As if he were the drone: a Ukrainian soldier controls his interceptor drone from a first-person perspective using virtual reality glasses. (Image: October 8, 2025, Zaporizhia region) Image: Keystone
The mass use of drones in Ukraine has revolutionized warfare. But not all drones are the same. The big overview.
October 22, 2025, 04:03October 22, 2025, 04:03
Remo Hess, Brussels and Oliver Marx (illustrations) / ch media
Even in the fourth year of the war in Ukraine, artillery, tanks and infantry still play an important role. But observers estimate that around 80 percent of losses can now be attributed to drones. The massive use of flying death-bringers revolutionized war.
But not all drones are the same. An overview of everything that’s floating around in the sky. And what you can do about it.
Ukrainian army drone hit a grenade. (Image: July 22, 2025, Donetsk region) image: Maria Senovilla
Homemade kamikaze drones
The most efficient drone in Ukraine is a home-made drone: a grenade or other explosive charge is attached to a commercially available drone. The drone pilot can then drop it over a target, for example a group of soldiers, at the push of a button.
The kamikaze variant is particularly deadly. The pilot steers the drone from the “first-person perspective” and directly to the target, similar to a video game. Under certain circumstances he may even pursue an enemy soldier into his dugout. Ukrainian soldiers have become masters in this discipline.
There was recently even a competition among the individual special units to choose the best pilot in the army. The Ukrainian drone pilots are highly respected and, in a sense, the flying aces of the 21st century.
But the Russians also use hundreds of thousands of homemade drones. Recently, more and more often with wafer-thin, kilometer-long fiber optic cables that connect the drone and pilot and thus bypass jammers. Then the only option is to shoot it directly, for example with a shotgun.
Circling in the sky until a target is found: Russian “Loitering Munition” Lancet. (Image: Russian Armed Forces handout, December 24, 2024, somewhere in Ukraine). image: AP
“Loitering ammunition”
So-called “loitering ammunition” is also a kamikaze drone. The difference is that it is not controlled by a pilot, but operates semi-autonomously. It circles and “loiters” over a section of the front for a long time before diving down on its target.
Russia often attacked Ukrainian artillery and radar positions with its “Lancet” loitering ammunition, especially in the first phase of the war. Ukraine itself uses US “switchblades” (switchblades). The name comes from the fact that the two pairs of wings open up like a switchblade after takeoff.
Shahed attack drone as an object display in the British Parliament. Newer models have jet engines, making them faster and difficult to intercept. (Image: October 14, 2025, London) Image: Kin Cheung
Attack drones
The Shahed drones, which Russia uses to terrorize the Ukrainian civilian population, have a larger operational radius. They come in swarms and, depending on the model, carry a warhead weighing 30 to 90 kilograms. The Shaheds were originally developed in Iran, but Russia also produces them themselves under the name “Geran”.
Moscow has also created its own variant, the “Gerbera”. It was also Gerbera drones like these that entered Polish airspace in September.
The Ukrainians are fighting the attack drones in all possible ways. Through electronic means of warfare (so-called “jamming”). Or they shoot them. From the air by attack helicopter and fighter jet. From the ground, mostly with large-caliber machine guns.
As a semi-automated system, there is the outdated but efficient Gepard anti-aircraft tank from Germany. Or recently the modern successor “Skyranger” with its machine cannon from the Zurich company Oerlikon.
Brings drones out of the sky at a distance of 4 kilometers: The Skyranger from Rheinmetall. (Image: Exhibition June 2024, Berlin). image: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
Interceptor drones as hunters
Interceptor drones, which hunt attacking drones, are new. An innovation race is currently raging: A number of technology companies are vying to see who can develop the most efficient and cost-effective interceptor drone.
The “Sting” has been in use in Ukraine for a few months. At a speed of up to 315 kilometers per hour, the stinger rushes vertically upwards and sets off on a collision course with the enemy drone. According to the Ukrainian manufacturers, over 600 Russian drones have already been combated in two months. Cost per hunter: A few thousand francs.
Reconnaissance and espionage drones
Reconnaissance drones are central to modern war. These can be drones with “fixed wings”, which are similar in design to an airplane. Or rotor drones based on civilian drones. There are various variants with four, six or eight rotors. Some are no larger than a cigarette pack and are used by special forces in urban warfare. Others have wingspans of several meters and can hover over an area for hours.
It is not yet known what type of drone appeared in Denmark and other European countries at the end of September. However, there are indications that they were larger rotor drones of a civilian design.
An example of a modern medium-range reconnaissance drone is “Twister” from the German company Quantum-Systems.
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (center) and Markus Blume, State Minister for Science (right) visit Quantum-Systems. (Image: October 10, 2025, Munich). image: Peter Kneffel
Radar and early warning systems
Efficient drone defense takes place in several lines. The first stage is locating the aircraft, which are often low-flying and small compared to fighter jets. This requires high-performance radars such as the Ground Master 200 from France.
Acoustic early warning systems are also used in Ukraine. The “Sky Fortress” listening devices, which are equipped with artificial intelligence, are intended to detect incoming drones based on their sound signatures. It is an inexpensive and efficient addition to traditional radar.
The Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Rezniknov (right) signs the contract to purchase a “Ground Master 200 radar system” in Limours near Paris. (Image: February 1, 2023, Paris). image: Yoan Valat