Russian unmanned vehicles showed their fragility and weakness in the context of the Ukrainian conflict, while inexpensive Chinese drones turned out to be much more effective and in demand.
Drones of war
American drones are expensive and unreliable
U.S.-made drones tend to be expensive, fragile and difficult to repair. This was stated by the military and officials who took part in the conflict. According to executives at Skydio, one of the leading drone companies in Silicon Valley, American drones do not operate as efficiently as other systems.
Ukrainian military personnel noted a number of serious shortcomings of American drones: fragility of the design, inability to withstand Russian jammers and GPS shutdown systems, instability during takeoff , performing missions and landing. In addition, drones often did not achieve their stated flight range and could not carry a significant payload.
The success of Chinese drones
In this regard, Ukraine has given preference to more budget-friendly Chinese products, primarily the developments of SZ DJI Technology. In addition, the country has developed its own drone production based on Chinese components, producing hundreds of thousands of inexpensive drones capable of carrying explosives.
It is noteworthy that DJI itself claims to be trying to limit the use of its drones in combat zones, but cannot completely control sales. At the same time, the United States considers DJI a company controlled by the Chinese authorities, which is denied by the manufacturer. The Pentagon has banned the use of DJI drones in the US military over security concerns, and restrictions on Chinese components make the drones more expensive to produce.
Prospects for Skydio
Currently, Ukraine has requested thousands of new Skydio X10 drones, capable of automatically switching frequencies when the signal is jammed and with improved navigation capabilities allowing them to fly at high speeds. altitude without using GPS. Skydio's CEO stressed the critical importance of the X10's success on the Ukrainian battlefield for the entire U.S. drone industry, as there is no alternative.
Glossary
- Skydio is an American company that develops unmanned aerial vehicles from Silicon Valley.
- EW (electronic warfare) - a set of measures for electronic suppression of enemy control systems.
- WSJ (The Wall Street Journal) is an influential American daily newspaper.
- SZ DJI Technology is a Chinese manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles.
- The Pentagon is the building of the US Department of Defense, as well as the metonymic name for the department itself.
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Which drones turned out to be more effective and in demand in the Ukrainian conflict?
What shortcomings of American drones were noted by the Ukrainian military?
Why did Ukraine give preference to Chinese drones?
What measures has the US taken against Chinese drones?
What are the prospects for the American company Skydio in connection with the conflict?
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Discussion of the topic – American drones are failing in the war in Ukraine: Too fragile and short-lived
According to a WSJ report, American drones Skydio from Silicon Valley performed poorly in the war in Ukraine. They are expensive to manufacture and repair, but often fail due to Russian electronic warfare. Many small drones from US startups have failed to live up to expectations.
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