In Ukraine, the Mere Sound of a Tiny Drone Drives Terrified Infantry Underground

That's one way to suppress enemy defenses, according to one Russian blogger

A Ukrainian soldier carries an FPV drone. 66th Mechanized Brigade photo

Suppressive fire is an infantry tactic that’s as old as gunpowder. Basically, it means shooting at the enemy with something—rifles, machine guns, mortars or artillery—with enough intensity to drive the enemy underground for as long as it takes for your own forces to “breach” the enemy’s defenses … and advance.

Today, all along the 700-mile front line of Russia’s 43-month wider war on Ukraine, tiny drones are now one of the main weapons for suppressive fire. Explosive first-person-view drones are so dangerous—and so terrifying—that infantry tend to duck into their trenches as soon as they hear the FPVs’ distinctive buzzing.

Without even striking, drones can suppress the enemy. “Soldiers begin to hide from the sound of UAVs alone and do not leave cover for a long time,” Russian blogger Unfair Advantage explained. Hat tip to electronic warfare expert Roy for recirculating Unfair Advantage’s missive.