Russian Forces Employ Stealth Tactics: Shahed Drones Go Black to Elude Ukrainian Air Defense
25 November, 2023 Debris of the downed Russian "black" Shahed UAV, November 25, 2023. Photo credits: Telegram/Sternenko To complicate the operation of Ukrainian air defense, Russia began to use black Shahed drones.
Photos of the wreckage of the destroyed Russian UAVs that attacked the Kyiv region and the capital of Ukraine on the night of November 25 were published on social media. The spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat, said that the drones contain a radar-absorbent liner. By using Shahed-136 drones, which the Russians call "Geran-2," the invaders want to reduce the efficiency of Ukrainian mobile air defense teams, the main task of which is to counteract Russian drones.
Debris of the downed Russian "black" Shahed UAV, November 25, 2023.
Photo credits: Telegram/Sternenko
The representative of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that the Russians cover Shaheds with carbon or repaint them black.
Debris of the downed Russian "black" Shahed UAV, November 25, 2023. Photo credits: Telegram/Sternenko
"Now we see that we used carbon fiber. Carbon, which is the absorbing material for the radar signal, and black - it is clear why.
The downing of the Russian Shahed drone over Ukraine.
November 2023. Photo credits: Reuters
This will complicate the operation of air defense, namely the visual reference to the target to mobile air defense teams," said Yurii Ihnat on the telethon. At the same time, he noted that this did not prevent the Ukrainian Defense Forces from destroying nearly all of the Russian Shahed UAVs fired that night.
Debris of the downed Russian "black" Shahed UAV, November 25, 2023.
Photo credits: Telegram/Sternenko
Danger from updated drones
Ukrainian mobile air defense teams use floodlights and thermal imagers to visually detect and track the flight path of Russian drones at night.
Photo on the topic: mobile air defense teams of the Defense Forces of Ukraine
Therefore, the use of black paint or a special material or liner that absorbs signals from radar or dissipates heat to reduce visibility in the thermal imager is designed to help Shahed drones overcome Ukrainian air defense.
Mobile air defense team. Photo credits: National Guard of Ukraine
However, it is worth noting that only over time will it become clear whether these measures are really effective. Or this will not affect the effectiveness of the Ukrainian mobile air defense fire teams operation.
Iran's Shahed-238 drone in three versions, November 2023
Recall that Iran recently showed a new Shahed-238 jet drone.
It is a jet modification of Shahed-136.
The new drone was introduced in three versions with different guidance systems.