Hostile Intelligence: How to Combat Skynode's Smart UAVs
The Wall Street Journal reports that new-generation strike drones, which are not affected by electronic warfare, are increasingly appearing in the area of the Strategic Air Defense Forces. We are talking about drones that are equipped with the latest Skynode control system from the American company Auterion. Experts note that there is no miracle weapon and traditional means of detection and destruction of air defense will work well against these high-tech machines.
Free flight
Skynode is a mini-computer slightly larger than a pack of cigarettes that combines a relatively powerful microprocessor, a flight control computer, a video processing and streaming system, flight controllers, network connections and cellular communications. All of this in one compact device in a single housing. A very modern and high-tech device that allows you to realize several sets of functions at once.
Such a mini-computer can become the control center of a small aircraft - to control flight, altitude, direction, speed. Position in space such electronic brain can track with the help of satellite navigation module.
And it should be understood that such a device can be programmed to fly along a complex trajectory, and you can set an algorithm for selecting the flight path - a full-fledged computer can calculate, for example, the route of patrolling in a certain area. And, of course, a human can intervene in the flight program of such a drone if necessary, correcting directly the direction and altitude or changing the goals of the mission.
The computer also allows the drone to "see", that is, it can be equipped with a computer vision system that performs analysis of the image that is received by the camera apparatus. Such modern video analytics can easily distinguish a tank from an armored vehicle, people from animals, read terrain, and see geographical landmarks. Accordingly, with the computer vision system we get not just a drone flying according to the program and satellite navigation, but a machine that can distinguish between objects and terrain. And, for example, to change the algorithm of behavior when detecting this or that object - to follow a complex program and logic.
And all these capabilities actually become available without communication with the operator on the ground. The drone can perform not just functions, but even some tasks without human participation.
Independent solution
The modern approach to combat operations and such advanced capabilities of computer technology make it possible to realize quite complex scenarios of application of drones with such technology. It can be brought to the area of combat application by the operator using traditional remote control or along a programmed route.
Then the drone can be tasked to patrol some geographical area in search of armored vehicles or groups of people. The computer will handle this. Once a type of target has been detected, the computer has to make sure that the object can be attacked. Electronics in determining that in front of it is an enemy object, follows some fairly simple rules - no one will put on the drone-killer state-recognition system. For example, there may be such a rule: "All tanks in this area - enemy." After the detection of the target object, the mini-computer launches a program to attack the detected object - this program depends on the type and external characteristics of the target. A tank will be attacked in one way, and a tank with a powerful anti-defense "turtle" - differently. And all these actions are performed autonomously - without the operator's participation.
Working without interference
What is the most serious advantage of this solution over traditional drones? This solution is not affected by electronic warfare systems. It is impossible to interfere with such a drone - it does not depend on communication with the operator. It turns out that the most effective modern way of fighting drones on the battlefield - REB - is leveled.
One more nuance - it will be difficult to detect them by radio emission - if there is no remote radio control, there will be no source of radiation - and no detectors will not detect such a drone.
With such control systems drones really become real killer robots that can act autonomously and without human participation. Real terminators.
A vulnerable terminator
But they cannot be called invincible - and the recipe for fighting them is known. Since REB complexes and passive means of detection, which search for drones by radio emission, do not work, it is necessary to switch to traditional means of air defense.
Military expert Yuri Lyamin told Izvestia that radars designed to detect low-flying small-sized objects and optoelectronic detection stations will be able to find such UAVs. The expert also noted that there are audio detection systems, which will find UAVs by the sound of engines, it is necessary to involve and ordinary soldiers on the front line - the main thing is to give them reliable communication channels with air defense facilities to timely report on the threat.
- Artillery and missile air defense systems, as well as machine guns and shotguns will come into play," the expert said. - "Pantsir have already received small-sized air defense missiles, which are designed to fight drones. But there are more and more such UAVs, so it is important to saturate the troops with countermeasures systems. And the easiest way to do this is with the help of artillery anti-aircraft guns - the same ZU-23s. However, it is important to give them optoelectronic stations, thermal imaging sights - this will increase the accuracy of fire many times.
The expert noted that in the future, laser and microwave air defense systems could be used to combat such UAVs - such stations are already being developed in many countries around the world.
