Re:Racing drones are used as improvised missiles in Ukraine
by mrguyorama on Wednesday March 29, 2023 @02:11PM
(#35361014)
On certain NSFW war subreddits, there is often passed around a picture that is claimed to be "this is what Ukraine suicide drones look like" that is a picture of like 7 standard racing drones with what looks like an extra large RPG round or a 105mm artillery round and no batteries. I have a really hard time believing that those tiny, smaller than a Mavic, drones can really lift and fly usefully with 40 pounds of steel and explosive strapped under them. Notably it's always the exact same picture whenever someone asks, and I've never seen any other evidence of small homemade suicide drones carrying entire artillery shells, as usually they only carry a few ounces of C4 or another explosive compound.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:Racing drones are used as improvised missiles in Ukraine
by lazide on Wednesday March 29, 2023 @02:37PM
(#35361357)
While possible, a normal racing drone isn't going to be able to carry more than 1lb. without major changes.
The picture in the link looks like a DJI M300 RTK (I believe), which has a payload capacity ~ 5-8 lbs, and is their major new industrial drone.
Re:Racing drones are used as improvised missiles in Ukraine
by jurimasa on Wednesday March 29, 2023 @02:26PM
(#35361209)
Then you haven't looked very well. There are plenty of videos of said drones at work.
Re:Racing drones are used as improvised missiles in Ukraine
by mrguyorama on Wednesday March 29, 2023 @03:28PM
(#35362079)
I have seen plenty of FPV videos of homebuilt racing drones with wires across the front for fusing some explosive charge. I have seen another drone watch a small racing drone hit an APC with people riding on it and explode with what is probably a few ounces to a pound of C4. I have seen FPV drones supposedly carrying RPG rounds to attack lightly armored vehicles.
I have seen zero videos of racing drones not even a foot long and foot wide carrying 30 pound artillery shells. I have seen zero footage of those tiny racing drones in the air under their own power carrying a 30 pound artillery shell. I have seen zero evidence of it even being possible for a notebook sized racing drone to carry 30 pounds.
Re:Racing drones are used as improvised missiles in Ukraine
by sacnoradhq on Wednesday March 29, 2023 @05:48PM
(#35364238)
There's likely a mix of both propaganda and real videos. Critical thinking skills are needed to decide on a case-by-case basis rather than lump a range of videos into one conclusion or another.