The Rise of the Charizard- The Ukrainian battlefield becomes a wrestling arena for drones_1

The Ukrainian battlefield has become an experimental lab for drone improvisation, with both sides racing to innovate. Recent reports from The New York Times highlight how Ukrainian forces are now employing thermite—a substance originally developed for welding railroad tracks—attached to drones to create a weapon that generates temperatures of 4,400 degrees Fahrenheit (about 2,426 degrees Celsius). This weapon, dubbed the “Dragon Drone,” is designed to rain molten metal down on Russian troops, igniting the vegetation that conceals them and exposing them to direct attack.

As Russian soldiers utilize the dense forests of eastern Ukraine as cover for imminent assaults, the Ukrainian military has ingeniously modified drones to deliver burning metal onto enemy positions. This tactic aims to strip away any protective foliage, leaving Russian forces vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes.

The emergence of the Dragon Drone signifies a crucial shift in battlefield dynamics, and the Ukrainian frontlines are increasingly resembling a testing ground for improvised drone equipment. In recent weeks, Ukrainian soldiers have shared numerous videos across social media showcasing the Dragon Drone in action, effectively spreading fear among their adversaries.

In response, Russian forces have begun producing their own versions of the Dragon Drone. Russian politician Andrei Medvedev even released footage online showing their military utilizing the technology to target Ukrainian troops, quoting a line from “Game of Thrones”: “Power has not made us kings, but dragons did.”

While international law does not explicitly prohibit the use of thermite, the United Nations’ Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, established during the Cold War, prohibits the deployment of incendiary weapons in civilian areas. However, since the Dragon Drone is intended solely for military targets, it has not sparked significant backlash.

With both Ukraine and Russia rapidly expanding their drone fleets, a competitive arms race is unfolding, focused on developing faster, longer-ranging, and more lethal drones. The Dragon Drone is just a small part of this broader trend.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans to produce 1.5 million drones by 2024, with aspirations to scale that number up to 4 million annually. Moreover, Ukraine is set to establish an independent drone force in 2024, marking the world’s first military branch dedicated exclusively to drone warfare.

On the other hand, Russia is transitioning its economy to bolster its military-industrial complex, recently announcing a 25% increase in military spending for 2025, surpassing $145 billion. This allows Moscow to ramp up drone production at an astounding pace.

President Vladimir Putin met with members of the defense industry commission in September, urging them to increase drone production. Although Russia delivered only 140,000 drones in 2023, Putin indicated that production could surge tenfold in 2024, reaching 1.4 million units.

Marina Miron, a defense researcher at King’s College London, noted that while Russia’s initial progress in drone development was slow, the influx of funding into research and development is enabling them to innovate more quickly than the U.S., stating, “They are moving extremely fast.”

Various types of drones are making their presence felt on the battlefield. Iran has been a significant ally to Russia, reportedly supplying hundreds of drones for use in Ukraine. Surveillance drones fly high above, assisting artillery and missile units in identifying targets, while Ukrainian naval drones have been effective in driving Russian forces from large areas of the Black Sea.

On the ground, the skies over Ukraine are populated with inexpensive, disposable “first-person view” (FPV) drones, operated by soldiers wearing headsets that enable them to monitor live feeds from the drones as they strike targets up to 10 miles away. Some of these drones are designed for single-use, while others can loiter over targets and drop munitions.

Captain Vyacheslav, a Ukrainian officer, claims that since his unit arrived in Pokrovsk in April, they have reportedly killed at least 3,000 Russian soldiers. He emphasized the importance of skilled pilots, stating, “Their value is as good as gold; it’s crucial to protect them.”