For the residents of the quiet town of Salavat, near Russia’s border with Kazakhstan, the war with Ukraine, a nation 1,500 Kilometers away is a distant reality. The city a major petrochemical and alcohol hub, the area more known for hosting the BRICS Summit. The quietness shattered and the headlines put the spotlight back on the region as a Ukrainian drone cheated what Russia touts as one of the most advanced air defence system in the world to hit a strategic target. Ironically, this on May 9 as Russia marked victory over the last invader from the West. Ukraine also claims to have hit two oil depots in Krasnodar region of Russia on the same day.
The drone strike most likely carried out after modifying and converting the Ukraine-made Aeroprakt A-32 Vixxen or the A-22 Foxbat on a one-way mission to the oil refinery nearly a thousand miles away. Hitting the target, although not causing a lot of damage as the Russian side claims that the production from the plant was not hampered. The Ukrainians had hit another Russian oil production unit in Tatarstan, some 1,300 km from Russia in April.
The conflict in Ukraine is the prime example of how relatively cheap drones can cause asymmetric damage even against technologically more advanced foes. This use where a light general aviation aircraft was allegedly used after modifications by the Ukrainians shows how a technologically inferior force can hit a target normally engaged by a cruise missile, but at a fraction of the cost. Even an anti-aircraft missile fired to take down the drone would cost more than the target.
India too is investing heavily in drones and Loitering Attack Munitions (LAMs) across the capability spectrum. Even DRDO’s Combat Air Teaming (CATS) program has dedicated LAMs that will be integrated with fighter aircrafts in the future. CATS Warrior, the loyal -wingman flagship of the program will also have a one-way kamikaze mode. The forces will in the near future have access to drones that can take on targets from the tactical level to strategic level, providing the man on the ground with exceptional level of lethality, while keeping him safe. Both domestically produced and imported LAMs are in service. The forces are also inducting equipment to counter drones.
Dhruv Yadav
