Had not realized they just flew the whole damned drone into things, kamikaze style. Thought they dropped bombs and could re-use ‘em. Or was this a last-ditch kind of thing?
this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2024
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Almost all drones are single use. Only the really top tier stuff like US predator drones are meant to be reused. The others are essentially smart bombs.
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Drones are cheap. Sacrificing one isn't a huge issue.
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A 1 way flight can be twice as long.
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A return flight can be tracked, and personnel are valuable.
These 3 are the main reasons. If they are striking a target in a low stakes situation, e.g. an abandoned tank, then a bomb and return is completely viable. Similar for a quick surveillance flight.
In this situation, it's likely to be spotted, and the spotters motivated to track it. It would have been a shoot and scoot launch, with nowhere to return to, rather than risk visitors, or artillery fire.
@some_designer_dude @LaFinlandia
Ukraine has a variety of drone types.
They will very soon have more drones than the Russians have troops.
The speed of production is phenomenal.
Maybe it’s a range thing, or being worried they’d be followed back to base? Or having to deal with the second guidance system for the bomb / missile the drone would drop is too much of a hassle for the current situation?
range thing
Can go twice as far if you don't need to get home
These are also much much cheaper than cruise missiles. Basically a moped engine and hobby RC aircraft parts with GPS
I saw the smoke and thought, "this is the moment of… this is right after." Then, I saw the UAV.
Responding to other comments but not in their thread, UAV's with explosives are used as kamikazes all the time. I've been watching Ukraine war footage of drone drops and drone kamikazes for around a year. This happens a lot. They even sank ships on water with sea drones.
FPV drones need a smoke break too, sometimes.