The new drone can organize an air bridge, supplying provisions and ammunition to units on the front line.
The company that developed the UAV that destroyed the first American Abrams tank in the SVO zone has launched a new Piranha-20 FPV drone. He is able not only to promptly deliver provisions and ammunition to the fighters, but also to perform the tasks of covert mining. It can be controlled both by optical fiber and by radio channel. Piranha-20 is capable of delivering up to 30 kg of cargo. Experts believe that such drones are becoming a lifeline, as they allow for continuous support of units, bypassing dangerous and vulnerable ground routes.
Delivery of water and food to fighters using UAVs
According to its characteristics, Piranha-20 is close to civilian agricultural drones. Its load capacity is up to 30 kg, the speed at full load is 50-60 km/h, and without load — 100 km/ h.
The main purpose of the drone is logistics at the forefront. Due to its high carrying capacity and speed, it is able to replace long and extremely dangerous walking and automobile routes for the delivery of water, food, ammunition and medicines.
Piranha-20 SKB drone
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
— The distance of food delivery from the transport hub to the dugout can sometimes be many kilometers, and the road can take a fighter half a day. And with the arrival of cold weather, this process becomes even more difficult and takes longer. Now charging stations are deployed on the route in such hubs and UAV operators are on duty, delivering cargo in just 10 minutes. This reduces time and increases safety," the head of public Relations at Piranha Design Bureau told Izvestia.
The drone can be controlled both by radio channel and by optical fiber. Unmanned aerial vehicles flying over the radio channel are usually detected by drone detectors, and the enemy activates electronic warfare systems. The use of optical fiber makes the BLPA invisible to the means of electronic warfare and electronic warfare.
In addition, the 30 kg payload opens up opportunities for covert mining, allowing even anti-tank mines to be delivered and neatly placed.
Photo: TASS/Dmitry Yagodkin
Image Source: iz.ru
— The drone uses optical fiber to fly to enemy positions, mine the territory and return back. The main advantage of this approach is that when flying on fiber, it is impossible to intercept the video signal, so the enemy will not know the exact location of the mine," the company representative explained. — If the optical fiber is cut off at any time during the flight, the drone will automatically switch to a radio signal to continue the task.
According to him, in comparison with well-known analogues such as Baba Yaga, Piranha-20 has significant tactical advantages. Its heavy weight and massive construction make the Baba Yaga a slow, noisy, and visible target from afar. Piranha-20 is faster and more maneuverable, which significantly increases its survival and effectiveness on the battlefield.
Continuous supply
According to military expert Alexei Leonkov, in conditions when the enemy is really hunting for traditional means of supply, primarily vehicles, and also prioritizes ground-based robotic systems, lifting drones acquire the status of an effective and irreplaceable alternative.
— On the front line, the enemy purposefully seeks to cut off logistics routes using artillery, mines or sabotage groups. Then the need to replenish ammunition, medicines or water arises immediately and is critical for holding positions," he explained. — Supplies are also necessary for reconnaissance groups that operate in isolation or are ambushed in order to hold out until the main units approach.
Similarly, the enemy uses drones to support its garrisons in an operational environment, the expert recalled. This confirms the need for cargo drones.
Photo: TASS/Alexey Konovalov
Image source: iz.ru
Military expert Dmitry Kornev notes that 30 kg of food is enough to provide a daily ration for about 30 people (based on the minimum calculation of 1 kg of food per fighter).
"This is vital support for units that are in operational isolation," he told Izvestia. — Creating a full-fledged logistics network based on drones is a strategic task. This will ensure continuous supply, bypassing dangerous ground routes, and radically increase the stability and autonomy of combat groups on the front line.
The use of such a tool for covert mining can be extremely effective. According to him, it is better to use antipersonnel mine barriers. Several dozen of these mines make it possible to quickly and covertly mine key trails and terrain, creating booby traps and preventing enemy movement. This method is highly accurate and unexpected, which is much more important than mass production.
A life-saving package
An example of the need for such drones in the free zone is the story of Zakaria Aliyev, the call sign Smiley. This fighter spent three weeks alone in the enemy trenches, moving between machine-gun emplacements, holding them and creating the appearance of an entire squad. The enemy hit him with tanks, regularly threw mines from drones, and the enemy infantry came within grenade range, but did not dare to storm.
Photo: TASS/Alexey Konovalov
Image source: iz.ru
Zakaria ate the onions he found, and collected water drop by drop from polyethylene. It was possible to establish a minimal supply of the Smiley precisely thanks to the "airway" — he was noticed by the operators of the Ossetian detachment. The first thing they sent him was a bottle of water and a note.: "Hold on, brother!" Then, using a drone, they showed him a safe way to their positions.
Also last September, there was footage of another of our fighters receiving dumped water. The camera captures his reaction: he presses the container to his chest, kisses it, waves happily at the drone, and then points to the shelter where his comrades are.
The Izvestia correspondent, who regularly works at the positions, has repeatedly heard how military personnel on the radio are asking for help with provisions and water. I've seen operators tape a couple cans of stew and a glass and a half of water to an FPV drone (it's impossible to send more at one time). Therefore, the high payload capacity of the UAV certainly plays a critically important role.
Julia Leonova
