But these models—known as MALE [siglas en inglés de altitud media y largo alcance]— have lost relevance as the conflict has dragged on.
“The front stabilized and became impenetrable as the Russians deployed their” anti-aircraft systems, a European defense industry source said on condition of anonymity. This model of drones became vulnerable, so it “doesn’t fly as much anymore,” she added.
Why has the use of drones increased?
Drone warfare, much cheaper than missiles, is now a matter of numbers.
Most of the explosive drones are shot down by air defense systems and force “the defenders to fire their missiles to exhaust them,” a French military source told AFP. “It also generates terror and uncertainty all the time. In the long run, it has some value,” she added.
What drones do Russia and Ukraine use?
Ukrainian forces use “long-range explosive drones, sometimes Chinese models with Chinese propellers or old Soviet-era reconnaissance drones: the Tu-141. These have explosive charges and can hit targets deep inside Russian territory.” detailed the industrial source to the AFP agency.
Russian industry, for its part, can only provide “about 40 long-range missiles a month.” For this reason, Moscow launches a large number of drones “to increase the number of threat axes, using Shahed-136 drones as scouts to identify gaps in the Ukrainian defense,” said Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds of the British think tank RUSI , quoted by the French agency.