First Person View Drones (FPV), which are small, agile, deadly accurate and easily accessible in the Open/ Net Market, are being extensively used by Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing war. It has caused huge damage and losses to both sides. These incredibly fast, precise, relatively simple to operate, inexpensive and lethal weapons are the mainstays of the Russia-Ukraine War since near the end of 2023. The Indian Army must prepare and find ways to deal with this weapon, both as an opportunity for forces and as a threat against them. It must procure necessary countermeasures and adapt/change its military doctrines accordingly.
Palestinian Terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah used these Drones against Israel on October 7, 2023, followed by both Russia and Ukraine. These are being used for attacks on Observation Posts, Communication and Energy Centres, Intelligence Collection prior to the Offensive, as well as during Combat and subsequent/follow-up Attacks. However, drone threats can be neutralised by jamming and detection as well as mitigation by smart shooter targeting systems, which can identify and intercept drones using Kinetic Energy. FPV Drones are operated by a Person wearing Augmented Reality Goggles fitted with an Antenna. Operators can see/scan the area of operation by using cameras fitted on the drone. These Drones attain speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour immediately on launch, perform Complex Aeronautical Manoeuvres, move through small windows/ chimneys and Navigate through anything precisely, at a Top Speed of 200 kilometres per hour. Chinese Company DJI mass manufactures them at just a few hundred dollars per drone, which is available without a licence in electronic shops worldwide and online. There are self-assembly drones, which are shipped in parts and assembled by the end user.
In the ongoing Russo-Ukraine War, these Drones were armed and equipped with a limited payload of explosives, which caused limited damage when they exploded in open areas. But this very payload of explosives can kill a person in a Direct Strike and cause extensive damage to Vehicles, Cargo Trucks, Tanks, Armoured Personnel Carriers and Concrete Superstructures by penetration done by a Skilled Navigator, as was seen in battlegrounds in Ukraine and Russia. A Drone penetrating a Vehicle/Cargo Truck/Tank/APC Superstructure through a small opening kills all occupants. Any attempt to down such a Drone in the open, using Light Firearms, is a certain failure as Drone targets/kills in a self-destructive suicide attack. For the past two or three years, FPV Drones have been able to reach any location with absolute precision and accuracy during attacks. Comparative low prices of components, improvement in the Navigation System, Automatic stabilising capabilities and simplification of control have resulted in a precise, accessible and easy system, which has made them a most sought-after weapon now. It can kill Soldiers inside a Tank/APC, Bomb Shelter or any other type of Structure. In the near future, FPV Drones may/would be used in Pinpoint Assassinations with little collateral damage. These would be more effective than precise Maneuvers of combat helicopters/drones costing thousands or lakhs of dollars. As per Defence Analysts, FPV Drones would be even more effective than Artillery.
The size and speed of FPV Drones make them a focused and effective weapon. The hardcover of Bunkers/ Tanks/APCs may/would help protect them from attacks by Helicopters/ Drones carrying large payloads but would certainly be less effective against a small, fast FPV Drone coming in at a low altitude navigated to explode inside them. Our ability to counter FPV Drones is doubtful. Radars of our Interceptor Systems are relatively large and generally unable to pick up these small drone objects. Our three-foot-long Interceptor Missiles, operating at a much higher altitude, would be irrelevant when dealing with a weapon that is just a few centimetres in size and can fly at almost ground level. On the other hand, specialised aiming systems, such as the Smart Shooter Aiming System on some Small Firearms, would also be irrelevant while dealing with these fast-moving threats in the open.
These drones would be used in challenging combat conditions, such as underground tunnels, buildings, and structures in densely populated areas. So, wider procurement of FPV Drones, training soldiers to fly them, evolution of appropriate Military Doctrines, and analysis of lessons learned by Hamas/ Hezbollah, Israel, Russia and Ukraine on their battlefield will have to be undertaken on War Footing by the Indian Army. We would be required to set up due mechanisms for manufacturing enough FPV Drones, as no other nation can be relied on to ensure a continuous supply of both Drones and their Components. In addition, India must prepare to defend against FPV Drones, given their increased prevalence by China and Muslim Countries ready to help Pakistan, where increased ease of self-assembly is a threat the Army can not underestimate. India must be ready before the threat appears, for under-preparedness has damaged us enough in the past.
One thing is clear. To be strategically cost-effective, FPV drone manufacturers would have to be in tens of thousands or even millions per year during the war period. Every day, more than a few thousand drones would be required to be launched against the enemy. The reason is that even if around 90 per cent of FPV Drones Missions are intercepted by the enemy, the remaining 10 per cent would be able to hit the target at a relatively low cost with high-level precision, compared to the Alternatives Weapon System enumerated above.
FPV Drone threat can be countered by disrupting communications between the device and its operator. Existing systems are capable of identifying and jamming Drones at/from a distance of up to five kilometres, but while dealing with a threat capable of flying at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour, it could/might be ineffective. On the other hand, interfering with communications between the drone and the operator may not be relevant if the FPV Drone is flown using high-grade Artificial Intelligence. They are deadly and carry enormous potential for Armies, terrorist organisations and lone-wolf attackers to carry out Precise and Targeted Attacks on individuals or other targets. India needs to accelerate and adopt this technology as well as develop relevant training programs and military doctrines. The need of the hour is to prepare ourselves to deal with this threat with the help of a vast number of Drone users and a leading Defence Industry. We are sure that Government and Military leaders will give this issue the attention it deserves.
