Newer drones haven’t dethroned the FPV, and Russia fears our bomber drones, Ukrainian commander says

Ukraine's first-person-view (FPV) drones retain their central role in the war against Russia, a Ukrainian officer told Ukrinform. The high-tech systems remain a primary tool for precision strikes, despite the appearance of newer unmanned systems. Ukrainian forces boast an additional advantage in the form of larger bomber drones, which carry and release munitions before returning to base.

Captain Anton Bobrovskyi, who commands a company training unmanned-systems specialists at the 199th Training Center of the Air Assault Forces, confirmed that FPVs have become the leading means of precision engagement since they entered service. He further stated that this trend will continue to persist. Although Bobrovskyi acknowledged Russia's effective drone tactics, he maintained Ukraine's leadership in the category of bomber drones.

According to Bobrovskyi, Ukraine significantly outmatches Russia in such systems, often leaving Russian troops at a loss when they encounter one. The disparity is crucial as bomber drones serve a different purpose than FPVs, which are designed for single-use. In contrast, bomber drones hold the capacity to carry and release munitions, then continue their mission.

While Ukraine safeguards its bomber-drone edge, Bobrovskyi clarified that it doesn't imply Russia lacks comparable technology. Instead, he argued that Ukrainian forces and society pioneered many current battlefield drone trends, maintaining their initiative in using them. Each new drone class triggers the development of corresponding countermeasures, so the side that consistently innovates fastest holds the battlefield initiative.

The longevity of Ukraine's bomber-drone advantage will hinge on its capacity to continue protecting and upgrading these platforms.