Ukraine’s Dovbush T10:  a new locally-made attack FPV drone carrier

The latest innovation underscores Ukraine’s ingenuity: a modified Dovbush T10 UAV has been adapted to function as an aerial launch platform—or “aircraft carrier”—for first-person view (FPV) kamikaze drones. This transformation amplifies the tactical versatility of an already formidable reconnaissance platform.

A video posted by Serhii Beskrestnov, a prominent Ukrainian electronic technology specialist known by the pseudonym “Serhii Flash,” reveals the re-engineered Dovbush T10 deploying up to six FPV drones. Suspended under its wings, these smaller drones are released mid-flight to engage and strike designated targets. The video illustrates this capability with chilling precision: the UAV identifies a camouflaged SUV, deploys an FPV drone, and the strike is visually confirmed through a live FPV video stream.

The design modifications are as ingenious as they are functional. The FPV drones are mounted upside down beneath the Dovbush’s wings, with their explosive payloads serving as connectors. This arrangement ensures both secure attachment and seamless deployment, enabling swift transitions from reconnaissance to attack.

The Dovbush T10, originally conceived as a reconnaissance platform, boasts an impressive 40-kilometer range and sophisticated countermeasures against electronic interference. Its dual navigation system—combining inertial guidance with GPS/GLONASS—enhances resilience to jamming, while its low-noise electric motor and stealth materials reduce detectability. Equipped with high-resolution optical and infrared sensors, the Dovbush can identify camouflaged targets from significant distances, transmitting real-time data back to operators via secure communications links.

In its newly adopted role, the Dovbush acts as a force multiplier. The underwing FPV drones carry electronic warfare protection, making them resistant to Russian radar and jamming systems. Each drone is customizable with a range of payloads, including armor-piercing, thermobaric, and thermite explosives. When deployed, the Dovbush doubles as a communications relay, extending the operational range of the FPV drones and enabling post-strike confirmation—a crucial feature in modern warfare’s emphasis on precision and accountability.

The technological leap represented by the Dovbush T10 also reflects Ukraine’s strategic embrace of artificial intelligence (AI). The UAV’s onboard AI facilitates target analysis and automatic identification, streamlining operations in the field. Meanwhile, its secure communication systems allow it to coordinate with ground operators, ensuring seamless integration into broader military strategies.

The Dovbush T10’s production—spearheaded by Ukrainian entrepreneur and Monobank co-founder Volodymyr Yatsenko—has kept pace with battlefield demand. Since mass production began in December 2022, up to ten units have been manufactured daily, all provided free of charge to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This underscores a broader trend in Ukraine’s wartime economy: leveraging private-sector innovation to bolster national defense.

Ukraine’s adaptation of the Dovbush T10 into a multi-role UAV epitomizes the convergence of necessity and ingenuity in modern warfare. By transforming reconnaissance assets into precision strike platforms, Kyiv is reshaping the tactical landscape and offering a glimpse into the future of combat. The Dovbush T10, now a literal aircraft carrier for drones, exemplifies how resourcefulness can rewrite the rules of engagement.

Total
0
Shares
Related Posts
Read More

Putin’s Lies About NATO

When starting the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, dictator Putin explained it by saying that Ukraine could join NATO,…