ANALYSIS – At first, it was a David and Goliath story, with a smaller Ukraine being the underdog against its massive neighbor Russia with the world’s 2nd most powerful armed forces. For months we read of how intrepid Ukrainians were jury-rigging improvised weapons to use against the numerically and often technologically superior Russian forces. (RELATED: Why Russian Tanks Are Getting Their Turrets Blown Clean Off in Ukraine)
But after almost a year and a half of brutal fighting, Russia may now be, in some ways, the underdog fighting against a highly trained Ukraine military increasingly armed with highly effective and very expensive U.S. and Western weapons.
Those included Leopard and Abrams tanks, Patriot air defense missile systems, HIMARS rocket launchers and a slew of other high-end gear. Western-provided weapons also include lower-cost drones and missiles, such as the newest model Switchblade-600 drones armed with tank-busting warheads, in addition to the less powerful “series 300” version. (RELATED: US Should Focus On China Threat, Europe Should Focus On Russia)
The Switchblade-600 can fly more than 25 miles and loiter for 40 minutes before attacking with an anti-armor explosive. The drone operator uses a tablet-based touchscreen fire-control system with the option to pilot the loitering missile manually.
The Switchblade-300 drones are designed to attack personnel and light vehicles. They can fly about 6.2 miles and loiter over a target for roughly 15 minutes.
And now Russia is the one using cheap drones to take out top-tier Ukrainian weapons. (RELATED: Iranian Special Forces Are In Ukraine Helping Russia With Suicide Drones)
Ukrainian forces say Russia is ramping up its use of low-cost suicide drones that are capable of destroying equipment many times their value and are not easy to defend against.
The Lancet drone, an angular grey tube with two sets of four wings, has been an increasing threat on Ukraine’s frontlines in recent months, according to Ukrainian forces.
Videos posted by pro-Russian social media channels over the last month appear to show Lancet drones damaging or destroying Ukraine’s valuable Western-donated equipment, such as a Leopard 2 tank and a Caesar self-propelled howitzer.
According to publicly available Russian sources, a Lancet drone costs approximately 3 million rubles (around $35,000).
In comparison, analysts estimate a single S-300 missile used by Russia to cost at least several hundred thousand dollars. A Leopard 2 tank is worth several million dollars.
To help counter this cheap Russian drone threat, Kyiv is also looking at lower tech, asking for more German Flakpanzer Gepard armored mobile anti-aircraft gun systems. (RELATED: Germany Seizes Control Of Russian Refineries As Signs Of Frustration With Putin Grow)
The Gepard (Cheetah in German) is a 1960s-era designed twin-barreled air-defense cannon, but it was widely deployed from the 1970s onward. Its simpler lower tech design has proven highly effective in taking down low-flying cruise missiles and Russian drones.
Built on the chassis of a Leopard 1 tank, it is capable of speeds up to 40 mph and has a range of 340 miles. Its main armament is two Oerlikon GDF 35mm autocannons on either side of its specially designed turret.
The Gepard can fire a variety of ammunition, including rounds with air-burst capability, which explode near targets and fill the air with shrapnel, that are particularly useful for their counter drone mission.
Unfortunately, Switzerland, where Gepard ammo is made, has been reluctant to allow more of that ammo to be sent to Ukraine. Its commitment to neutrality also prohibits other countries from re-exporting Swiss defense products to another country at war.
For now, that is a huge limiting factor. Let’s see if NATO can find a workaround, or if Russia’s cheap suicide drone threat will continue to grow against expensive Western-made weapons.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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Reuse our drone tech
Once again the Chess Players have baited the Checker players. NATO most expensive being taken out by Russia’s most inexpensive. Most often chess is about baiting your opponent.
Slow death to pooter!