Tag: Drone Warfare

Ukraine War: Both Sides Continue Development of Gun Drones

Since our last article/video on gun-armed drones in September 2024, both sides have continued to develop the technology. Numerous Ukrainian teams have developed recoilless ‘shotgun’ drones designed to hunt other drones as well as developing and fielding an AK-armed FPV. The Russians too have returned to the concept in recent months showcasing a number of gun-armed drone systems.

In December the first footage of a Ukrainian gun drone appeared, it utilised the recoilless gun concept. Several videos were shared of an FPV drone equipped with a pair of barrels which are likely electrically initiated and have counter-weight charges as the earlier Russian drone did. The videos showed a series of successful drone vs drone engagements.

On 7 February, Russian Telegram channel, FPV Covenant, shared footage of a gun-drone being tested, with the caption “Testing a shooting drone. The bird has two cameras, a night camera and a thermal imager.” The drone appears to have a single barrel and on firing is jarred considerably by recoil, this indicates the lack of a recoilless, recoil mitigation system.

In the first indication of Russian state efforts to develop a gun-armed drone the Осоед-Д , developed by the Novgorod scientific and production center “Ushkuynik”, was unveiled to Russian media on 20 February. The Осоед-Д has four barrels and appears to incorporate a recoilless counterweight system. Very little imagery of the system is available but it’s developers claim it has a degree of autonomy and can find and attack targets within an area once ground detectors locate a target. One article states that the drone “has already been put into operation”.

On 6 March a Russian Telegram channel, affiliated with the engineers of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, shared test footage and photographs of a new gun system which can be mounted on small drones. The Telegram post highlights that the system uses the recoilless principle to mitigate recoil and it reportedly utilises standard 12 and 16 gauge shotgun cartridges. It is claimed that it has an effective engagement out to 20 metres and that the aiming of the gun is done through the standard drone camera. The post also claims that operators can “you can hang from 2 to 4 barrels on the drone.” The size and power of the drone would likely have to be greater than a standard Mavic or Russian FPV to mount more than one or two barrels and greater payload reduces range. The post includes a photograph of the barrel assembly on a scale reading 700.9g. (1.5lbs) but a video caption notes when loaded the weight is closer to 780g.

The telegram post includes a pair of videos showing the gun system being tested at a range. The first video shows a 10in quadcopter drone equipped with a 16 gauge gun system. The drone takes off and fires down range, while the recoil is noticeable the drone continues to hover.

In the second longer video the drone appears to struggle to initially maintain a stable altitude/hover but this may be an operator error. The drone travels downrange and fires on a target from a distance of 3.5 metres. The video cuts to show the effect on target with several dozen shot holes. Incidentally, the box is for AI-Thinker RA-08 transceiver modules made in China.

Meanwhile on 7 March, a drone unit with Ukraine’s Separate Presidential Brigade shared the best look at a Ukrainian gun-armed drone we’ve seen so far. We’ve previously seen the Bulava drone team, which part of the 3rd battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade, deploying drones equipped with rifles and RPGs. These drones were developed with the help of Wild Hornets (a Ukrainian drone manufacturing organisation).

The gun-armed drone seen in the video is operated by the 4th Mechanized Battalion and is based on a Lucky Strike-manufactured quadcopter drone. It’s unclear if Lucky Strike has assisted in the development of the gun system.

In the video we see the drone operators drop in a 12 gauge cartridge into a barrel, notably the cartridge’s primer has been removed probably to enable electrical ignition. The video does not show the counter-weight system likely to avoid breaches of operational security on how the system works. The drone can be seen mounted with a pair of barrels and when firing is demonstrated its clear that the larger drone is able to compensate for any remaining recoil the counterweight system can’t mitigate. Its also possible that the Ukrainian counterweight charge has been more finely tuned to the charge of the firing barrel. The operator explains that even a small number of hits from relatively small shot can be effective on target and that one of their primary targets are DJI Mavics which the Russians use for  Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). In terms of doctrine the video explains that they try and engage with one barrel but if they want to be sure of hitting a target they can fire a salvo of both at the same time to increase hit probability.

On 10 March, A small Russian Telegram channel, Bright Head, shared a short video of a small quadcopter drone armed with a pair of barrels. The video is simply titled ‘Drone killer “GORYNYCH (ГОРЫНЫЧ)’. It approaches a cardboard target and fires twice. Intriguingly, the Gorynych has an ingenious recoil-mitigation system with the barrels being ejected from the drone on firing, this reduces the recoil significantly with the first shot only briefly dipping the drone.

On 15 March, Ukrainian drone developers Sky Defenders shared video of their fixed wing UAV equipped with four forward-firing gun barrels. Check out our earlier article/video examining the Sky Defenders ZigZag.

