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Russia’s new Lancet drones appear to have found a way to evade Ukraine’s defenses.
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Video shows drone appearing to fire explosive penetrators at Ukrainian vehicle.
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This means that the warheads explode at a certain distance rather than on impact.
An advanced version of Russia’s feared Lancet drone appears to have a new way to evade Ukraine’s armored anti-tank grids and anti-drone nets.
Russian forces posted a video of a Lancet drone hitting a Ukrainian combat vehicle, exploding several meters from the target.
This does not seem to be a coincidence. The new Lancet’s warheads appear to explode in mid-air before firing explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) towards the target, which Forbes describes as “molten metal slugs“.
It differs from older models of the Lancet which used warheads that would explode on impact and could become entangled in anti-drone metal nets and not detonate properly.
The new drones appear to be equipped with lidar technology, involving a laser rangefinder consisting of two optical cameras, which can help detonate warheads at the optimal distance, according to the Ukrainian military portal. Militarynyi.
PEFs can walk several meters without losing their shape and bypassing the additional protections of Ukrainian armor, according to the independent Russian organization Conflict Intelligence Team.
“A video of the latest iteration of the Lancet errant munition equipped with such a warhead striking a Bradley IFV was recorded on the Donetsk axis,” the conflict intelligence team said.
“In the footage, two flashes can clearly be seen occurring almost simultaneously: one when the charge explodes approximately four meters from the target, and a second when the EFP hits the armored vehicle.”
The organization noted that using EFPs with Lancet drones gives them “the greatest effect on the battlefield.”
Although these advances will put some Ukrainian vehicles at risk, the best-protected vehicles should still be able to repel attacks, Forbes said.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat told LIGA.net how to best counter drones consists of shooting them down in mid-flight or suppressing them using electronic warfare.
He said Ukrainian forces could target Orlan-10 drones, used for reconnaissance to help the Lancets find their targets.
Russian Lancet drones have become a scourge on the battlefield in Ukraine, and were progress in their range and capabilities.
Read the original article on Business Insider