The current war is first and foremost a war of technology, because drones and small aircraft can attack, set up artillery fire, reconnaissance, see what’s going on behind enemy lines. Thanks to air reconnaissance units, it is possible to save and secure the lives of infantry and other fighters.

The aerial reconnaissance unit of one of the TrO brigades, defending the Zaporozhye direction, recently received reconnaissance “birds” from the project “Drone Army”, which already helps to detect and destroy the enemy.

Ukrinform reporters met with air scouts and saw how the men were preparing the “birds” for work.

FLIGHT PREPARATION

Here is a former physical education teacher, and now – an air tracker on the so-called “Caste”. On the roof of his pickup truck he places a Ukrainian multifunctional drone – “Dovbush”.

“There are two types of take-off: the first is catapult, the second is launch from the top of the car. The last option is very convenient. The only thing for the aircraft to gain speed is to launch it against the wind,” says the fighter.

He says he learned to fly a drone for two weeks. He started with “Mavik” and now has enough knowledge to work with a four meter “wing”.

“Every bird has its own knowledge. Controlling an airplane is a little harder than flying a helicopter,” he adds.

While “Kast” repairs the device, other fighters – “Luck” and “Bird” – prepare him for flight.

The army said, “We are plotting a route for our UAV, preparations for the flight are underway. The plans are to find the enemy’s equipment: tanks, maybe an air defense system.”

“Dovbush”, “bird”, according to the guys, is quite new, so the process of mastering is still ongoing.

“Its parameters make it possible to perform tasks at the operational and tactical depth of the brigade, that is, at a farther distance than the usual Mavik-3 can. About 60 km in one direction, that is, in a circle – 120 km,” they say. .

Composite UAV has a powerful camera that can see well in the dark.

“It is made of plastic, so it is hardly visible against the background of a white and blue sky. It allows you to perform tasks without risking personnel. In addition to this bird, we would like to have a “Stork”. He fights harder, he is more prepared.” – Added weather spotters.

IT’S WORTH SWITCHING TO DRONES EVERYWHERE I CAN

The average lifespan of a drone is about one month. But there are exceptions.

“We had a drone that lived for more than half a year, then during the repair they said, ‘This can’t happen, they don’t live that long.’ He was lucky. We lost him somewhere in the eighth month. The commander of the reconnaissance platoon divisions of the TrO brigade says with the call sign “Cat”.

The man is a veteran of the ATO. He fought in 2014-2015 and volunteered from the first days of all-out war.

“I think everything depends on drones now. In 2014, when we were on the front, we didn’t have drones, we were guided by sounds, flashes, we counted, we tried to determine where the fire was coming from. Now the enemy platoon commander is just starting to shoot, the fighters go to radiokye and say: “We’re being shot at.” And that’s our job – to determine where they’re firing from,” adds the platoon commander.

He says drones really save soldiers’ lives. It guarantees the 24-hour operation of the aerial reconnaissance units, because the drones are equipped with thermal cameras that allow them to work even at night.

“If the infantry notices something somewhere or hears a movement, the drone rises and immediately everything is checked. When there is bombardment, the drone can go up and see where the fire is coming from. We can even fly and descend behind the enemy. And roughly speaking, what would a spotter see if he could get there through the enemy’s ranks. “It’s worth switching to drones wherever possible and risking human lives. You can also robotize tracked vehicles and artillery systems.” He says “cat”.

Soldiers are assured that the drones are supplied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (through the “Drone Army” project), and that the drones are purchased by friends and relatives of the soldiers, as volunteers also deliver many Maviks.

DEAR “BIRDS”

Drones are consumables, they are constantly disappearing.

The aerial scout said, “We have to use the Maviks in very risky conditions to save the lives of our soldiers. However, there are enemy electronic warfare devices, light weapons … unmanned aerial vehicles are constantly disappearing and we constantly need new ones.” .

He remembered how the UAVs stopped the Russian advance near Izyum. According to him, at that time the “birds” climbed into the sky, found pillars where the enemy was lined up, aimed at the artillery and destroyed the equipment. The next morning they did the same thing, and it was like that every day.

Air scouts and UAV pilots are priority targets.

The interlocutor adds, “If we destroy the pilot of the UAV, he can protect us from artillery fire. The enemy also adapts with the help of unmanned aerial vehicles.”

I’m asking about schools for drone operators, or rather, do men have the time and opportunity to study?

He answers that most of them learn directly on the battlefield. He explains that in the rear it is impossible to reproduce combat conditions, in the front the UAVs fly without satellites, everything has to be done manually.

“Some people think it’s an easy task. No. It’s a flight in critical, non-standard conditions,” the team commander reassures.

As we speak, “Cat” is launching a brand new “Matrix 300” into the sky along with another tracker with the “DVD” call sign. The item is too expensive. The cost of such a “bird” reaches 1.5 million hryvnia and more.

Equipment is required for reconnaissance, this multirotor has a very good camera with 200x zoom that allows you to see the enemy’s movement from a great distance. For example, at a distance of 15 km from the “bird” itself, you can see the layout of enemy engineering positions, equipment and personnel.

“Matrix 300” has a thermal camera and can focus on a specific object and track it, which is very convenient. The children show how this works on a special large monitor.

The guys say that drones are the most necessary equipment for our army. If we are talking about the near border, then this is work for drones, on the far side planes are working.

“I haven’t lost a single drone yet. I try to limit myself to distances so as not to lose the drone, because it’s hard for volunteers to get hold of. I’m trying to save it, I know I can’t do without it.” it’s my tool,” explains the ATO veteran, “DVD”.

He has been working with drone since 2019. He says that thanks to these “warriors” he destroyed hundreds of equipment and even more soldiers of the Russian Federation.

Olga Kudrya, Zaporizhzhia

Photo: Dmytro Smolienko