Artillery crisis in the Russian army; Russian artillerymen flee from battles because of drones

[Starmix]

According to the report, at the start of the full-scale war, Russian artillery was considered one of the Kremlin's main trump cards: massive shelling created "fire curtains" behind which troops advanced. At the time, Russia was considered to have 10 times more guns than Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regularly asked his allies for shells. Much has changed since then. As the commander of the Typhoon UAV unit of the National Guard of Ukraine, call sign "Michael", told Forbes, artillery has not disappeared - but now the main threat is drones. Ukraine has made great strides in counter-battery warfare. Cannons that open fire can be detected by counter-battery radars, such as the American AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder, which track the projectile's trajectory and calculate its point of origin. In addition, new-generation acoustic sensors are being actively introduced. "Radar is the first stage. It determines the approximate area, but not the point. Often it is an area of 200 by 200 meters - too large for a precise strike," the military man emphasized. Therefore, the use of drones with wide coverage is necessary later, both with real-time video transmission and high-resolution photography. They allow you to accurately determine whether the weapon is in place and transmit the coordinates.

The report also stated that the easiest way to detect artillery is when it fires - flashes, smoke, movement of the crew. Even if the gun is partially hidden by trees or buildings, we recognize it by its silhouette. In the forest, we look for tracks, disturbed soil, heat from equipment," Michael noted. After confirming the coordinates, the strike must be carried out immediately - before the weapon leaves its position. While counter-battery fire remains relevant, in many cases, howitzers are already being replaced by drones." FPV drones - both quadcopters and gliders - are often more accurate and faster than artillery. A quality drone is the most effective way to destroy an artillery system," the military officer emphasized. In practice, a drone can fly slower than a projectile, but it can reach the target faster, since it does not require sighting and fire adjustment. FPV can fly for several minutes, but hit the target on the first try. Artillery, in turn, requires several volleys, especially if the target is moving.

The report added that if the gun is self-propelled, it can leave before the shell arrives. A drone can follow artillery and hit it even on the move. It is more difficult with towed guns - they need to be hit by their elements: breech, sight, towing vehicle."The main thing is stable video communication. Without it, the operator will not be able to accurately aim the drone," explains the Ukrainian military man. According to him, new "fiber drones" help with this, as they do not lose communication even in difficult conditions. After the strike, a reconnaissance drone is used to confirm the destruction." Russian artillery still poses a serious threat," confirms Michael." However, there are still many Russian reconnaissance drones, for example, even though several thousand of them have been shot down. But it is a fact that Russian artillerymen flee from battles because of drones.

Watch the report on the YouTube link.