Change in tactics with Russian long-range "Shahed" kamikaze drones: what is the threat?

The tactics used by the Russian occupiers with long-range "Shahed-136" kamikaze drones are actively evolving.

DEFENSE EXPRESS analysts have examined these changes in light of recent enemy strikes.

The main observation experts have made is that the Russians are deploying a significant number of decoys in several waves.

"A particularly large number of decoy drones are used in the first wave, which includes many "Gerberas" made of foam, as well as similar low-cost UAVs equipped with Luneberg lenses. They fly at low altitudes and start circling in a specific area," the specialists explained.

Because they operate at low altitudes, it is difficult to track them with radar systems. The drones appear and disappear on radar screens, leading mobile fire teams to be dispatched to that area.

In the second wave, the proportion of decoys to real drones becomes more balanced.

"However, the third wave contains minimal decoys and is almost entirely made up of drones with warheads. All of this is done to confuse our forces as much as possible, stretch our available resources, and thus create a corridor in Ukraine's air defense system," the study concludes.

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