5 ms·

Even bubba's pissin hot 3.5 magnum bird shot is probably not getting above 300 or 400 feet vertical for starters, and then you've either got to deal with hittin

Even bubba's pissin hot 3.5 magnum bird shot is probably not getting above 300 or 400 feet vertical for starters, and then you've either got to deal with hitting it dead on with a tight pattern wad or accepting that the shot is going spread enough to make it unlikely to hit it. So far as I have ever seen the energy in a shot shell wad dissipates much faster than a regular bullet, and I think you're better off trying to hit it with a regular old 556.

rpcope1 1y ago
Following on to this, I would not be remotely surprised if drones continue to be a threat to see something like a man portable gepard hooked up to an EW system, as given the speed those things move and how hard even hitting regular old Canadian Geese or errant clays under non-combat situations, I don't know how you would economically fight drone swarms short of a mini Phalanx CIWS or something. Maybe ironically, I wonder if we won't see things like the Bofors 40mm guns continue to be prolific if they get successfully retasked to fighting drones (and they would end up like the M2, fighting long after it was initially conceived).
- rstupek 1y ago
  The US Army has this under development https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSETxYGrxVw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSETxYGrxVw
- wahern 1y ago
  For the larger drones, yes, Ukraine is seeing success with SPAAGs: https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/07/20/ukraine-drone-defense/ https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/07/20/ukraine-drone-defense... For the smaller drones it's an even more rapidly evolving, high-tech arms race. AFAIU, over the past year most of the battlefield drones have switched to kilometers-long fiber optic tethers to avoid electronic jamming. I dunno what all the defensive measures are, but one is using other drones to cut the cable. I think they may also be using directed energy weapons, now, though not sure how widespread that is.
  - esseph 1y ago
    Not all, long range attacks can't use that. Current method from public posts seems to be run on GPS and remote data link until jamming bubble is hit, then transition to visual/thermal/radar recognition of target for terminal approach. Jamming only covers a small area (yes, some areas will have overlap), or a narrow movable cone. Both systems can be overran by the above method, or by swarms overriding directional electronic attack
- dwd 1y ago
  EOS (Aust) sent 160 of these to Ukraine to be mounted on M113 carriers and Kozak MRAPs. Could also be put on the back of a Toyota Hilux or other technicals. They use a Bushmaster 30mm cannon with proximity fuse HE rounds so they don't need to hit the drone dead on. https://eos-aus.com/defence/counter-drone-systems/slinger/ https://eos-aus.com/defence/counter-drone-systems/slinger/
ipnon 1y ago
Drones are most effective as tools of psychological warfare I think. Infantry in a trench can maybe disable a wave or two of drones before becoming overwhelmed, but the drone operator can remain safe and calm in their bunker kilometers away. Most drones don’t make it on target or even inflict lethal injury but their presence or the threat of their presence constantly draws the enemy’s attention away from your units. In Ukraine soldiers seem to worry much more about drones more than small arms or indirect fire. And both sides use this to influence the tactical decision making of their enemies.
- wombatpm 1y ago
  I would think drones carrying cluster bombs would be effective. More targeted in their destruction. No need to scatter bomblets over a quarter of a mile, just 10 or so around a tank.
  - verdverm 1y ago
    If you have seen videos from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, especially over time, you can see the evolution of tactics. For example with tanks, they... - strap artillery shell to the drone and fly it into the tank - drop a standard grenade into the hatch after the crew has fled They don't need to drop munitions like cluster, they strap several on and drop them one at a time. They have become quite skilled and accurate, even from 100+ meters up in wind There are places in Ukraine where it looks like giant spiders live there, due to all the fiber optic cables from drones left on the battle fields
    - vincnetas 1y ago
      as far as i know, they don't strap artillery shells to drones, they too heavy. they strap shaped charges.
      - verdverm 1y ago
        100s of videos of drones with arty shells can be seen on https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/ https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/ They have strapped so many things to drones, you'd think they've tried about everything, then some new video comes out Drones have evolved rapidly and come in all shapes and sizes now. The DJI Maverick image in people's head is only one modality, though by far the most common form factor
SauciestGNU 1y ago
On this particular note, both Ukraine and Russia have developed anti-drone sabot rounds that fire from the respective cartridges their infantry service rifles are chambered for. I do not know their efficacy however.

