Russian drones now wield flamethrower warheads on front lines

Russian Molniya-2 drones, known for their simplicity and efficiency, are now being equipped by the military with new warheads. According to Defense Express, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have begun installing RPO-A Shmel components (thermobaric warhead version) on these drones. Designed to be as cost-effective as possible, these drones have now become a greater threat on the front lines.

A video published by the Russian Ministry of Defence shows the installation of these warheads, as noted by social media users. Although it is unknown how widespread this practice is, it demonstrates the versatility of the Molniya-2 design. These drones have previously been seen with other improvised warheads, such as KZ-6 explosive charges or RPG-7 anti-tank grenades.

In recent weeks, however, the Russians have begun upgrading this design. Evidence of this includes the presence of the mentioned RPO-A Shmel warheads and previously seen TM-62 anti-tank mines.

As Defense Express notes, experts associated with the arms industry warn that the simplicity of the design and the use of materials available in many hardware stores for producing Molniya-2 drones mean that the Russians can easily increase the production of these designs.

To clarify, the Molniya-2 drone is an advancement of its predecessor, the Molniya-1. Both of these unmanned aerial vehicles were designed with a simple construction in mind, translating to low production costs. The Molniya-2 is primarily constructed from plywood and aluminum tubes that make up the frame. The wings and stabilizers of the structure are made of lightweight materials to enable soldiers to quickly assembly and deploy the weapons on the front lines.

The propulsion of this weapon is a simple electric motor (most likely of Chinese origin), which propels the drone to a speed of 80 km/h. The flight range is approximately 40 kilometres, although it may vary depending on the payload.