Dragon Drones

28 Oct 2024 13:22:13 pm

Tags : Dragon Drones

Topic: Defense

Why in the news?

As the Russia-Ukraine war continues to rage, newer weapons of destruction have come into play, the latest being low-flying drones that Kyiv has been using to drop thermite incendiary bombs on Russian positions in the Kharkiv region.
Videos have emerged across various social media platforms showing these fire-spewing ‘dragon drones’ burning trees and reportedly some Russian military vehicles.

Source: The Indian Express

About Dragon Drones:

These drones apparently burn the area underneath it with thermite.
Thermite is a mixture of burning granules of iron oxide and aluminum.
About 500 grams of thermite mixture can be placed under a standard FPV drone.
The chemical reaction is triggered by remote control only shortly before the target appears in the area.
The thermite burns at a temperature of about 2,500 degrees Celsius, which means that the hot mixture corrodes even iron in a matter of seconds, making mortars, grenades and cartridges become deadly to their owners.
The thermite is dropped directly through the hatches, where the intense heat quickly ignites and destroys everything inside.
This precision, combined with the drone’s ability to bypass traditional defenses, makes thermite bombs a highly effective tool in modern warfare.
Effects of thermite on human body:
- According to a 2022 report on incendiary weapons, Human Rights Watch called them “notorious for their horrific human cost,” including inflicting fourth- or fifth-degree burns. Other incendiary weapons include napalm and white phosphorus which have been used since World War I.
- They can cause damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and even bones.