"Artillery with "eyes": the developer talks about new FPV drones and the experience of their use during the NWO

— How is your organization developing? What drones do you produce for the needs of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as part of the NWO?

—The history of our company began about a year before the special operation. At that time, we, MIPT graduates, were an initiative group that promoted the idea of turning sports FPV drones (copters with a VR helmet and a remote control. - RT) into a weapon.

In 2021, we went around a lot of offices, but this did not give any results, and we decided to go the other way. We shot and published on YouTube a film in which we presented the idea of the military development of the FPV theme, as if such equipment had already been put into service. After that, they paid attention to us.

As a result, we began to work with representatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and with commanders who were directly ready to use this technology. Our "circle of enthusiasts" began to replenish and grew into the Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions (CCBR). We moved out of the garage, opened a production complex, a development department and a training center. Since then, we have been self-financing and supported by the Foundation for the Promotion of Science, Innovation and Technology.

CCBR produces and constantly improves FPV drones under the name "Joker". Recently, work has been completed on the eighth version of the UAV called "Ultimatum", which takes into account all the experience of combat use - both ours and the enemy.

In addition to the universal mounting system, the drone has a payload control driver. He is all-weather and is not afraid of water, dirt, or snow. It can be doused with a powerful jet of water right in flight. This suggests the possibility of its use in such weather, when no other equipment can rise into the air.

• VR helmet on FPV drone pilot
• © Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions (CCBR)

Outstanding power-to-weight ratios allow the Ultimatum to pull heavy weights and resist even squally winds.

And versatility allows military personnel not to spend a lot of time and effort on adapting drones to specific tasks and manipulating their design. The updated "Jokers" can be used for reconnaissance, protection, adjustment of artillery fire, in assault operations, as carriers of special equipment and as kamikaze.

The CCBR is completely open to the recommendations of the military and representatives of other law enforcement agencies who use our products or are familiar with the methods of the enemy's work in this direction. We receive user feedback, process it, make changes to the design of the end device and its control system.

The set of ground equipment for the FPV combat crew has also been improved all this time. Now pilots (UAV operators. - RT) no longer need to buy something or look for it on their own.

It should be noted that the FPV combat system is special ground equipment, a prepared calculation and many combat FPV drones. They should be like shells - enough to perform a combat mission. In no case should you think that the calculation has only one drone. Otherwise, the calculation of an FPV drone will be similar to a sniper who was given one cartridge for a mission and asked to take care of it in every possible way.

The equipment of the CCBR has been participating in the NWO from the very first days. Its combat debut was successful: the commanders were convinced in practice of the high efficiency of this technology. Let me remind you that at the very beginning of the special operation, few people knew anything about FPV at all.

Now the combat FPV systems of the Central Military Command and Production Center are very helpful in reconnaissance, in the destruction of various equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the assault on fortifications on the ground and in other work.

"Jokers" can be used from shelters and vehicles. At the same time, FPV calculation is very difficult to detect even with the most modern means of reconnaissance.

Now we can say that in the spring of last year, the FPV drones of the Central Bureau of Culture were successfully used in the liberation of Mariupol - in the battle for Azovstal. They turned out to be an effective means of detecting and suppressing enemy firing points, an effective means of anti-sniper warfare and reconnaissance.

• The use of an FPV drone during the assault on the stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the NVO zone

Based on this experience, it is not difficult to conclude that in modern urban battles without FPV drones, it will be harder to attack. The drone greatly facilitates reconnaissance and destruction of individual targets. For example, he can fly into a building occupied by the enemy, identify its positions, ammunition depots and detonate. It can enter the building through windows, breaks in the walls and holes in the roof.

Also, without FPV drones, it is more difficult to counteract snipers and calculations of enemy anti-tank weapons, which are very dangerous for assaulting forces, especially in urban battles. In general, the experience of the NWO has clearly shown that the potential of FPV topics has yet to be revealed.

- Could you tell us in more detail what kind of UAV class it is, what is special about it, what niche does it occupy?

- Initially, FPV drones were used for sports, in fact, entertainment purposes. In Russia and other countries, competitions were held - the so-called drone racing.

However, in recent years, FPV drones, like other types of civilian UAVs, have been adapted to combat missions, that is, they are equipped with reconnaissance, mining, warheads and other special equipment.

FPV stands for First Person View. With the help of a VR helmet and a television channel, the drone pilot sees the space in front of the unmanned vehicle. This effect of presence brought new vivid sensations to the racers, and it gives the military the opportunity to get closer to the target, examine it, identify it and almost guaranteed to destroy it.

The standard FPV drone is made according to a multicopter scheme, which provides phenomenal maneuverability and clear retention of the UAV in space. Also, the device is equipped with brushless electric motors, which are characterized by structural simplicity and high efficiency. Power is supplied by a lithium-ion battery - this is the most compact and efficient reusable chemical power source at the moment.

The armed conflict in Ukraine was the first where FPV drones are used as a weapon, and a full-fledged one. Moreover, we can say that the NWO opened this equipment to the whole world, just as during the First World War, many countries of the world discovered tanks and combat aircraft.

In my opinion, we have entered a new arms race, part of which has become FPV technology. I have no doubt that humanity is waiting for a new revolution in military affairs in connection with this technology. This means that the FPV direction will develop rapidly, take new technological heights. It will be used not only in the air, but also at sea and on land.

FPV technologies can radically change the usual means of combat and give a new impetus to the development of robotic systems. The tactics of using FPV weapons will also be improved.

