Based on real combat experience, Russia has developed a new line of UAVs that are able to “hibernate” for several weeks before being suddenly activated to attack the target.
According to the Eurasian Times, Russian engineers claim to have developed a technology for the first-person unmanned aerial vehicle (FPV) line called Joker. This new UAV can go into “hibernation” mode for several weeks before being reactivated to attack enemy targets.
During “hibernation”, the UAV does not emit any radio waves, making it immune to the threat of being targeted by enemy electronic warfare.
Russia developed Joker based on combat experience in Ukraine, in the context of the war lasting more than a year showing that UAVs play an increasingly important role in the war.
The director general of the Russian Center for Integrated Drone Solutions (CCBR), Dmitry Kuzyakin, said that the new technology allows the drone to “hibernate” for several weeks after being placed in an attack position.
“Devices for the Joker and Ultimatum UAVs to hibernate have been developed and deployed at the Central Design Bureau,” said Kuzyakin.
He explained that the “hibernation” tactic helps the Russian UAV reduce the time it takes to prepare equipment for an attack.
“It is possible to save flight time and turn on the UAV to trigger an attack. This reduces the enemy’s chance of an interception attempt. An operator can pre-deploy the UAV to an attack position, put them into ‘hibernation’ mode and ‘wake’ up to 15 aircraft for an ambush,” he explained.
He said that the Central Design Bureau is working to be able to take a technological lead when developing first-person UAVs compared to competitors.
Before the attacks, the Joker UAV will be placed on high points or rooftops of high-rise buildings. When starting an ambush, the UAV will “wake up” to go straight to the target, saving time to move and prepare to attack.
However, according to observers, some questions are raised regarding the Joker’s mechanism of action. For example, this UAV can “hibernate” in a relatively flat area or is required to stay above a certain height.
Second, letting the UAV “hibernate” for such a long time contains risks when the combat tactics change. Samuel Bendett from the CNA center (USA) said: “Preserving aircraft in an attack position for a short time can be useful, but letting them hibernate for a long time may not be so effective.”
The Russia-Ukraine war is not the first conflict involving UAVs, but this is the first war where UAVs are considered of such high importance. UAVs have almost had an impact on many stages of the war.
Not only has the task of pointing out artillery and anti-tank weapons to fire at enemy positions, but Russian and Ukrainian UAVs have also repeatedly carried out attack missions and directly destroyed many weapons and military equipment of the other side UAVs are being seen as the future of modern warfare.
