Ukrainian defense industry warns of a shift in enemy tactics. Russia is actively developing and implementing a new class of unmanned aerial vehicles, which experts call 'mid-strike' (medium range/weight). The main target of these machines will be Ukraine's logistical routes.
Experts note that Moscow is trying to find a balance between cheap, but low-powered drones like the 'Molniya' and heavy, resource-intensive 'Shaheds'. The new type of weapon is intended to bridge this gap, creating a threat that is harder to neutralize.
Expert opinion: what to prepare for
Yuriy Humenchuk, CEO of the defense company Trident Group, warned in an interview with RBC-Ukraine about the need for serious preparation for the appearance of these means on the battlefield. According to him, the enemy is striving for mass production of such devices, which will require the Ukrainian side to revise its defense tactics.
Particular concern is caused not only by the fact of the appearance of new drones, but also by the scaling of electronic warfare (EW) systems. Russia has a well-established infrastructure and serial production in this field, which forces Ukrainian developers to constantly look for non-standard communication methods to bypass enemy jamming.
Myths about interceptors and civilian equipment
In the context of escalation, other tactical changes are also discussed. For example, the transition of Russian military to civilian cars. Humenchuk notes that this decision is not able to solve problems at the operational level, as most large-scale targets cannot be transported on ordinary pickups.
As for autonomous interceptors, their mass appearance from the Russian side in the near future is unlikely. For the effective operation of such systems, not only the drone itself is required, but also a complex infrastructure for detection and control. Most likely, Russian autonomous systems will be used selectively to protect critical facilities, such as refineries, factories or large cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Countermeasures and arms production
Despite the growing threat, the Ukrainian defense sector is adapting. Ihor Fedirko, Director of the Ukrainian Council of Gunsmiths, emphasized that future production of Patriot air defense systems in Ukraine will become a priority target for Russian attacks. However, according to him, Ukrainian enterprises have already learned to work under conditions of constant missile strikes.
