Failed camouflage: Russian anti-drone gear backfires in battle
The Russian method of hiding soldiers from Ukrainian drone attacks is ineffective on the battlefield. Instead of making it harder for Ukrainian pilots, the camouflage achieves the opposite.
The evolution of technology is transforming the nature of warfare and presenting new challenges to soldiers. The Russian military introduced a solution intended to help them conceal themselves from Ukrainian drones. The result? The equipment that was supposed to provide effective camouflage actually increases the visibility of soldiers. According to "The Telegraph," special coats and thermal blankets do not help at the front.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army colonel, emphasizes that this type of protection does not fulfill its function. Instead of concealing body heat, cold spots appear on the viewer, standing out against the warmer surroundings. This makes soldiers easy targets for Ukrainian drones.
The Ukrainian armed forces use drones operated by special units that control them. As reported by UNITED24 Media, the devices use thermal imaging, which effectively and precisely locates the enemy, making these drones exceptionally dangerous for opponents. Thanks to this, they can locate and eliminate enemy positions even at night, thwarting attempts to hide from the enemy.
This was supposed to protect Russian soldiers from drones
An incident near Lyman highlights the issue with the solution. Russian soldiers using so-called "anti-drone coats," who began approaching Ukrainian positions, were quickly located by Ukrainian FPV drones.
Another Russian assault group had access to higher quality thermal blankets but could not use them effectively. The blankets did not fully cover the soldiers' bodies, so their arms, legs, and even heads were visible, revealing their positions. Nick Reynolds from the Royal United Services Institute notes that Russian soldiers often cannot properly use their equipment. Even higher quality thermal blankets, if used improperly, will not protect against an attack.
Some thermal suits available to Russian soldiers can be purchased online for as little as $47 (CAD 65). They are usually made of multi-layered materials, such as polymers, microfibres, and fabrics with metallic particles, and weigh about 2 kg. Despite this, their effectiveness is in doubt.