To date, it is safe to say that combat FPV systems have clearly declared themselves and will certainly occupy their niche in the segment of high-precision and inexpensive weapons.

• Assembling the FPV drone of the CCBR
• © Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions (CCBR)

At the same time, they cannot be perceived as some kind of superweapon that will solve all problems. Like any type of weapon, such drones should be used in conjunction with other reconnaissance and fire weapons, and should be built into the command and control loop.

Do not think that due to the widespread use of FPV drones, the previous types of unmanned and ground equipment will become a thing of the past. I repeat: FPV is not a miracle weapon, it is one of the tools of special operations, reconnaissance and striking the enemy, as well as the technological basis for improving existing types of weapons.

If we talk about the near future, then, as I believe, FPV drones will be a convenient weapon for hitting individual targets at the range of an artillery shot in difficult conditions without adjustment.

Today, combat FPV drones are mostly artillery with "eyes". At the same time, these drones are more economical and can return if they do not find a target. The cost of such an end device is lower than a shot from a tank or ATGM.

Naturally, combat FPV drones are radically different from their sports counterparts. But the principle of operation is the same. Let me remind you that the use of such UAVs requires a set of ground equipment and a specially trained FPV calculation with knowledge of the operation of radio channels and trained in combat scenarios. At the same time, the methods of controlling end devices can be very different: without reference to GPS and with radio channels protected from the effects of electronic warfare (electronic warfare. - RT).

- Is it possible to organize a massive attack of FPV drones? What is the potential effect of such tactics?

- Theoretically, this is possible, but there are a number of important nuances here. The most important thing is that FPV drones are very difficult to integrate into an automated control system, unlike, by the way, other UAVs that can operate within the framework of an algorithm or a more complex program with elements of what is considered to be artificial intelligence.

The FPV device is literally controlled manually. The combat FPV crew consists of at least one person, but it is desirable that there are two of them. Each calculation can control only one end device. Obviously, a mass attack would require all of these people to be close enough to each other and the place of use. Even if they are in shelters, the risk of their detection and destruction will increase. And the radio is not rubber.

• Calculation of the FPV drone "Joker"
• © Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions (CCBR)

Personally, I don't see much point in such a crowd of people who also have really unique skills (combat piloting of FPV-UAVs. - RT). Therefore, it is not very advisable to carry out a massive attack by FPV drones. Other unmanned aerial vehicles are more suitable for this.

Nevertheless, combat FPV systems can and will be used in what is called a combined strike, when many heterogeneous means of attack fly at the enemy's position from different directions. Such tactics greatly complicate the work of any air defense system and thereby increase the likelihood of successfully hitting the target.

— How does FPV drone control work and how is the operator training process carried out?

- As I have already said, a normal combat FPV crew consists of at least two people - a pilot who directly pilots the drone, and a navigator-commander who, without being distracted by piloting, can monitor the performance of the task, adjust the pilot's work, negotiate with the commander and ensure the physical safety of the pilot.

This is very similar to the work of pilots of military attack aircraft, including helicopters. There are also two of them in the cockpit - and for the same reasons.

A well-trained combat FPV crew is able not to get lost, clearly conduct reconnaissance, identify the target (if its location was not known in advance) or choose the highest priority target from those that it independently detected.

It is also important where the pilot will direct the drone, where the warhead of the end device will detonate at the target. Armored vehicles, for example, have a vulnerable engine compartment. Once there, even a small warhead can immobilize it and cause a fire.

It is possible to instill the basics of working with a combat FPV system in a month, but this, of course, is not enough. Ideally, people need to be prepared in stages for at least six months. Unfortunately, we do not have such an opportunity in the conditions of the NWO. We have to look for compromises. Now the CCBR practices monthly courses that are aimed at working out scenarios of actions in various situations. In other words, we provide a base, a set of tools for working in a combat situation.

A qualified calculation of a combat FPV system is an extremely useful unit capable of performing a lot of tasks. This is not only support for assault operations - it is security on transport (including individual vehicles or columns), rapid response in the protection of objects, detection of ambushes and their elimination, free hunting for enemy equipment and more than a dozen different scenarios.

At the same time, any military specialty has its own costs and health risks. Long-term and intensive control of the drone requires a very significant concentration of the senses and the vestibular apparatus. An FPV drone operator experiences the same amount of stress on the central nervous system (CNS) as a real pilot.

However, such overconcentration is not always required. But in any case, a combat FPV pilot must train to carry serious loads on the central nervous system. Otherwise, he may lose the physical ability to pilot for some time, having received a full set of symptoms similar to a concussion. In our course, we take this feature into account.

- At the end of April, a series of events dedicated to the situation with UAVs was held in the Rudnevo industrial park, with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. One of the tasks set by the head of state is to localize the production of components for drones. How are you doing with the availability of components for assembling Jokers?

— Localization, of course, needs to be addressed. But to date, the CCBR does not experience difficulties with the availability of components and software.

Almost everything you need is purchased through open trading platforms. In the work of onboard equipment, we use Open Source - open source software. Sanctions did not have an impact on our work. We develop our own competencies and successfully use the tools of the global economy.

At the same time, we are creating a colossal reserve in terms of the combat use of FPVs, which will remain only the property of Russia and will allow us to maintain parity in a new type of weapon. It is not always necessary to repeat and replace what has been done by someone and somewhere. There are things that no one else in the world has but us. And it is necessary that it remain so in the future.