Russian drones detonate Ukrainian roadside bombs – MOD (VIDEO)
Weaponized drones are now a fixture on the battlefields of the Ukraine conflict. However, they are also being employed to clear explosives, as shown by a new video released by the Russian Defense Ministry.
A remotely-operated quadcopter drone can carry and drop a small explosive – often a standard mortar round – turning it into a short-range, improvised bomber. In addition to targeting enemy troops and dugouts, such drones can be used to detonate mines or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from a safe distance.
Footage published on Sunday by the Russian military shows soldiers with an Airborne Troops engineering unit using drones to deploy charges on suspected roadside bombs on the front line in Zaporozhye Region. Several examples appeared in the video, all recorded during active combat missions.
In a separate development last month, Russian defense conglomerate Rostec introduced a more controlled method for disarming explosives remotely. The company unveiled a land-based robot equipped with a small laser capable of liquefying explosive material inside a device without detonating it.
The robot is battery-powered and can be operated from several kilometers away, Rostec said. Traditional bomb disposal robots tend to be larger and are equipped with multiple tools to disarm devices in more controlled settings.
