Lasers, shockwaves and interceptors: an expert’s analysis of combating enemy UAVs

On his channel, the expert discussed the Kremlin’s new approaches to the use of drones. He noted that Russia understood the potential of uncrewed aerial vehicles, having begun to purchase relevant technologies from Iran and create new production facilities. After setting up production facilities, they changed tactics, using hundreds of drones in one attack. This allows them to overload Ukraine’s air defense systems as much as possible and identify their location for a subsequent strike.

The expert points out that although air defense systems are designed to combat cruise and ballistic missiles, their use for drones is too expensive. In response to such threats, the Ukrainian side began to form mobile groups with large-caliber machine guns. But Russian drones are being modernized, and now they can fly at an altitude of more than 4-5 km, which makes it difficult to destroy them.

Starikov emphasizes that it is practically impossible to create an effective and affordable air defense system against drones if more than a thousand units are produced at a time. All military technologists in the world are currently working on a solution that would allow shooting down drones at a distance of up to 5 km with a large amount of ammunition.

According to the expert, we are still far from the introduction of laser weapons, as depicted in “Star Wars”. For now, mechanical combat remains the primary method, involving gunfire, airwaves, and the use of interceptor drones. But these solutions take time, and an urgent solution is needed today.