FPV KILLER DRONES: AN URGENT CALL TO ACTION‼️
It’s the FPV kamikaze drones – they are the future of war. The future of killer drones which has already arrived.
Abstract (TL;DR):
FPV kamikaze drones have changed the warfare in Ukraine and will continue to do so, replacing many other technologies because of their cheap price, versatility and stunning efficiency. FPV drones are the future of war everywhere across the globe, the future that is already present on the battlefields in Ukraine. To BOOST Ukrainian FPV drone capabilities and help Ukrainians get an upper hand in this existential war against genocidal enemy - russians - donate directly to a Ukrainian volunteer, activist and civil society leader Sternenko, who is at the very forefront of FPV research, procurement and combat application.
Donate to PayPal: sternenkopaypal@gmail.com
The rest of the article describes different aspects of the modern FPV drone technology.
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Serhii Sternenko is a prominent Ukrainian volunteer, activist, lawyer, fighter for civil rights and liberties in Ukraine and civil society leader (@sternenko on Twitter), who lives in Ukraine, fought in this war during russian invasion of the north of Ukraine & near Kyiv and who now specializes in FPV drone technology and procurement of the FPV drone systems.
Photo: Sternenko near the frontline with the Ukrainian Defenders, assessing one of the FPV drone kits which he and his team delivered to the troops
Sternenko warns about the rapidly growing threat of the FPV kamikaze drones.
FPV - First-Person View, also known as remote-person view (RPV), or -also- as “video-piloting drones” are rapidly flying drone platforms, steered by drone operators right into the target, relying solely on video feed, where GPS navigation is not required nor possible. This is extremely important and beneficial, especially in the real combat environment where the adversary (russian invaders) efficiently suppress or completely denies GPS navigation and signal transmission using sophisticated electronic warfare systems.
Photo: FPV drone with a simple, cheap and effective explosive charge (various charges can easily be adapted for usage on FPV drones)
Sternenko provides a good idea what kind of a tectonic shift an advent of the FPV drone technology currently is:
– “Here’s the deal with FPV kamikaze drones and a good analogy to fully comprehend the gravity of the issue we have at our hands.
In terms of FPV kamikaze drones we all are in a similar situation as the World was with the early tanks, when they just appeared on the battlefields of the WWI in 1916.
This was a revolution, a breakthrough, something that forever changed the way the war had been waged.
So what was done then with early tanks and what should be done now with FPV kamikaze drones?
1. You needed your own tanks.
2. You needed to create specialized dedicated tank units.
3. It was necessary to develop and implement the doctrine of the combat application of tanks. Full, comprehensive assistance was provided to commanders regarding the tank use.
4. Development and deployment of anti-tank weapons to the troops was fast-forwarded”.
—
Now replace the «Tank» with the «FPV Drone».
The same approach which was used then should be urgently replicated today with the FPV kamikaze drones and their swarms.
russians are already deploying such swarms of nighttime FPV drones against Ukrainian Defenders - such night-mode FPVs (they can also operate in other low-visibility environments) are equipped with thermal or dual thermal-night vision cameras.
Photo: a still from a FPV video feed - Ukrainian Defenders, performing combat casualty evacuation, next to their CASEVAC vehicle - fraction of a second before being struck by a russian FPV killer drone
The FPV tech - a rapidly developing technology - already proved to be very efficient on the frontlines and extremely dangerous.
It is literally the future of warfare.
The AI target recognition & acquisition has not been applied to this extremely formidable weapon system - but only just yet. The electronic warfare (EW) systems which might be used as countermeasures against the FPV kamikaze technology are just not there - not in numbers, not in scale, not in terms of affordability, price and possible extend of their use and coverage. Far from it. Think about it in terms of spears and shields. The “shields” (EW) have not been fully developed, but even when they will - one can always oversaturate any kind of a defense by sheer numbers (possible with cheap FPVs - they are the “spears” in this analogy).
FPV drones are already developing into sub-branches, where certain subtypes are capable of accurately dropping “dumb” munitions onto the targets (thus transforming them into multi-use systems) and, potentially, others becoming launch platforms for simple but efficient rocket-propelled charges which can destroy targets safely from a distance, evading the electronic warfare suppression of the “carrier” FPV platform and saving it for multiple uses.
