Russian camouflage fails: Drones detect soldiers with ease
The Russian method of concealing soldiers from Ukrainian drone attacks is proving ineffective on the battlefield. Instead of complicating matters for Ukrainian pilots, the camouflage is having the opposite effect.
The advancement of technology is transforming the nature of war and introducing new challenges for soldiers. The Russian military has introduced a solution intended to assist them in avoiding detection by Ukrainian drones. The outcome? Equipment designed to provide effective camouflage is actually increasing soldiers' visibility. According to "The Telegraph," special coats and thermal blankets are ineffective at the front lines.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army colonel, emphasises that this type of protection fails to fulfil 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 employ drones operated by specialised units that have command over them. As reported by UNITED24 Media, these devices use thermal imaging, which effectively and precisely locates the enemy, rendering these drones exceptionally dangerous for the opponent. As a result, they can identify and eliminate enemy positions even at night, preventing attempts to conceal their whereabouts.
This was supposed to protect Russian soldiers from drones
An incident near Lyman highlights the problem with the solution. Russian soldiers using so-called "anti-drone coats," who advanced towards Ukrainian positions, were swiftly located by Ukrainian FPV drones.
Another Russian assault group had access to higher-quality thermal blankets but could not effectively use them. The blankets did not fully cover the soldiers' bodies, exposing their arms, legs, and even heads, thereby revealing their positions. Nick Reynolds from the Royal United Services Institute notes that Russian soldiers often fail to use their equipment correctly. Even high-quality thermal blankets, if misused, will not offer protection against an attack.
Some thermal suits available to Russian soldiers can be purchased online for as little as €44. They are usually made of multi-layered materials, such as polymers, microfibres, and fabrics with metallic particles, and weigh around 2.3 kilograms. Despite this, their effectiveness is questionable.
