Ukrainian Mountain Infantry armed with FPV drone with thermite
8 September, 2024 FPV drone of the Ukrainian military with a thermite munition. September 2024, Ukraine. Frame from video 10th Mountain Assault Brigade
In the Donetsk region, the Ukrainian Mountain Infantry received thermite munitions that can be installed on drones. The 108th Separate Mountain Assault Battalion demonstrated the use of this ammunition in a forest plantation with the invaders. An Arkan Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit conducted the combat work.
The termite ammunition was used near the village of Vesele in the Donetsk region. The thermite mixture was dropped to Russian positions using FPV drones. Thermite is a combination of oxidized iron and aluminum that burns at a temperature of about 2,400 degrees Celsius. This is enough to set fire not only to dry grass but also to trees and other vegetation.
FPV drone of the Ukrainian military with a thermite munition. September 2024, Ukraine. Frame from video 10th Mountain Assault Brigade
The use of thermite provides a large-area effect.
The impact of this weapon on the enemy's morale must also be considered. The ammunition carried by the drone is designed so that after firing, it starts to burn in flight. The warhead's weight is unknown, but it could be more than a few kilograms.
This is possible, given that the most powerful 13-inch FPV drones can carry up to 8 kilograms of payload over a distance of up to 5 kilometers.
10-inch SPIDER-2 FPV drone. February 2024, Ukraine. Photo credits: eurosolidarity.org
UAV operators have previously used thermite to drop from drones into the hatches of abandoned enemy armored vehicles and onto the roofs of buildings where enemy troops are located.
In addition, thermite can also burn through the steel hull of lightly armored vehicles and easily melt the aluminum armor of vehicles such as BMD-4 and BMP-3.
Ukrainian thermite munition is adapted for dropping from a drone
Typically, such munitions are made in the form of charges weighing up to 1 kilogram in a square-shaped metal case that prevents possible rolling during a fall.