The Russian military appears to have employed a bizarre tactic to warn its personnel and civilians of incoming drone threats from Ukraine.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian servicemember and expert in radio technologies, shared a photo of what seems to be a traffic light installed along a road in Russia.
While it may appear simple at first glance, reports indicate that the system is highly pragmatic, as it flashes a yellow light when a distant hostile drone is detected.
The light turns red when there is a high-level threat, while green when there are no nearby threats at all.
The drone warning system is reportedly designed to alert both military and civilian drivers to potential drone risks in certain areas, allowing them to navigate more safely.
However, the specific components of the system and its underlying architecture remain unclear.
Unorthodox Measures
This is not the first time Russia has implemented an unconventional approach to counter Ukraine’s attack drones.
In 2023, a video emerged showing nets stretched between utility poles in Russia, serving as a defense against hostile drones.
Some of the nets, although appearing damaged, reportedly fulfilled their purpose by entangling incoming drones targeting urban areas.
Moscow’s forces were also observed using a peculiar anti-drone protection system mounted on a BMP-1 armored vehicle.
Metal rods were welded like antennas to the vehicle’s hull, likely to trigger premature explosions of loitering munitions.
In a more recent development, Russian engineers unveiled a new type of unmanned aerial vehicle designed to release a stream of fire to incinerate nearby threats, such as hostile drones and low-flying aircraft.