A close up of the ZigZag’s four-gun barrels and gimbal mounted camera (via Sky Defenders)

Ukrainian drone developers ВІТРУГАН introduced their ‘Ги́цель’ (Gitsel) gun-armed drone on 19 March. The Gitsel is equipped with a pair of 30mm barrels and the developers claim is has ‘automatic target acquisition and firing when the target is within the strike zone’ but it can also be operated manually. ВІТРУГАН have so far only shared photographs of the Gitsel and while there is no video of it in operation they say it can be used against both aerial and ground targets. The barrels in the photographs appear to be cut down metal piping wired for electrical ignition through the rear end of the barrel. They appear to be mounted on on a 3D printed assembly.

Most recently on the 29 March, the 2nd Mechanised Battalion of the 30th Separate Mechanised Brigade shared a minute long super-cut video of a gun-armed drone engaging more than 20 Russian quadcopter drones. Most fall to the ground after suffering damage to their rotors but one explodes upon being hit, with the shot likely hitting a piece of ordnance the drone was carrying. The video concludes with footage of one of the downed Russian drones being salvaged and lifted away by a Ukrainian drone.

The flurry of development by both sides illustrates how sorely gun-armed drones are needed to counter the ever pervasive drone threat. The development of the gun-drones is now being undertaken not only be individual developers and units but now also by larger companies and in Russia’s case a state-owned research and development entity. Both sides are also now claiming some limited autonomous targeting capability. While some of the gun-drones have entered operational use it’s unclear if significant numbers have been produced and fielded. Over the coming months we will likely see further fielding of the gun-drones and it will remain to be seen how effective they are and how they may change the dynamic of the conflict’s drone use.

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Ukrainian ‘Shotgun’ Drones Shoot Down Russian Drones

On the 27 December, a Ukrainian fundraising charity posted a series of short videos featuring a drone with a pair of gun barrels. The Lesia UA Foundation provide Ukrainian units with vehicles, bikes, drones and personal equipment procured with the funds they raise. It appears that they have helped to fund the development or fielding of an unknown number of gun-armed drones.

The footage of the gun-drone in action was shared on 27 December with the telegram post stating [machine translated]:

“For the first time on video – drones and hard drives shot down other drones
Defenders of Ukraine test #LesiaUAtechnology developments
Stay tuned and we’ll show you even more exclusive shots! Together to victory!”

In the first video the gun-drone follows a quadcopter with the drone’s camera panning up and down several times between what appear to be a pair of barrels. The quadcopter is downed with damage to one of its rotors and appears to be trailing smoke as it spirals to the ground.

View between the barrels of a Ukrainian gun drone (via social media)

In the second short clip what appears to be a bomber drone, carrying an explosive hanging beneath it, is shot down as very close range as it hovers. Similarly, the third video shows a bomber drone which is shot down at close range as it hovered with damage to its rotor blades.
At the time of writing the Lesia UA Foundation have not released any additional clips of the drone in action or any images of what the drone looks like.

While in recent months we have seen drones armed with both RPGs and AK-74s these have been used in the air-to-ground role. The shotgun-like blasts seen in these clips are more useful for close range air-to-air engagements. From the lack of recoil seen in the clips, the large bore diameter of the barrels and their positioning on the drone, either side of a camera gimbal, it would appear that the gun used by the drone follows a recoilless principal. The recoilless guns work along the premise of Newton’s Third Law of Motion, that all things have an equal and opposite reaction – as such two guns are connected back to back, with the backwards-facing gun firing a counter-weight – mitigating recoil which prevents the drone’s flight from being destabilised.

A Russian recoilless gun drone developed in 2024 (via social media)

Why a recoilless gun and not a conventional shotgun? Principal factors governing this are likely weight, effectiveness and recoil. The recoilless guns have a larger bore diameter meaning larger load and increased hit probability. Additionally they are simpler with no-working or recoiling parts (as they load is likely electrically ignited) and they are lighter allowing the drone to stay in the air for longer and/or travel further. The key downside to the use of a single shot recoilless gun is that it can fire only one round. The Ukrainian drones have sought to mitigate this by seemingly equipping their drone with two of the guns.

While we haven’t yet seen an image of the Ukrainian gun-armed drone, we have seen a Russian example which was developed in the summer of 2024, tested but reportedly not yet fielded. The Russian drone was developed by the BRT company who, in a recent telegram post, expressed their frustration at seeing a Ukrainian recoilless gun drone in use.

While successfully engaging an enemy drone with a gun is difficult it is the detection and tracking of enemy drones which is likely the most challenging part. This may lead to these recoilless gun-equipped drones being used in a sort of combat air patrol role, seeking out and hunting down enemy drones over an area where they have been reported. It remains to be seen if these recoilless gun-armed drones will proliferate as a method of countering the huge number of small drones used by both sides but from the limited footage of them in action that is available the concept seems proven.

Update – 10/1/24: Additional footage has surfaced showing the drone firing on Russian infantry.

