Drone pilots run into a problem while trying to spot Russian troops

Hidden under the trees is a Ukrainian drone team, spying on Russian positions. Drones are used to mark the target for artillery strikes, but they are not immune to Russian signal jamming. CNN's Nic Robertson takes a look at some of the high-tech combat tools being used in the Ukraine-Russia war. #CNN #News

56 comments

    1. Not that high tech, if they use a $200 RC controller… Counter measure exists against fighter jets, coms, missiles, etc

  1. lol – Back before Drones, we were trained to walk in woods, under cover too. You know, airplanes, helicopters, satellites… Only dead men walk openly through open ground and fields. EVERY recon team has always done, as well as everyday infantry. Nothing new here.

    1. @Fiona Nash Really? You think the Vietcong Had Aircraft? Helicopters? Drones? Even North Vietnamese aircraft were not known for Strafing. So what is that comment even supposed to mean? Are you basing it off Hollywood movies?

    2. That’s why I’m a little disconcerted every time I see HIMARS firing from out in open fields, even though they’re so mobile, out of range of Russian artillery, and Russian airpower has been so well neutralized by the Ukrainians. It’s funny to feel protective about something that could wipe out a small village in one salvo, but that’s how I feel a little when I see HIMARS so out in the open like that (because I know how much the Ukrainians need them to win).

    3. @LSW “So what is that comment even supposed to mean?
      north Vietnamese killing trained American soldiers while walking in the woods (^_^)

  2. This type of warfare such as drones works for a while until the enemy developes countermeasures to defeat it. Then the battle returns to artillery, tanks, and infantry.

    1. @Paul Langton-Rogers
      I dont think Russian are superior in any electronic warfare.
      Ukraine have the help from west and Russia dont have any electronic industry.
      During this war we have seen the tech Russia have and I am not impressed.
      Actually they have to ask Iran for help with drones.

    2. However, noticed he switched something as a counter measure. I imagine the jammer would also only have a particular range (however broad).

    3. @Molt I wouldn’t underestimate China.
      They are very focused (long term) and have the political structure to force many people to a particular task. They have been increasing in power at such a rate that the world is predicting China to be the next top super power. Humbling for the U.S. and , of more concern, will embolden China more so.

    1. @Valerie Byrd Oh yeah that’s why Russia is marching down Kyiv streets right now oh that’s right Russia’s military is so weak they couldn’t even take Kyiv and now they’re bogged down in the Donetsk losing hundreds of soldiers a day LMFAO clown

    1. @Mistress of the Woods you didnt seems to know reality today,,out of 31 country only 2 has many weapon stock us and thurkey..the other is left with just amount to defense their own..like uk has made it statement in nato summit..and now elensky begging weapon from xi jing ping,,you know that??even with himar ukr cant stand toe to toe with rus army..at first they can puss back coz of mercenery,,today they only left with leftover or new soldier

    2. @Mistress of the Woods nah you just someone who cant accept reality..you can find uk statement in nato summit..and zalensky is trying to reach xi jing ping,,to help him..

  3. 1:00 – Their RC radio controller looks like a FrSky Taranis X9D — a classic!

    It sounded like the pilot added way too much throttle at launch which caused the torque roll into the tree — probably was showing off for the CNN camera crew. Didn’t need that much throttle given that very strong bungee cable. 😁

    1. Probably using Crossfire. Plane looked like a copy of a Mini Talon but made in fibre glass. Should’ve probably used auto launch 😀

    2. $240 controller where I live. The drone must be much more expensive, though, not the cheap arduino foam model with a pocket camera taped inside…

  4. Really hitting those hard hitting journalist questions. ” Are you scared ?”
    🙄 Terrible job

    1. No ! Why would I be scared ? The possibility of being captured and castrated with a wallpapering knife is quite calming actually

    2. Good reporters are supposed to ask the obvious questions too. It’s all too easy to criticize coverage. Well, they should have asked this, or said it that way, or they talked to the wrong person and on an on. You don’t even need to get the questions ‘wrong’. Merely pointing a camera one one direction an not another opens the media up to accusations of bias, incompetence and working an agenda. I remember an example one reporter gave. It showed his natural talent for the work before he realized it himself. He was just a kid in Catholic school and they were talking about the manger scene. After the nuns finished the story, the kid put his hand up and asked, “What did Jesus do with the gold?” An obvious question but no one else asked it. You never know as a reporter which question will lead you to even more and better questions.

  5. It seems to be a misoperation. They shouldn’t have launched the drone in the direction of the trees. Not enough space to climb up. Probably the operator doesn’t have much flying experience in fixed wings.

    1. Yeah you are right problem is here those soldiers are too old ,what you need ? Young boys of 14-16 years of age .Those boys practice every day .

  6. Powerful motor, so it’s torque rolling. Looks like he needs more practice to fly RC planes

  7. I love how these people are using RC planes with basically Hobbyking RC equipment is shockimg the media..

  8. “How does that feel?” “How scary?” – what dumb questions. What do you expect him to say? “It feels great’?

  9. The Russian’s are probably jamming a frequency range which the drones use to communicate on which means the Russian’s must be fairly close by to do that presumeably as the communication range of these budget drones is fairly limited. The solution is to discover what type of jamming tech the Russian’s are using and develop counter-measures. It could be as simple as changing the frequency of Ukraine’s drones on each flight outside of the Russian frequency blocking range, or maybe focusing on locating the Russian frequency jamming positions and taking them out with artillery, missiles or air power. I expect the Russian’s are shadowing Ukraine’s drone positions by using their own drones to decide how near they need to position their jamming vehicles and which frequencies they need to jam.

    1. From what I’ve heard, the starlink internet satellite system can’t be jammed by Russian and has been used by drones to spot tanks but the drone needs a starlink receiver dish in order for it to be 100% jam proof and have unlimited coverage. I haven’t heard of anyone doing this yet besides the US military.

    2. If there is a Russian jamming transmitter, it would certainly be nice to have a missile that could detect and target the location of that jamming signal… 🤔

    3. Took the Russians long enough to jam commercial drones.. both sides might risk tethered drones with powerful optics for op soon..

  10. CNN proving again they’re not the brightest: ” how does it feel? Why do you fight? ” ..

  11. I’m no engineer but I see an open field. And they lunched the drone parallel to the tree line. 🤦‍♂️ to there defense there is a high probability of Russian signal interference.

  12. Reporters…always coming with “how does it feel?”, trying to get some juicy emotional carnage to sell on air. 🤢🤮 Like emotional vultures.

  13. I am still surprised militaries don’t have a broader array of Switchable 300 size/style weapons with radio wave /sensors seekers to hunt down jamming equipment. Triangulation should be able to get you in the right vicinity of the jammer (the large truck style jammers, not the man portable ones). Jammers work by emitting larger power outputs of radio frequencies so its not like they can hide from detection. Think HARM missile but as an autonomous drone for radio wave jammers. Give it inertial guidance and allowed operational areas to ensure it doesn’t circle back onto your own gear.

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