Because the Ukraine Warfare intensifies, the Russian army has reportedly stepped up utilizing kamikaze drones like KUB-BLA (Cuba) alongside all the entrance line.
The elevated reliance on kamikaze drones over artillery fireplace probably alerts a paradigm shift in Russian ways – a shift launched to counter excessive mobility offensive probing by Ukrainian forces.
In this text, we dwelt on Russia’s elevated use of surveillance drones to plug gaps within the deployment of Russian forces alongside the entrance line.
On October 28, Izvestia reported that items of the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) used Cuba drones to destroy shelters for the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
In line with Izvestia correspondent Natalia Grafchikova, Russian forces first launched a reconnaissance drone to find and pinpoint the goal coordinates. Subsequent, they attacked the goal utilizing kamikaze drones fitted with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
In line with the Russian Airborne Forces unit commander, “Artillery inflicts fireplace harm to a wider space, and there’s a massive consumption of ammunition. Loitering ammunition means that you can instantly inflict fireplace harm proper on the right track.”
It’s attainable to launch Cuba from unprepared websites, even the roof of a automotive! For the protection of the personnel working the drones, the drones are launched from a location outdoors the adversary artillery vary. The launch will not be rocket-assisted and therefore tough to detect.
KUB-BLA Traits
The KUB-BLA is manufactured by ZALA Aero, which is a part of the Kalashnikov Group of Corporations. It’s a comparatively small (1.2m wingspan) drone with a 3 kg warhead and a high velocity of 130 kph.
Its excellent options embody silent operation, stealth design, lengthy loiter functionality, and, most importantly, the flexibility to establish its goal utilizing AI. The drones have an accuracy between 5 to 10 m.
ZALA Aero says some great benefits of KUB-BLA embody “excessive accuracy, hidden launch, noiselessness, and ease of use.”
“The explosive could be delivered to the goal no matter how nicely hidden it’s. It operates at each excessive and low altitudes no matter hidden terrains.”
The drone is programmed to autonomously navigate utilizing SATNAV to a goal positioned on the coordinates fed into the drone. The goal coordinates can probably be up to date in flight based mostly on information streamed by a surveillance drone overlaying the goal space.
The drone is powered by a pusher propeller at its rear pushed by a silent electrical motor. The battery-powered drone has a flight endurance of 30 min.
Capability To Penetrate Adversary Defences
After launch, the drone autonomously navigates to the goal space and dives onto the goal. Low observable (LO) aerodynamic shaping makes radar detection tough.
LO shaping and the entire absence of warmth signature virtually rule profitable adversary MANPAD assault. Audio stealth mixed with LO shaping and the absence of warmth signature considerably will increase the chance of the “Cuba” reaching the goal location.
Sometimes, the drone is used to neutralize targets comparable to enemy dugouts, single or a bunch of armored automobiles, and accumulation of manpower, together with manpower, hiding undercover in a forest or dispersed alongside a trench.
Contemplating that the drone’s warhead is a mere 3 kg, it’s unlikely {that a} single drone could be efficient towards a bunch of armored automobiles.
Russian forces are utilizing small swarms comprising 2 to three drones launched at quick intervals to assault groupings. Swarm assault will increase the chance of no less than one drone putting the goal in case of attrition from ground-based defenses.
Additionally, swarms give operators the pliability for fast follow-up assaults on dispersing armored automobiles or infantry troopers.
Serial Manufacturing
The “Cuba” was unveiled at IDEX 2019. State trials had been accomplished on the finish of 2021. Russia used the drone initially of the particular army operations.
Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence directorate, just lately said in a media interview, “Sure, on the very starting of the battle on February 24 and so forth, there have been a number of circumstances recorded of the appliance of a Russian loitering munition referred to as Kub.”
Till now, the usage of drones by Russian forces has been sparing. The Russian MoD, on Might 18, 2022, launched video footage of American M777 howitzers with a Ukrainian artillery crew being struck by a KUB.
It’s probably Russia has been utilizing the drones sparingly both due to operational shortcomings or a scarcity of stock. Elevated use of the drone now would point out that operational glitches have been eliminated and serial manufacturing has began.
The numerous ramp-up in Russian drone utilization belies Western claims concerning the Russian lack of ability to supply high-tech army tools due to sanctions.
- Vijainder Ok Thakur is a retired IAF Jaguar pilot. He’s additionally an writer, software program architect, entrepreneur, and army analyst.
- Attain out to the writer at vkthakur (at) gmail.com
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