The Rise of Dive Bomber Drones in Ukraine

The Rise of Dive Bomber Drones in Ukraine

A new video surfaced last month on social media, showcasing the first combat footage of a drone dive bomber, dropping bombs into Russian trenches. Small First Person View (FPV) drones, originally developed for drone racing, have been extensively used in this conflict for kamikaze attacks. However, this is the first time they have been seen dive bombing.

Rise of Dive Bomber Drones in Ukraine

While the footage is unverified and unofficial, a spokesman for the Ukrainian volunteer group Steel Hornets confirms that "FPV bomber drones are already widely used on the front lines." The group, which mainly produces special munitions for drones, has released videos of dive bomber tests putting its weapons to use. Dive bombing, greatly feared in WWII, could make FPV drones vastly more dangerous.

The Evolution of Small Drones in Ukraine

Small drones in Ukraine have followed the same path as aviation in WWI, starting with unarmed scouts and progressing to improvised weapons, early dogfights, then purpose-built bombers, and now dive bombing to deliver ordnance accurately on targets.

The Advantages of Dive Bombing

Bombing in level flight is difficult due to the challenge of dropping the bomb at exactly the right moment. Releasing too early or too late, even by a fraction of a second, will result in under- or over-shooting. Even with the famous WWII Norden calculating bombsights, bombers could only achieve a "CEP" (Circular Error Probable) of 1,200 feet.

Advantages of Dive Bombing

Dive bombing is simpler. The pilot lines up the aircraft’s nose with the target during a steep dive, then releases the bomb so it continues to the target while the aircraft peels away. Skilled Junkers Ju-87 "Stuka" pilots could put their bombs in a 90-foot circle. Dive bombers were an integral part of the German Blitzkrieg, nicknamed "flying artillery."

The Drawbacks of Dive Bombing

Dive bombing is hazardous to the pilot, as it exposes them to enemy fire at close range during the dive. This vulnerability was the reason