Thought U.S. and EU drones were superior? Russia unleashes drones that fly higher and faster — here's all about them
Drones Flying in Higher Altitudes, Bigger Challenge For Ukraine
MANPADS: The Weapon Ukraine Needs
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Russia has recently changed its drone strategy, by operating it at higher altitudes and using modified drones that fly faster, and only higher-reaching weapons can be used to beat them, as per a report.The drone used by Russia to attack Ukraine is the Shahed-136, which is an Iranian-designed weapon that Moscow now also produces in its own country, according to Business Insider. While, traditionally the Shahed-136, which is a one-way attack drone, could fly at speeds of over 115 mph with a 90-pound explosive warhead, reported Business Insider. But now, Russia has started using a modified version of the drone with an engine that lets it travel at speeds of more than 180 mph, as per the report.While, previously, Russia would launch its Shaheds at low altitudes to avoid radar detection, but now, the country is flying the drones higher, at more than 8,000 feet, which is beyond the reach of the machine guns that the Ukrainian mobile air defence unit uses to defend, according to Business Insider.Oleksiy, who is the deputy commander of an air defence unit with Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, said that the newer tactic "makes the Shaheds inaccessible to mobile fire groups", all they can do is "observe them and report back," as reported by Business Insider.The commander pointed out that, "To overcome this altitude barrier and stably engage drones with firepower, mobile groups need to use additional weapons, like shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, or Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS)," as quoted in the report.He also added that, "If our unit were additionally equipped with a manual MANPADS, the effectiveness of destroying air targets would increase by twofold," quoted Business Insider.It's a one-way attack drone originally designed in Iran and now built in Russia, used for long-range strikes.The newer, modified versions can reach speeds over 180 mph, much faster than earlier models.
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