Kamikaze FPV drone used for precision attack by Ukrainian soldiers

Soldiers of the 93rd Brigade in Ukraine have found a new weapon in their fight against the Russians. In addition to regular drones, they now also deploy racing drones to perform precision attacks on enemy forces. A recent video shows a kamikaze FPV drone flying into a house through the doorway, only to explode.

Precision Attack with Kamikaze FPV drone

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the armed forces have extensively used drones (consumer drones, military aircraft, and home-built drones) to thwart the Russian invasion force. From documenting war crimes from the air to scouting enemy positions and even dropping grenades using homemade drop mechanisms, no opportunity is wasted.

Added to this is the use of fast and agile racing drones. A recently released video shows two soldiers using a self-built Kamikaze FPV drone to launch an attack on a house. The drone flies in through the doorway, only to explode. The attack is, meanwhile, filmed using another drone. It is unclear whether there were any casualties.

DIY kamikaze FPV drones

The footage shows that the drone pilot uses FatShark analog first-person-view (FPV) video goggles to remotely control the drone and reach the target with great precision. Anyone who has ever seen videos of FPV drone races knows how incredibly fast and maneuverable such small drones can be flown over the most difficult courses, so it is obvious that this type of drone is now also being used for combat.

Such kamikaze FPV drones can be easily assembled by someone with expertise: the necessary parts are easy to obtain, and the cost is only a few hundred euros per drone. Racing drones easily reach speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour and, depending on the motors, propellers, and battery used, can carry a few hundred grams of payload, such as the Vog-17 grenade, which is widely used in Ukraine. The transmitter’s range is – depending on the circumstances – a few hundred meters to a few kilometers.

Concerns around Kamikaze FPV drones

Using consumer and home-built Kamikaze FPV drones for military purposes has become a major headache for NATO member states, among others. It is feared that terrorists will also use drones to carry out attacks. For that reason, much research is being done into counter-drone technology, such as detection systems and weapons to make remote drones harmless. For example, the French army is considering using laser weapons during the 2024 Olympics.

Let us know in the comments below what you think about the use of Kamikaze FPV drones.

(source: Forbes)