Russian engineers have developed a new type of drone that releases a stream of fire to incinerate nearby targets.
Known as the “flamethrower drone,” the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is equipped with a small tank of flammable liquid, allowing it to unleash a downward burst of flame with a range of up to three meters (10 feet).
While it remains unclear if the Russian military will adopt the new drone, its potential deployment could reportedly offer a short-range countermeasure against hostile drones.
Doubts About Effectiveness
Following the unveiling of the flamethrower drone, some military analysts have expressed skepticism about its effectiveness on the battlefield.
Samuel Bendett, an advisor on Russian military technology at the Virginia-based Center for Naval Analyses, told Defense News that the new UAV may work against drones that hover for observation.
However, for fast-moving drones like those commonly used in Ukraine, the flamethrower’s effectiveness remains questionable.
“You have to get in position and be very precise,” Bendett explained. “Otherwise, if the drone is moving, it will be very difficult to shoot this type of liquid at a moving target.”
Additionally, Federico Borsari, a resident fellow at the US Center for European Policy Analysis, pointed out that the flamethrower drone’s limited payload capacity could pose another major challenge.
“As the drone exhausts the flammable liquid and the pressure of the spraying mechanism diminishes, the returning heat may damage the drone itself and make it crash if the operator keeps it hovering,” he noted.
Rivaling the Dragon Drone
The development of the flamethrower drone reflects the growing competition for air superiority as the war in Ukraine approaches its third anniversary.
In September, Ukraine unveiled the Dragon UAV, which releases streams of molten metal to ignite concealed Russian military targets.
The drone is well-suited for operations over forested areas, where trees and vegetation provide cover for Russian troops.
