Russia’s ability to jam Ukraine’s drones has only gotten better, forcing drone operators to move closer to the front lines and putting those highly valuable troops in more danger as Ukraine’s counteroffensive churns on.
Ukrainian drone operators told BBC News that Russian forces have moved many of their cyber teams, including jammers, close to the front lines of the war, and extending the range of jamming technology closer to Ukraine’s troops.
That’s forced Ukraine to shuffle its drone operators, such as first-person-view (FPV) pilots, closer to avoid jamming and counter Russia’s own drone operators.
In the early months after Russia’s full-scale invasion, drone operators could pilot miles from the front, which kept them safer from conflict.
But this escalation puts both sides’ drone teams at risk of getting hit by artillery fire or heavy armor and infantry shredding through the front line.
Drone operators, who have received extensive training, are indispensable for their side — and high-value targets for enemies.
An expert previously told Insider that “operators are the most valuable thing here because an experienced operator who survives can pilot multiple FPV drones against targets,” adding that “both sides are prioritizing going after the operator.”
One Ukrainian engineer told PBS Newshour earlier this year that it wasn’t uncommon for drone operators to hunt each other, and another said his video gaming skills have helped him with FPV drone piloting.
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) warfare has been a major aspect of the conflict in Ukraine; operators use drones to conduct surveillance and drop explosives on unsuspecting enemies.
Some of these relatively cheaper drones can have an outsized impact, with some FPV drones taking out high-cost, high-value targets such as Russian T-90 tanks.
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