Photo: FPV kamikaze drone takes off. An improvised explosive device (IED) is visible, attached to the drone platform with a duct tape
All this FPV “revolution” - and evolution is happening now, while russians are already getting those cheap, efficient FPV platforms in tens of thousands from China and more than likely - very soon - will be getting them even in hundreds of thousands from the Chinese. This is not an exaggeration. The confirmed russian procurement orders ant individual Chinese factories already are for the tens of thousands of FPV drones. And the supply of these platforms is already a state-level priority in russia.
russians are also aggressively investing in retransmitters for these FPV kamikaze drones and advanced signal relay systems, both stationary and aerial: some of the modified russian drones already work as signal boosters/retransmitters and extend the range of the FPV drones to as far as 20+ miles (!) behind the frontline, unfortunately with confirmed successful strikes. The enemy has copied some of the Ukrainian developments in signal relay tech for the FPV drones.
Photo: (a still from Ukrainian Military Television daily stream) - Ukrainian Defender shows a DJI Mavic drone, commonly used for aerial reconnaissance, but in this case adapted to work as a signal booster/signal relay station for Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drones (note a green directional antenna attached at the bottom of the Mavic drone. Three or more such antennas can be attached to such drone
russians are learning fast from Ukrainian Defenders - stealing and replicating the technology and also, which is the most concerning - scaling everything up in terms of numbers, immensely.
FPV kamikaze drones are extremely cheap. They are abundant. They are super efficient. And we are merely at the incipient stage of this tech, which rapidly develops by leaps and bounds, with a lightning speed.
Photo: cheap FPV drone
You are already seeing it, evolving right in front of your eyes: there are confirmed strikes on hundreds, if not thousands of armored vehicles, successful strikes on advanced russian «TOR» anti-air systems and just recently - successful destruction of a russian S-350 “Vityaz” anti-air systems, worth 120+ million USD each, by Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drones worth of 1-2 thousand USD at most. Even cheaper versions of these drones are efficiently used against the infantry and individual soldiers with devastating effects.
But, again, although Ukrainian Defenders were the first to develop and successfully deploy the FPV drone technology in the field via the grassroots efforts of volunteers (in particular Sternenko, who was leading the tide with stunning, mind-boggling results), russians are rapidly catching up and scaling up the FPV drone deployment.
The time to urgently act is right now, because tomorrow will be way too late.
And that goes for both Ukrainians, who are facing the ever growing deadly threat now, at this very moment — on the battlefield of this modern war, and also for the Americans and other partners who soon will be slapped in the face with a mature, developed and battle-tested technology of the foreign adversary. A technology which the enemy already has developed and possesses in abundant numbers.
If you made it this far, you should already be not merely impressed with the FPV killer drones and a massive impact they are making on the frontlines, but also apprehensive and rightfully scared of what’s coming next.
Right now we are at a watershed in terms of who will get an upper hand — and Ukrainian Defenders urgently need FPV kamikaze drones in large numbers. They are a consumable, like many other things in this massive war that rages on.
Photo: a swarm of simple FPV drones with cheap munitions
Ukrainian FPV drones have already stopped a number of russian mechanized assaults pointed at Avdiivka, Krynky and other hotspots on the frontline, thus becoming an extremely important factor which balances the lack of artillery shells — something that recently became a major pressing issue for Ukrainian Defenders. The reason for this are the delays and slowdowns in deliveries of artillery shells by the western partners and the United States.
So what can every and each one of us do to help - significantly and urgently - at this very moment?
The answer is simple:
Go and donate specifically to Sternenko.
Serhii Sternenko is at the forefront of Ukrainian FPV drone development, evolution and application. The impact of his contribution is absolutely immense: more than 22,000 FPV drones‼️ have already been delivered to Ukrainian Defenders by his small team of devoted volunteers. 22 thousand drones — and counting! A spectacular and evergrowing result that is hard to even comprehend.
Photo: Serhii Sternenko next to another batch of FPV drones, which he and his team deliver to the frontline troops (hundreds of FPV drones are delivered daily)
All this became possible because of multiple small donations by Ukrainians and everyone who supported Ukrainian Defenders, contributing to Sternenko.
While larger Ukrainian funds, charities and organizations and also the Ukrainian government and Ministry of Defense unfortunately all lagged behind, Sternenko understood the importance of FPV drones and devoted all of his efforts and energy to supply the troops with this tech. While the rest are (hopefully) catching up, he is still at the very forefront and personally making a massive difference. This is widely recognized and highly valued by our troops.
On this Tuesday, the 19th of December, during the press conference, held by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, a question was asked directly and boldly: “why weren’t we putting enough resources into the development and manufacturing of -specifically- FPV drones and when shall we start doing it?” This exact question was raised by Sternenko himself, boosted and upvoted by thousands of Ukrainians who watched the conference stream and eventually was relayed directly to Zelensky by one of the journalists, live.
