Ukraine arms its drones with unguided rockets
FP-1/2 UAV (Photo: Скриншот із відео/Х/front_ukrainian)
A video recently posted online shows a Ukrainian FP-1
or FP-2 kamikaze drone firing unguided rockets at enemy forces, Defense Express reported on May 12.
The footage appears to show a Russian mobile anti-air squad trying
to intercept the drone. Rather than wait to be shot down, the drone responded
by launching unguided aerial rockets, Defense Express wrote — the first
documented instance of Ukraine’s long-range drones being armed with such
rockets.
Defense Express said the munitions are likely Soviet-era S-5 rockets (57 mm) or S-8 rockets (80 mm). Each launcher holds four rockets; two launchers are mounted on each wing of the FP-1/FP-2, yielding a full salvo of eight rockets. That firepower could be sufficient against mobile fire groups that typically operate in the open in unarmored vehicles with machine guns, the outlet said.
Defense Express added that Russian forces have been
expanding the number of mobile fire groups to counter growing problems from
Ukrainian drone strikes at longer ranges. The new FP-1/FP-2 variant armed with
unguided rockets is intended to fight those groups. It remains unclear whether
the drones can carry the rockets and their standard warhead at the same time.
The mere presence of rockets on FP drones, the analysis said, should force
Russian units to operate more cautiously and strengthen protection for mobile
fire groups.
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