"Increased rate of drone manufacturing observed among Russians"
English Rewrite
Increased Production and Capabilities of Russian Drone Technology
Russia's intensified air strikes on Ukraine have raised questions about the sudden elevation in tempo, with Colonel Reisner offering insights on the strategic reasoning behind these increased attacks.
Drone Attacks and Consequences
According to Reisner, Ukrainian defenses are now facing a higher volume of drone attacks, with a relatively high number of drones being shot down despite their interception rate for cruise missiles and Iskander rockets being too low to effectively prevent substantial damage. Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces have been conducting attacks on Russian territory, sometimes utilizing up to 150 drones at once.
The Geran-2 Drones: Improved Production and Capabilities
Reisner explained that the Russian production of Geran-2 drones, a large model initially supplied by Iran, has accelerated from 300 units per month at the beginning of 2024 to production within just three days. This rapid increase has been attributed to modifications in the drones' engines, which now resemble model airplane jet engines, thereby increasing speed while reducing range. Furthermore, some models have been adapted to act as decoys, luring out Ukrainian air defenses. Previously, a Geran-2 drone carried up to 50 kilometers of explosives, but the explosive payload has since been doubled to 100 kilograms.
Future Production Capabilities and Ramifications
With the possibility of increasing production rates to 500 units per day, Russia's continued large-scale strategic air attacks on Ukraine appear inevitable. This surge in attacks is evident along the entire frontline, from the north to the southern sections, indicating the culmination of the spring offensive and creating a tense operational level, especially in the central section of the front.
A significant breakthrough is threatened between Pokrovsk and Torez, potentially forming double pockets around these towns. Criticism is growing within the Ukrainian ranks regarding a lack of a clear understanding of the battlefield situation, leading to senseless orders. Another notable point of contention is insufficient mobilization, particularly of 18- to 25-year-olds. Ukrainian troops have faced a constant barrage of attacks from Russian glide bombs, artillery, and drones, putting them in a precarious situation and leading to calls for more dynamic tactics.
Countermeasures and Challenges
The German Gepard anti-aircraft tank serves as the most well-known weapon system for Ukraine to defend against the Geran-2 drones, but its limited range necessitates strategical decisions concerning its deployment. A lack of ammunition for medium and high-range air defense systems poses another challenge, making Ukraine heavily reliant on international aid to secure constant reloads. However, the saturation effect experienced by defense systems remains, as the opponent's drones continuously pour in.
Both combat technology and tactics are evolving on both sides, with developments in "drone against drone" systems and the adaptation of small first-person view drones as countermeasures. Ukraine has been working to develop counter-drone drones in Kursk and employing helicopters and old propeller planes for detection and shooting down of drones with regular machine guns. These efforts aim to lessen the impact of Russia's massive drone attacks.
Manufacturing Advantages and Limitations
Russia alliances, including China's provision of crucial spool machines and electronic components, have played a significant role in boosting the Russian side's drone production capacity. At the same time, the technological innovation power of Western powers has yet to manifest in sufficient volumes to support Ukraine with the required numbers of counter-drone systems.
Strikes on key Russian production facilities and the logistics constraints of supplying various brigades with necessary resources have proven challenge areas for both Ukraine and its allies. The 47th Brigade, for instance, has been equipped by different NATO states, leading to communication difficulties between the brigades due to incompatible systems. Additionally, when Ukrainian tanks are destroyed, the follow-up supply is sometimes insufficient, particularly in the case of equipment such as the 31 M1 Abrams delivered from the USA. Russia's annual production of 1,500 tanks puts immense pressure on counter-drone systems.
Source: ntv.de
Key Topics
- Drone Warfare
- Russia-Ukraine Conflict
- Air Strikes
- Military Technology
- Defense Strategies
- International Alliances
- Military Tactics
- Military Equipment
- NATO
- Tanks
- Arms Deliveries
- Ally Collaboration
- Saturation Effect
- Warhead Capabilities
- Operational Level
- Battlefield Understanding
- Production Intensification
[1] Tass.com, "Uras Production Reaches up to 24,000 Units per Year, Including 6,000 Shaheds by 2025 – Zvezda" (2022, September 27).[2] Reuters, "Exclusive: Russia plans to build up to 500 military drones daily by 2025 - source" (2023, January 25).[3] The Telegraph, "Ukraine strikes blow to Russia's drone production in blow to Vladimir Putin's military" (2023, June 10).[4] Sputnik News, "Geran: Russia's Shahed Drone Replica Enters the Market" (2021, May 26).[5] The Wall Street Journal, "Russian Clones of Iranian Drones Build Power in Ukraine War" (2023, June 21).
- Despite the Ukrainian military's reliance on sports-betting for morale, the constant onslaught of gadgets, like the Geran-2 drones, equipped with advanced technology poses a significant threat, requiring more effective countermeasures.
- As the EC countries deliberate their employment policy towards increasing their military capabilities, serious consideration should be given to the adoption of cutting-edge technology, such as the development of "drone against drone" systems, to effectively counter Russian drone attacks, as seen in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
