While armed “first person video” (“FPV”) multirotor drones can be used to devastating effect and are now responsible for many of the casualties among both Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Russia-Ukraine War, it is important to keep in mind that we are ultimately dealing with small and inexpensive uncrewed aircraft-turned munitions that are typically restricted to carrying an explosive payload os just several kilograms. The destructive effects are, as such, broadly comparable to a larger-caliber shoulder-launched anti-tank rocket, an anti-tank missile, or a 81/82 mm mortar shell. The following undated video, which was recorded by either a Russian or a Ukrainian combatant inside what appears to be an enclosed room at a trench or similar battlefield fortification, amounts to a useful data point for assessing the destructive effects of armed “FPV” multirotor drones.
The above video begins with the distinctive whirring sound of the electronic motors that power most of these uncrewed aircraft-turned-munitions. While the psychological effects of being actively hunted by remotely operated/piloted (large) insect-like flying objects should not be discounted, the above video clearly documents a case in which the warhead does not detonate upon impact, a dynamic that is hardly uncommon in the Russia-Ukraine War and for the most part reflects the low cost and rudimentary design of most of the armed “FPV” multirotor drones used in the Russia-Ukraine War. The remote human operator/pilot of the armed “FPV” multirotor drone was evidently attempting to attack this specific part of the apparent battlefield structure and seemingly tried to reestablish control over and maneuver the armed “FPV” multirotor drone following impact so that the impact fusing of the warhead would be initiated. While the warhead did eventually detonate, the structure, which notably features a log roof, remained intact, and the person recording the video—who recklessly did not seek cover behind some sandbags or similar—likely left the incident largely unscathed.
While armed “FPV” multirotor drones can be far more lethal uncrewed aircraft-turned munitions, this will, all else being equal, require the use of larger and heavier warheads that will, in turn, require larger, heavier, and more expensive multirotor drone designs. The limited destructive effects of armed “FPV” multirotor drones—which also extend to use against armoured vehicles, given the fairly small/light warhead used with most armed “FPV” multirotor drones in the Russia-Ukraine War—is one of the primary trade-offs associated with these fairly crude and therefore inexpensive and, as such, plentiful, uncrewed aircraft-turned munitions.