Ukrainians are employing a new tactic known as FPV ambush "wait and strike." This method is utilized behind Russian lines to target vehicles along supply routes, likely as a means to complicate logistics and conduct targeted attacks, writes Forbes.
This tactic may be a response to the limited flight time of FPV drones, which typically operate for no more than 20 minutes and cannot loiter over a target. However, it also represents a shift towards a new format of warfare.
Ambush and Strike Tactics
This method was described in a Russian tactics manual that surfaced on Russian social media several months ago. We are now witnessing its application by Ukrainian forces.
A video has emerged showing a series of strikes on a small quad bike, likely one of the Chinese Desertcross 1000-3 models, which Russian troops are increasingly using due to a shortage of military equipment.
The FPV drone lies in ambush on the snow beside the road, facing the direction of traffic, with its rotors turned off. The operator monitors the passing quad bike, and at 0:04 in the video, it pauses for a few seconds before the FPV ascends and pursues the target. It overtakes the quad bike and then turns to strike head-on.
At 0:12, a shot from a reconnaissance drone appears, observing the strike. After the explosion, the quad bike continues moving but veers off into a forested area.
The video transitions to footage from a second FPV approaching the already damaged quad bike. The driver is not visible. The second drone then attacks.
A third FPV confirms that the quad bike has been destroyed and is ablaze. The operator likely goes in search of the driver by following the tracks in the snow, although this pursuit is not shown.
This video indicates that all three FPVs were pre-positioned in ambush, and the operators deemed it justified to use three drones to attack a small target without passengers or cargo. The cost of a Desertcross in Russia is about $23,000, while an FPV costs around $500 per unit. However, the key factor is not the price, but the availability of munitions.
Strikes on Trucks
The second video circulating online showcases three attacks on Russian trucks. In the first two instances, the FPV drones wait in tall grass. Upon the appearance of a target, the rotors engage, and an "ARMED" indicator appears on the screen, followed by "BOMB ARMED," which may indicate a two-step activation process for the warhead.
In the third case, the drone is positioned at the roadside and takes off down the road in search of a target. This may suggest coordination with a reconnaissance drone that informed the operator of the truck's movement.
In all three attacks, the FPV drones deliberately target the rear of the cab—likely to hit the driver, as the small warhead of the FPV cannot completely destroy the truck.
Targeted Strikes
The third video captures the destruction of the chief of staff of the "Storm Ossetia" battalion, Sergey Melnikov, in the Zaporizhzhia region. Ukraine's GUR obtained information about Melnikov's route and schedule and set up an ambush.
In the video, the FPV drone zooms past Melnikov's vehicle, turns around, and strikes head-on, similar to the attack on the quad bike. The driver attempts to veer off the road, causing the vehicle to overturn. The drone repeats the attack. According to the GUR, Melnikov and his driver were killed.
A New Level of Warfare
The "sit and wait" tactic is intriguing as it opens new possibilities for the combat use of FPV drones.
It is unclear how exactly the FPV drones are positioned in ambush. Given their limited flight time, they could either reach the location independently or be delivered by specialized drones. Ukrainian Wild Hornets and other systems are already being used to transport FPV drones and extend their operational range.
Ukrainian forces are actively employing drones to place anti-tank mines behind the front lines. However, such mines can be easily neutralized, whereas FPV drones can remain undetected and attack anyone attempting to disarm them.
The concept envisions the development of the HellHive idea first proposed by the American company VRR: pre-positioned boxes with FPV drones that activate as needed. Such drones could be nearly autonomous—they only require a reconnaissance drone operator to identify targets.
In the future, drones from ambush positions could operate over significantly greater distances. Ukrainian "Lyutyi" drones have a range of over 1600 km and could scatter FPV drones near airbases instead of explosives, creating obstacles for the enemy.
As the videos demonstrate, FPV drones are already being used for ambushes. The main question is what new opportunities they will unlock in the future.
The War in Ukraine - The Role of Drones
According to Newsweek, the Russo-Ukrainian drone war is entering a new phase.
Over nearly three years of war, the rapid development of unmanned aerial vehicles—and counter-drone technologies—has illustrated the conflict in Ukraine. As the battlefield is filled with thousands of drones and electronic warfare (EW) systems, both Moscow and Kyiv are forced to find new ways to ensure their drones operate against the enemy faster and more effectively than their adversary.