Multi-copter “drone carriers” as a means to increase the range of FPV drones
The idea of attaching another drone to a drone is by no means new, but in any case, it is a matter of increasing the range of the existing weapon.
The Telegram channel In Factum published an interesting video, which suggests that the concept of multi-copter “drone carriers” will soon be implemented on the battlefield in Ukraine or is already being implemented. The video shows both footage from real testing of an “FVP drone” (probably filmed by the Russians, although there are a number of reports on the web with the same footage that it is allegedly the Ukrainian military using such a drone), and a cartoon explaining the concept itself (it is highly likely to have been directed by racists).
The idea seems quite simple and by no means a novelty: attaching an FPV drone to a copter so that it “starts” behind enemy lines, thus increasing their range.
In their cartoon, the occupiers demonstrate the following data – that the FPV drone itself allegedly has a charge to destroy targets at a distance of only 5 km (this figure is actually somewhat unclear, because FPV drones can destroy targets at a range of 10 km).
At the same time, a multicopter armed with an FPV drone can fly with it for 5 km, lifting it to an altitude of c, from which the FPV drone will supposedly fly another 10 km, or 15 km in total. It is likely that the multicopter also plays the role of a repeater.
It’s possible that the figures in the cartoon are arbitrary, but the general idea is clear: a banal increase in the range of targets. But in addition to the cartoon, the video also shows real footage of the concept being tested: the video shows a multicopter with an FPV drone on board “releasing” the latter, and the latter successfully continuing its way to the target.
It is possible that the enemy is already testing such a development on the battlefield, and the increase in the range of FPV drones used by the enemy looks threatening, given that this type of weapon is actively used by the enemy on the battlefield. At the same time, it is worth mentioning here that our military also has options to increase the range of FPV drones.
Here, in fact, the question may arise as to why the enemy would want to do such “tambourine dancing” when, for example, they are developing the production of new kamikaze drones “Scalpel”, which is still small-scale, but on the other hand, it is logical that the enemy will use all available tools and opportunities to improve its weapons, even if it sometimes looks strange or illogical.
