Aircraft-type UAV operators of the 1st Slavic Brigade — about stealth, combat victories, the fight against electronic warfare and enemy interceptors
The Molniya-2 kamikaze UAVs have become one of the key striking forces of our units in the Red Army area. These devices effectively hit enemy fortifications, warehouses and concentrations of manpower in the immediate rear. At the same time, the positions of the unmanned complexes themselves were expected to become the number one target for all enemy firepower. Izvestia visited the location of the Molniy-2 operator group of the 1st Slavic brigade of the Center group, where they saw the process of preparing combat aircraft, as well as the work of technicians and pilots.
The Molniya-2 kamikaze UAVs have become one of the key striking forces of our units in the Red Army area. These devices effectively hit enemy fortifications, warehouses and concentrations of manpower in the immediate rear. At the same time, the positions of the unmanned complexes themselves were expected to become the number one target for all enemy firepower. Izvestia visited the location of the Molniy-2 operator group of the 1st Slavic brigade of the Center group, where they saw the process of preparing combat aircraft, as well as the work of technicians and pilots.
The secretive work of the operators
The path to the place from where our aircraft—type drones are taking off, supporting the offensive of the Center group, is in many places covered with camouflage nets - protection from enemy kamikaze drones. There are aerial surveillance posts and electronic warfare (EW) antennas along the roadsides. When we reach our destination at top speed, we quickly hide the car and immediately head to the underground shelter. Roadside meetings and other delays are long in the past: vehicles can be detected from the air by enemy reconnaissance UAVs.
At the entrance to the room, a Lightning Bolt is lying on a table, ready for battle, with an anti-tank mine fixed. In the depths, rows of already assembled vehicles and boxes for their transportation are visible. A technician with the call sign Student shows the upgraded device, drawing attention to the key differences between the second generation of this economical drone and the first one he worked with earlier. After a short pause, the Student receives a two-minute readiness order on the radio.
The student and his partner carefully tape the ammunition and connect the power supply. Having reported on their readiness, they are waiting: the pilots are now coordinating the launch and completing preparations for departure. On command, the technicians quickly run out, install the drone on the catapult, promptly check the systems and, after making sure that everything is in order, immediately run back to shelter.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
The drone's takeoff into the sky is already being watched only by pilots through a first-person camera. And in the basement, the next airframe arrives on the table to install the necessary parts for the future flight. The ammunition for it will be secured only after a specific target for the next flight is determined.
— When the launch order is received, one fighter takes out a drone, and the second one monitors the sky for enemy drones. The same thing happens during the check. Then one loads the catapult, and the other watches again," the Student shares, emphasizing the critical importance of secrecy and efficiency of all manipulations.
The lightning, which we saw launched, is controlled by operators with the call signs Radio Operator, which Izvestia previously wrote about, and Zolotoy. They take turns at the posts: one in FPV goggles directly pilots the car, the second acts as a navigator, controlling the image on the monitor, comparing it with the map and maintaining contact with "related parties".
On-air combat and tactical advantage
— The flight was successful, although it was quite difficult. We work on radio frequencies, and if one of the opponents uses the same frequency, he can interrupt us. It happened now: already on the way to the target, our signal was drowned out by the enemy "hunter". But thanks to our extensive experience in such situations, we were able to successfully complete the attack," says the radio operator.
The enemy is trying to counter the massive use of Lightning by interceptor quadrocopters. The fight against them is at the level of masking the video signal and through various methods of care in the air. However, this aircraft is economical, has a long range, and countering it is relatively expensive for the Ukrainian forces, without bringing a sure result.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Another Lightning crew from the 1st Slavic Brigade, under the command of Spartak, is working at another command post. While the commander is preparing for our interview, we take off our body armor to rest a little in the shelter.
The conversation with the soldiers immediately turns to the topic of army uniforms and equipment. One of them is the first to recall the infamous "Donetsk pixel" — the uniform of the People's Militia of the DPR before its integration into the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, famous for its inconvenience. The room is filled with stories about who and under what circumstances had misadventures with this camouflage in the years preceding its release.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
The Slavyanskaya Brigade became one of the first militia units to switch to a full—fledged military structure in 2014, and received the honorary name at the place of creation - based on the defenders of Slavyansk. After 11 years of fighting, it is not often possible to meet interlocutors who remember that "old Slavic woman", and our conversation for a while deepens into memories.
— Lightning inflicts significant damage to the enemy on a tactical level. It allows you to react quickly and appear where we are not expected at all. This is an effective assistant in the offensive: if we work, the advance of the troops is more successful," says the commander of the Spartak crew.
Defeating electronic warfare and challenging goals
He notes that electronic warfare is becoming the main problem, but autopilot and accumulated experience usually help overcome the most difficult counteraction zones. The airplane scheme has an advantage over quadrocopters: the latter are not able to plan or continue moving with a temporary loss of control, but immediately fall.
— It is extremely difficult for an interceptor to hit a moving target. They have succeeded several times, but it is always a difficult operation. It is possible to shoot down a Lightning Bolt from small arms only if it goes at a low altitude. But we overcome dangerous areas high up, descending only immediately before the target's attack," explains Spartak. Among the most significant trophies of his crew is the stricken US—made M113 armored personnel carrier.
The target was difficult to spot: in the video, which demonstrates Spartak, the APC seems to be a barely noticeable dot, revealing itself rather due to movement. It is only when approaching a target that it becomes clear that it is an armored vehicle. Hitting moving objects from a dive requires special skills, you can feel it even on the record: maneuvers at speed, when the target suddenly starts to rapidly increase on the screen, and in the last seconds the board screws right into the armor, although it seemed to go past.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Spartak himself is a volunteer who, from the very beginning of his service, sought to get into the UAV units and specifically into the 1st brigade.
— I weighed everything, chose the parts and came to the conclusion: they have been fighting here for a long time, these people have learned how to fight and will be able to train me. I will be able to adapt to the current situation as quickly as possible. That's what happened," says the commander.
Our departure from the positions has to be accelerated after the radio report that the enemy's fiber-optic drone attacked the road. It was decided not to linger, as the next kamikaze attacks are possible. From an aerial surveillance point located in front of the entrance to the site, the fighter shows a well—known gesture - drones in the sky. A little further on, an evacuation group on two buggies picks up their comrades who were left without transport from the side of the road. We are motioned not to stop, no additional help is required. As the fighters are repeating in all sorts of ways now, equipment is expendable, the main thing is that people are alive.
Dmitry Astrakhan