rpcope1 1y ago

Following on to this, I would not be remotely surprised if drones continue to be a threat to see something like a man portable gepard hooked up to an EW system, as given the speed those things move and how hard even hitting regular old Canadian Geese or errant clays under non-combat situations, I don't know how you would economically fight drone swarms short of a mini Phalanx CIWS or something. Maybe ironically, I wonder if we won't see things like the Bofors 40mm guns continue to be prolific if they get successfully retasked to fighting drones (and they would end up like the M2, fighting long after it was initially conceived).

rstupek 1y ago
The US Army has this under development https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSETxYGrxVw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSETxYGrxVw
wahern 1y ago
For the larger drones, yes, Ukraine is seeing success with SPAAGs: https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/07/20/ukraine-drone-defense/ https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/07/20/ukraine-drone-defense... For the smaller drones it's an even more rapidly evolving, high-tech arms race. AFAIU, over the past year most of the battlefield drones have switched to kilometers-long fiber optic tethers to avoid electronic jamming. I dunno what all the defensive measures are, but one is using other drones to cut the cable. I think they may also be using directed energy weapons, now, though not sure how widespread that is.
- esseph 1y ago
  Not all, long range attacks can't use that. Current method from public posts seems to be run on GPS and remote data link until jamming bubble is hit, then transition to visual/thermal/radar recognition of target for terminal approach. Jamming only covers a small area (yes, some areas will have overlap), or a narrow movable cone. Both systems can be overran by the above method, or by swarms overriding directional electronic attack
dwd 1y ago
EOS (Aust) sent 160 of these to Ukraine to be mounted on M113 carriers and Kozak MRAPs. Could also be put on the back of a Toyota Hilux or other technicals. They use a Bushmaster 30mm cannon with proximity fuse HE rounds so they don't need to hit the drone dead on. https://eos-aus.com/defence/counter-drone-systems/slinger/ https://eos-aus.com/defence/counter-drone-systems/slinger/

ipnon 1y ago

Drones are most effective as tools of psychological warfare I think. Infantry in a trench can maybe disable a wave or two of drones before becoming overwhelmed, but the drone operator can remain safe and calm in their bunker kilometers away. Most drones don’t make it on target or even inflict lethal injury but their presence or the threat of their presence constantly draws the enemy’s attention away from your units. In Ukraine soldiers seem to worry much more about drones more than small arms or indirect fire. And both sides use this to influence the tactical decision making of their enemies.

wombatpm 1y ago
I would think drones carrying cluster bombs would be effective. More targeted in their destruction. No need to scatter bomblets over a quarter of a mile, just 10 or so around a tank.
- verdverm 1y ago
  If you have seen videos from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, especially over time, you can see the evolution of tactics. For example with tanks, they... - strap artillery shell to the drone and fly it into the tank - drop a standard grenade into the hatch after the crew has fled They don't need to drop munitions like cluster, they strap several on and drop them one at a time. They have become quite skilled and accurate, even from 100+ meters up in wind There are places in Ukraine where it looks like giant spiders live there, due to all the fiber optic cables from drones left on the battle fields
  - vincnetas 1y ago
    as far as i know, they don't strap artillery shells to drones, they too heavy. they strap shaped charges.
    - verdverm 1y ago
      100s of videos of drones with arty shells can be seen on https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/ https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/ They have strapped so many things to drones, you'd think they've tried about everything, then some new video comes out Drones have evolved rapidly and come in all shapes and sizes now. The DJI Maverick image in people's head is only one modality, though by far the most common form factor

SauciestGNU 1y ago

On this particular note, both Ukraine and Russia have developed anti-drone sabot rounds that fire from the respective cartridges their infantry service rifles are chambered for. I do not know their efficacy however.