres. They can carry up to 3kg of weapons, up to 50km behind enemy lines. These numbers are not besides impressive, but Punisher's capabilities are adequate to effectively disturb Russian supply columns. Punishers were developed by the UA-Dynamics company, founded by a group of veterans from Donbas. They are frequently accompanied by smaller machines, or reconnaissance drones Spectre. Their task is to track down and identify goals for their larger brothers.
Dron Punisher. Source: twitter.comOn equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are besides Polish production machines. 1 of them is an artillery reconnaissance drone. FlyEye. The second, very interesting native task is Warmate. This tiny strategy has a wingspan of 1.6 metres and a starting mass of over 5kg. Various types of heads can be installed on the drone, so it can act as both reconnaissance and combat. However, its primary task is to usage as circulating ammunition. By mounting a head with a shrapnel or cumulative charge on the bow of the vehicle, it becomes a advanced precision flying missile. Here. You can see the full presentation of the machine's capabilities. Both of these vehicles are manufactured by the company WB Electronics from Ożarow Mazowiecki.
The ammunition circulating in Warmate. Source: youtube.comSummary
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has become an example of how a theoretically weaker army can effectively lead the defensive. The operational preparation of the Armed Forces Staff of Ukraine, but besides the effective usage of modern technologies, is essential. 1 of them is the unmanned aircraft of various types. The leading function is played by Turkish production drones, Bayraktar TB2. They effectively hit the enemy's supply lines, importantly hampering the improvement of the attack.
Now the Russian invasion is stuck in place, exposing itself even more to drone strikes. A number of recordings of the actions of Ukrainian unmanned machines will most likely leak to the media.
Source:
NDTV: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/the-role-of-turkish-drones-in-Ukrainians-war-2799563
Middle East Eye: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/russia-ukraine-war-turkey-drones-effective-deadly
Baykar: https://www.baykartech.com/en/uav/bayraktar-tb2/
Oryx: https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/defence-ukraine-listing-russian-army.html
War On The Rocks: https://warontherocks.com/2021/11/feeding-the-bear-a-closer-look-at-Russian-army-logistics/
Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/Ukrainians-punisher-drones-hit-russian-troops-multiple-times-reports-2022-3?IR=T
Republic of: https://www.rp.pl/business/art19316901-Polish-drone-nad-dniprem
WB Group: https://www.wbgroup.pl/product/non-log-system-air-class-mini-flyeye/ and https://www.wbgroup.pl/product/system-carrying-warmate ammunition/
Photos
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, CC BY 4.0
