Ukraine brings tanks back to the front, shielding them with drones and metal wire cages
Ukraine's army is using a new tactic in which tanks and infantry fighting vehicles move in small groups alongside escort drones. The US magazine Forbes describes it based on frontline video.
Ukrainian soldiers have started using a new armoured-vehicle tactic that allows limited mechanised manoeuvres despite the constant threat of Russian drones. Tanks and infantry fighting vehicles operate together with escort drones and receive extra protection against unmanned aircraft, according to Forbes magazine. The development matters because strike drones had sharply limited the use of armour during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
From tanks to infantry and back
Tanks played an important role early in the invasion. As strike drones spread, both sides increasingly relied on infantry operations. The article's author concludes that Ukrainians have now adapted tank use to modern battlefield conditions.
What the video shows
Forbes examined a video in which a Ukrainian tank and a US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle drive along a road during Russian drone attacks while continuing to fire at identified targets. Ukrainian FPV (first-person-view) drones accompany the vehicles and intercept enemy unmanned aircraft. In one episode, a Ukrainian drone chases a Russian one and destroys it before it hits the tank.
Heavy "Vampire" bomber drones fly ahead, scouting enemy positions and dropping munitions where Russian soldiers may be located. Additional protection comes from so-called "hedgehog armour": metal wires projecting from the hull so that drones detonate before reaching the armour. In the video, the Bradley is hit by a "Molnija" drone but, judging by the footage, suffers only minor damage and keeps moving.
The vehicles advance in groups of two or three, because large columns are easier to spot and need more drones and operators to defend.
Weak points
The tactic has drawbacks. Intercepting enemy drones can leave gaps in cover, and "Vampire" drones must periodically return to reload munitions and recharge batteries. Extra armour does not guarantee safety either, as repeated hits can eventually disable a vehicle.
Ukraine uses the tactic in several sectors, notably the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, where successful counteroffensive operations are under way. The analyst says future effectiveness will depend on which side can use drones to secure local air superiority. He also forecasts that Russia may adopt the Ukrainian solutions.