Photo: (a still from Presidential press-conference) - President Zelensky answers Sternenko’s question about the urgent need of FPV drones, while Ukrainian viewers are mass-pushing the FPV tag during the live stream
The Ukrainian Volunteer society understands the gravity of the critical issue and the importance of FPV drones. Ukrainian Civilian Volunteers - those who support the Ukrainian troops - are constantly vocal about FPV drones. Sternenko is at the helm of this movement. And the troops on the frontline feel both the terrible impact of enemy’s FPV drones. They also see the difference which our FPV drones are already bringing - every single day. Now there also is a glimmer of hope that the Government and the MOD might also finally start making moves in a proper direction.
Photo: Sternenko near the frontlines with another specialized Ukrainian FPV drone unit
But the change and the adaptation to the new realities of the battlefield have to come not just FAST, but VERY FAST - something that any government or any army as a whole - being a bureaucratic machine at its core - is never great at.
On Wednesday December 20th, just one day after the conference where he was asked about the FPV drones, President Zelensky made a public statement:
“And another thing - regarding the drones in our stocks and what is needed on the front lines. The logistics will be faster. We are also working on making the use of drones, in particular FPV, more efficient everywhere on the frontlines. This is an obvious priority of the Ukrainian state and a very efficient way to protect the lives of our soldiers” — President Zelenskyy said.
Photo: during the daily briefing on the evening of the 20th of December, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces and describes the priorities regarding the FPV drones
But don’t feel placated and soothed. This is an uphill battle we all are facing. Ukrainian Civilian Volunteer society is what made a massive difference during this war and turned the tide in favor of Ukrainian Defenders on many occasions. Ukrainian Civilian Volunteers who are based in Ukraine often fill in the painful gaps in terms of supplies and equipment which military faces and the Volunteers do it fast – unlike the government machine, which takes time to identify the issue and kick in.
The time is what we don’t have. Even more, unfortunately, the time plays on the enemy’s side - on the russian side. As described above, russians are scaling up their efforts in regards of procurement, manufacturing and application of FPV drones — massively. Few days ago Putin also publicly emphasized their coordinated, verticalized effort to scale up the FPV drone production in russia, adapting their facilities to churn out russian FPV drones even more.
The enemy is making progress. And they are moving fast.
At the same time, after President Zelenskyy’s announcement and in connection with that, Sternenko also posted encouraging news:
“Today was extremely busy day for both the decisions made and the actual work on development of FPVs at the state level.
I had meetings with Ukraine’s Ministers and Commanders of the Ukrainian army- all our leaders who are responsible for the drones, their logistics and application.
I laid out both the overall general vision of the FPV drone development and already existing specific developments based on the actual experience of combat units I am in contact with.
We spoke about everything: from production and standardization to the doctrine and staffing of the specialized FPV drone units.
I will not share the details yet, but I will say this: the movement has begun, our public communication with you was not in vain and there is HOPE for great changes.
We will talk about the results when everything planned begins to be implemented.
Thank you for your support. There is a lot of work ahead. I will inform you as much as it is possible and in the amount that can be said and shared publicly.” - Sternenko on Twitter.
Photo: Serhii Sternenko next to a turret of a destroyed russian BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle
The rapid chain of events between Sternenko identifying the issue, Ukrainian public supporting the call to action and eventually President Zelensky also responding in a couple of days and then immediately taking actions - all that is another example what enormous difference Ukrainian Civilian Volunteer society makes in a democratic Ukrainian society. From the rapidly identification of the issues, filling in the void - to applicable, immediate action.
This is what only Ukraine-based, Ukrainian volunteers can do. This is where your support actually matters, because this is how it actually makes a difference.
Immediate, rapid, impactful.
All of that is the result we get - even if it’s in small amounts of the help that you provide. EFFICIENCY and the SPEED are the key here. And these two things are ONLY with the Ukrainians in Ukraine who understand the issues and can act upon them - FAST.
And you have just seen another example how rapidly the progress can be made with the help of Ukrainian civilian volunteer society - and how important these Ukraine-based volunteers are. Specifically Ukraine-based — and no one else.
The reason for this stark delineation is simple: because Ukrainians who are in Ukraine don’t have time to waste. Any time lost is literally thousands of their own lives lost. Lives of their friends and family members on the frontlines.
The ultimate price.
So HELP BOOST UKRAINIAN FPV DRONES:
Donate to where it actually matters and makes a difference:
Donate to ✅@Sternenko directly.
His PayPal: sternenkopaypal@gmail.com
AND REMEMBER:
Every little contribution helps and makes a BIG difference. Especially right now.
A difference that saves Ukrainian lives - both on the battlefield and civilian lives of those who Ukrainian Defenders protect.
Share this call to action. Donate to Sternenko. Help Ukraine win.
