Drones that linger on the battlefield and can be recovered later are often cheaper and more accurate than one-way attack drones, according to a new report from a leading digital imaging and electronics conglomerate.
The white paper was written by the FLIR Defense division of Teledyne Technologies. (FLIR stands for forward looking infrared.) The report says that newer and more sophisticated recoverable loitering munitions are more effective in the “atmospheric littoral,” or a few hundred feet above the ground.
Traditional loitering drones stay in a specific area until a suitable target is located before crashing into it. FLIR Defense argues that recoverable drones can be turned around if no target is available or mission conditions change.
Additionally, the report claims that loitering drones can be fitted with inert payloads to make training with the technology easier and more affordable.
Even if loitering drones don’t hit their target, it’s a sunk cost because most attack drones are single-use, FLIR Defense says.
“Recoverable LMUAS [loitering munition unmanned aircraft systems] offer small fighting units an enormous advantage when they can train more efficiently, deliver precision effects on the battlefield, and yet be able to reuse a system when target conditions change up to the last second,” Dave Viens, vice president of U.S. business development at Teledyne FLIR Defense, said in a statement.
The paper points to FLIR Defense’s Rogue 1 recoverable system as an example of the successful use of the technology. The weapon’s patented gimballed, or flexible, warhead design improves accuracy for operators, helping disable key parts of heavily armored targets.
“We believe the critical technologies embodied in our Rogue 1 lethal [unmanned aerial system] offer distinct advantages to traditional one-way FPV drones, giving combat units the edge they need to dominate the atmospheric littoral,” Mr. Viens said.
The report comes as drone warfare emerges as a crucial part of the modern battlefield. So-called suicide drones have been a key part of Ukraine’s defensive and offensive strategies in its war against Russia. Over the past few months, Ukraine has launched hundreds of drones into Russian territory to strike at the country’s energy infrastructure.
Russia has followed suit, developing its own drones domestically and purchasing loitering drones from Iran. Last week, Russia launched one of the largest drone attacks on Ukraine’s capital, killing at least 12 people.
