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'The cost per enemy kill of these drones is very effective. It is inexpensive to make but costly to strike it down'
- Mamoun Abu Nowar, retired Jordanian general.
Credit: Mike Mareen - stock.adobe.com
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Reshaping Ukraine and Russia's Battlefield
Hamzeh Abu Nowar is a senior research analyst for HMSC. Covering the MENA region. He has conducted research on political violence, extremism and international conflict in the MENA region.
by Hamzeh Abu Nowar
Credit: Mike Mareen - stock.adobe.com
MENA Research Senior Analyst
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An exclusive interview was conducted by Middle East Eye on the use of combat drones, including the Turkish Bayraktar TB-2 and the Iranian Shahed-136 drones, to aid the opposing sides in the war between Ukraine and Russia.
The research team contacted our defence and security advisor, Mr. Mamoun Abu Nowar, a ret. Jordanian Airforce General, with 35 years of service as a fighter pilot,
To learn more about the impact of the use of these combat drones and how it has become a primary weapon in the war in Ukraine and in other countries around the world. In addition, the effectiveness of detecting these drones through air defence systems, radars, and counter-attack of these drones.
Mr. Mamoun Abu Nowar informed the research team that the Shahed-136 and Bayraktar TB-2 drones had "become a primary weapon and an essential tool in the war in Ukraine and any upcoming fights in the world. [They] are changing the tactics of warfare."
“We can't look at these drones as a secondary weapon in warfare anymore, just for reconnaissance and surveillance”.
"The cost per enemy kill of these drones is very effective," Abu Nowar said "It is inexpensive to make but costly to strike it down. For example, Iran's Shahed-136 drone costs between $20,000-$30,000 to make, but the missile to strike it down costs around $300,000."
A TB-2 costs between $1m to $5.5m, depending on how it is equipped.
Iranian Shahed-136 Turkish Bayraktar TB-2
Air defence systems built to target ballistic missiles and fighter jets also struggle to pick drones out of the sky.
"The combat drone has a small signature on radars," said Abu Nowar. "It is made of carbon fibre composites, so it does not show up on the radar's monitor."
Abu Nowar, who has flown the British Hawker Hunter and other jets, said fighter aircraft are also confused by the slower speed of drones. Military drones travel at up to 600 km per hour, while fighter jets can hit over 3000 km per hour.
"Some countries rely on soldiers raising the alarm when seeing these drones crossing the border," he added.
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