Russia’s Drone Upgrades: Modifications of ‘Lightning’ and New Tactics in Warfare
In July of this year, Ukrainian military forces achieved a significant breakthrough by destroying a Russian drone known as ‘Orlan,’ which was equipped with two FPV drones dubbed as ‘mother drones.’ This event underscored the ongoing enhancement of military technology and enemy tactics.
Further investigations revealed that Russian troops are actively reconfiguring their strike UAVs, particularly modifying the ‘Lightning’ drone to carry FPV drones mounted on specialized stations, substantially increasing their tactical effectiveness.
The upgraded version of ‘Lightning’ now features reinforced batteries, granting it an extended flight range and enabling prolonged missions.
Military experts note that Ukrainian and Russian drones employ different approaches in design and deployment.
Ukraine develops a diverse array of unmanned aircraft tailored for various missions, whereas Russia relies on core models like the ‘Shahed’ for strikes and the affordable, mass-produced ‘Lightning.’ There are ongoing experiments aimed at improving control systems and operational use, indicating a fierce technological rivalry.
Notably, reports mention that Russian drones are equipped with cameras and remote control capabilities via the internet, which allows operators to manage the drones from within Russia, facilitating reconnaissance and attacks on moving targets.