Dragon Drones: Ukraine's Latest Weapon

The weapon combines medieval military methods with high-tech combat technology. Ukraine's latest innovation in the battles against Russian invasion forces is called dragon drones, pilotless planes that allow molten metal to rain down on Russian soldiers.

» Updated: September 13 2024

» Published: September 08 2024

Dragon Drones: Ukraine's Latest Weapon
Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP/TT

Share this article

Reports of Ukraine using fire-spewing drones come from video footage, according to media company CNN. Low-flying drones release a type of molten rain consisting of a mixture of iron oxide and aluminum powder. The fire rain reaches a temperature of around 2,200 degrees Celsius and burns down vegetation with devastating efficiency.

The soldiers who are hit suffer severe burns.

"Strike drones are our wings of revenge, they bring fire from the sky" writes Ukraine's 60th war unit on social media.

"They have become a real threat to the enemy, burning down the enemy's strongholds with an efficiency that few other weapons can."

Peaceful Invention

In military terms, similar weapons are called thermite bombs. The mixture of metal oxides and aluminum as a weapon was invented by German chemist Hans Goldschmidt in the late 19th century – primarily for civilian use in welding.

But the method soon found military use, as a refined method of the medieval way of setting fire to arrows or projectiles during sieges or letting molten metals flow out of fortifications.

The weapon with the burning rain is not prohibited under international laws of war as long as the targets are military, but in a 2022 report, human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) states that the weapons are "notorious for the horrific consequences" they have on human suffering.

Psychological Shock Effect

British defense expert Nicholas Drummond tells CNN that the psychological damage is also significant:

It's horrific stuff. It's innovative to use drones, but the effect is more psychological than physical. I wouldn't want to be on the side that's being attacked, says Drummond.

The military expert estimates that Ukraine's access to thermite weapons is limited and cannot replace more traditional warfare.

The UN Office for Disarmament warns, however, of the consequences of mass destruction and environmental impact.

"The impact of fire... is difficult to predict and limit" writes the UN Office on its website. Military analysts also compare the damage from the bombs to napalm bombs, which were used, among other things, in the Vietnam War.

However, with the fire-spewing drones, the battles at the front in Ukraine may change shape, with "mass flight of Russian soldiers" from their positions, according to Drummond.

And the weapon's designation within the Ukrainian military is Vidar: the ancient Norse god who fought against the Fenris wolf after the wolf killed the god Odin.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Turkmenistan Cultural Workers Ordered to Lose Weight by National Day
1 MIN READ

Turkmenistan Cultural Workers Ordered to Lose Weight by National Day

Hamas Confirms Death of Gaza Military Chief Mohammed Sinwar
1 MIN READ

Hamas Confirms Death of Gaza Military Chief Mohammed Sinwar

Modi Discusses Ukraine Conflict with Zelenskyj Before Meeting Putin
1 MIN READ

Modi Discusses Ukraine Conflict with Zelenskyj Before Meeting Putin

Finnish Air Force Removes Swastika from Flags
1 MIN READ

Finnish Air Force Removes Swastika from Flags

Norway Faces Severe Impact from Landslides and Rockslides
2 MIN READ

Norway Faces Severe Impact from Landslides and Rockslides

Houthi Prime Minister Killed in Israeli Air Strike in Yemen
1 MIN READ

Houthi Prime Minister Killed in Israeli Air Strike in Yemen

EU Criticizes US Visa Ban on Palestinian Delegates for UN Assembly
2 MIN READ

EU Criticizes US Visa Ban on Palestinian Delegates for UN Assembly

Australia to Relocate Migrants to Nauru Under New Agreement
1 MIN READ

Australia to Relocate Migrants to Nauru Under New Agreement

Half a Million Evacuate Due to Severe Floods in Eastern Pakistan
1 MIN READ

Half a Million Evacuate Due to Severe Floods in Eastern Pakistan

Humanitarian Aid to Northern Gaza at Risk of Being Cut Off
2 MIN READ

Humanitarian Aid to Northern Gaza at Risk of Being Cut Off

Ukrainian Politician Andrij Parubij Shot Dead in Lviv
1 MIN READ

Ukrainian Politician Andrij Parubij Shot Dead in Lviv

Hunger Crisis in Gaza: Malnutrition Claims More Lives
1 MIN READ

Hunger Crisis in Gaza: Malnutrition Claims More Lives

Car Drives into Crowd in Évreux, France: One Dead, Five Injured
1 MIN READ

Car Drives into Crowd in Évreux, France: One Dead, Five Injured

EU Faces Growing Pressure to Allocate Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine
1 MIN READ

EU Faces Growing Pressure to Allocate Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine

Texas Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Abortion Pill Distribution
1 MIN READ

Texas Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Abortion Pill Distribution

Colombian Politician Miguel Uribe Londoño Runs for President After Son's Tragic Death
2 MIN READ

Colombian Politician Miguel Uribe Londoño Runs for President After Son's Tragic Death

Norway Landslide Near Trondheim: Search for Missing Man Continues
3 MIN READ

Norway Landslide Near Trondheim: Search for Missing Man Continues

Court Blocks Trump's Expanded Fast-Track Deportation Plan
2 MIN READ

Court Blocks Trump's Expanded Fast-Track Deportation Plan

EU Divided on Sanctions Against Israel Over Gaza Conflict
3 MIN READ

EU Divided on Sanctions Against Israel Over Gaza Conflict

White House Efforts Ongoing for Putin-Zelensky Meeting
1 MIN READ

White House Efforts Ongoing for Putin-Zelensky Meeting