Update – 15/1/25: Additional footage of the Ukrainian drone in action, shared by a drone unit with the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 30th Mechanized Brigade.

Update – 4/2/25:

A drone team with the 43rd Mechanised Brigade shared a clip of a shotgun drone engaging a Russian drone.

https://twitter.com/AndrewPerpetua/status/1886481874270167384?t=xMLoxvb10VhSSMjhZO2lOg&s=19

Update – 17/2/25:

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Heavy Drone Bombers Dropping Anti-Tank Mines

Drone warfare in Ukraine is one of the war’s most rapidly evolving elements with considerable innovation and improvisation. In recent weeks several videos have been shared showing large drones dropping TM-62 anti-tank mines.

The first video shared on 3 September showed how a mine could be carried and released by a large six-rotor drone. The TM-62M is seen loaded into a cradle tray which is then remotely triggered causing the floor plate to hinge and release the mine. The video also shows how the TM-62 is fuzed with a UZRG-pattern hand grenade fuze, pushed directly into the mine’s explosive through a hole cut in the side of its casing.

The TM-62M is a high-explosive blast landmine designed to immobilise or destroy vehicles. The mine is packed with 7.5kg (17lbs) of explosive and is normally centrally fuzed by a pressure fuze. The TM-62M is a significant payload for a bomber drone and when dropped they have significant blast effect.

A subsequent video, shared on 6 September, shows a series of clips filmed by the bomber drone’s camera showing the TM-62 being dropped on numerous targets. The mines in this video have been significantly adapted with a stabilising tail added. The tail appears to be made up of a length of PVC pipe and a large water battle with its base cut off. The tail appears to be quite effective especially given the mine’s considerable weight and poor aerodynamics. It is also notable that the fuzing system appears to be different in the second video. Rather than a hand grenade fuze it appears that a larger fuze has been used, positioned next to the stabilising tail.

With the tail and its cut down water bottle its unlikely the release system for this munition is the same as that seen in the first video. A system which would allow for a smooth release and not snag the tail assembly would be needed. In several of the clips in the second video a strap swings past the drone’s camera perhaps suggesting there is a sling system in use.

A subsequent photograph shared on social media shows one of the mines in much better resolution. The tail is indeed made from PVC piping and a water bottle and the fuze appears to be vane-armed. The makers also have a sense of humour likening the odd-looking munition to the ‘USS Enterprise’ from Star Trek, they’ve written ‘USS Enterprise NCC-0001’ on the forward section of the mine.

At the same time as the photograph a number of additional videos showing the TM-62 based bombs being dropped were shared. These videos were originally shared towards the end of August and show a series of successful munition drops.

We are seeing a trend towards more sophisticated and more capable drone bombers which can carry either greater numbers of smaller bombs or larger singular bombs like the TM-62 munition.

Update – 1/10/23

The K-2 drone team with the 54th Brigade has shared footage of one of their drones dropping TM-62s mines on a Russian checkpoint and storage position. The drone appears to drop several unadapted TM-62s, though the lag time between landing and detonation would indicate they are not equipped with an impact fuze but perhaps a grenade fuze as seen in the initial videos featuring TM-62s. The resolution of the thermal cameras does not make it possible to identify the method of fuzing.

Note the falling TM-62 (with tape) and the swinging drop tray (K-2)

The release system appears to consist of a tray which holds the mine which is suspended by straps which are released to drop the munition. The tray can be seen swinging beneath the drone after one of the drops. The munitions appear to have tape around them, the reason for this is unclear, perhaps protecting the fuze system.

Update – 5/1/24: A video compilation showing numerous drops of TM-62s was shared on 5 January 2024. It begins with a demonstration of a light weight drop tray being released. The tray appears to be made from a metal grill (perhaps from an oven or an animal cage). The compilation shows mines being dropped without tail assemblies like those seen in earlier videos. Their are also visible puffs of gases/smoke from the mine’s fuze being triggered as it descends.

Update – 11/1/24:

Update -17/1/24: Further footage of TM-62 pattern mines being dropped from drones. Note a tail stabiliser is not used.

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Bibliography:

TM-62M Landmine, CAT-UXO, (source)

Fuzes, CAT-UXO, (source)

Understanding Drone Warfare in Ukraine

Drone warfare is a complex and nuanced topic with drones used for information gathering, observation and direct attacks. The war in Ukraine has seen an explosion in drone use ranging from small commercial DJI Mavics to military grade drones like the Bayraktar TB-2. In this video I’m joined by author and journalist David Hambling who has been tracking and writing about drone use in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

We discuss the expanding role drones have played in the conflict, how they are deployed and the impact they have. We touch on countermeasures used by both sides, the psychological effect the drones can have and what the future holds for drone use.

Check out David’s book on drones, ‘Swarm Troopers‘.

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