MOSCOW, Apr 6 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz.Washington plans to transfer to Kiev a large batch of Switchblade unmanned aerial vehicles ("Switchblade"). Small-sized drones belong to the class of barrage ammunition, it is an effective weapon at the tactical level. But the Russian army has something to answer.
Drone from a backpack
In mid-March, US President Joe Biden announced the allocation of an additional $ 800 million to Ukraine as military assistance: 800 portable Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, two thousand Javelin ATGMs, a thousand light anti-tank guns and six thousand AT-4 grenade launchers will be sent to Kiev. In addition, the AFU will receive small arms, bulletproof vests and helmets, ammunition. The other day it became known that the Pentagon will also provide the ally with 100 Switchblade unmanned aerial vehicles.
These barrage munitions, the so-called kamikaze drones, were developed by order of the US ground forces to fight the Taliban in remote mountainous areas of Afghanistan. It was adopted in 2011, several thousand pieces were manufactured. American infantrymen and special forces have successfully used them in the Middle and Middle East.
There are two options — anti-personnel and anti-tank. The first, Switchblade 300 weighing a little more than 2.5 kilograms, fits into a regular raid backpack of a serviceman. The ammunition is located in a compact transport and launch container and is launched into the sky with compressed air - according to the principle of a pneumatic catapult. The flight range is up to ten kilometers, the power of the warhead is equivalent to a 40-millimeter shot of an automatic grenade launcher. Cruising speed is 100 kilometers per hour, day and night cameras are provided for observation and guidance.
UAV Switchblade 300
Image Source: © AP Photo / U.S. Marine Corps / Cpl. Alexis Moradian
The anti—tank Switchblade 600 is larger and heavier - 23 kilograms. Hits targets at a distance of up to 40 kilometers from the operator. The warhead is like a Javelin ATGM. According to the Americans, this weapon is effective against any modern armored vehicles if it hits from above.
Drones of both modifications are controlled from a touch tablet. Preparation for launch — ten minutes. The cost of one UAV is about six thousand dollars. Designed for mass use at the tactical depth of the enemy's defense, it is included in the armament kit of most motorized infantry units of the American army. However, "switchblades", like other representatives of the family of barrage ammunition, have weaknesses.
Air interception
"The main drawback is the small capacity of the batteries, they cannot stay in the air for a long time," says military expert Alexey Leonkov. — The same Switchblade 300 is only enough for ten to fifteen minutes. This means that the target should be illuminated by a much larger reconnaissance drone, visible to our air defense systems. Ammunition launched "into milk" will simply fall to the ground."
The Russian army has enough funds to fight the new threat. First of all, these are the Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile systems and the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and cannon systems. They detect, take on escort and destroy even small-sized targets. In Syria, the air defense with their help repeatedly repels extremist attacks on the Khmeimim airbase.
"Our air defense systems are the second echelon of defense," the expert clarifies. — The first is the electronic warfare troops. Their equipment is able to destroy the communication channel between the drone and the operator and, in fact, turn the drone into a pile of useless iron. When the Armenians turned on Russian-made electronic warfare systems "Field" over Stepanakert during the second Karabakh war, the Azerbaijani unmanned aircraft sharply reduced activity. I have no doubt that these novelties will be used in Ukraine as well."
Supply channels
American kamikaze drones may be able to inflict some losses on the Russian army. But they will definitely not turn into a "superweapon", as this type of military equipment was during the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020. At that time, Azerbaijani IAI Harop barrage ammunition virtually destroyed Armenian air defense positions, military equipment concentration areas and field fortifications with impunity.
A Russian peacekeeper at checkpoint No. 6 on the road from Stepanakert to Lachin
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Valery Melnikov
Stepanakert and Yerevan did not have the air defense means that the Russian troops have. In addition, experts doubt that Ukrainians will be able to correctly apply overseas gifts.
"It won't change anything," military expert Vladimir Evseev is sure. — Americans can plan what they want. The question is, who will manage these complexes? It is unlikely that it will be possible to train Ukrainian servicemen quickly. Most likely, the UAV operators will be representatives of American PMCs. But, firstly, these people are putting themselves at real risk, because they can be destroyed. Secondly, there is interference by a foreign state, specifically the United States, in the war. And thirdly, such supplies contribute to the criminal actions of the Kiev regime."
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry officially warned that convoys with weapons coming to Ukraine from the West are considered a legitimate target. At the moment, the only route from NATO countries is through the land border with Poland. Probably, everything there is already under the sights of Russian aviation and precision artillery.