Drone Wars Part 1: Lessons from Ukraine

Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles represent a massive change in everything from farming to warehousing to warfare. What are some of the major changes that we've seen on modern battlefields, and what does it mean for the future?
Chapters:
02:32 - The Rise of Quadcopters
04:30 - Sci-Fi Predictions
07:04 - Air Superiority
09:14 - No Air Superiority
12:10 - All Drones are Welcome
17:00 - Categories of Drones and Jobs
22:06 - The Importance of Surveillance

[@miked1709]

As a guy sitting in a hotel in Kyiv, working for a drone company featured in this video multiple times… I am seriously impressed with your assessment here. Great video!

[@link10909]

Question: How much modifying of the standard commercial drone radio communications is going on by the Russia and Ukrainian forces to use commercial DJI for example? (I assume both side know this about each other so no opsec issues here) I am curious if they just end up using the unmodified commercial frequencies and accept jamming as a possibility. (but since the other side is running them to and the dont want to jam friendlies, and anti-electronic warfare operations are effective it doesn't matter) Or are the modifying them to new fixed frequencies. Or are they going even harder and modifying them to frequency hop or other more advanced methods?

[@ClinttheGreat]

@@link10909 They've moved away from commercial drones, especially DJI, b/c of software limitations - they had to jailbreak the DJI software to get around geo-limitations imposed by DJI. Now they pretty much manufacture their own drones. The following does a great job of addressing drone use in Ukraine. Start at about 5 min mark. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3aUaaiolq2CmdU

[@magpieeuc4846]

@@ClinttheGreat no they have not moved away from DJI, both sides rely on DJI drones for, Recon, spotting for artillery and FVP strikes, because of the high quality digital camera feed and the flight times 30-45min, FVP drones use analogue cameras (useless vision and transmission) but A dependable video feed and have very short battery lifes 3 min up to 10 min maximum, so you still need a DJI drone to spot targets for the FVP strike drones. You only launch the FVP drone once you have spotted a target with the recon DJI drone.

[@uncompliant]

We tested dropping munitions with that same DJI drone in one of our videos and also tested thermal camera capability for recon, overall, it is very doable with practice but the battery life is by far the biggest limit. Also the thermal camera is a huge asset **BUT, it is very limited. Good vid trex !

[@liamwinter4512]

Gas powered, hydrostatic motors have a place in this arena. Look up the flowcopter, then let your mind assemble the possibilities.

[@cornfedchris58]

Look how much car electric motor tech has evolved in the last 2/5/10 years, the small batteries will become cheaper and more powerful soon as well

[@uncompliant]

@@liamwinter4512 interesting... I am not knowledgeable in the drone propulsion area, my expertise is in liquid rocket propulsion -UC

[@Isaacmantx]

@@cornfedchris58 That is not necessarily true... battery chemistry and cell efficiency breakthroughs are kind of a cornered market. The drone market itself is NOWHERE near big enough to facilitate battery breakthroughs like the automotive industry is. Most drones on the market are already using pretty up to date chemistry and cell construction pioneered or perfected BY/FOR the automotive industry. I don't see any unexpectedly large energy density breakthroughs on the horizon. The biggest shortcoming in this space is SIZE. At current (and even near term future) energy densities, flight duration will continue to remain a problem. I expect many of these armed FPV drones in the future to be intentionally engineered larger than the currently utilized "off-the-shelf" drones specifically to accommodate larger batteries alongside the weight of the munition.

[@quaternio]

It is alluded to in the video, but investing in DJI or other Chinese drones is not realistic for practical applications-our biggest threats are either from our own nation, or from China, and they both already have backdoor tools to easily disable/track their product.

[@dbarbour]

"Ever had your aircraft dynamically retasked..." That hits home. Subscribed!

[@aesthetic8780]

Issac is the reason why I subscribed TRex arms. Excellent person, excellent content.

[@bobtail362]

The video on suppressors got me going with T Rex.

[@sirshramp5934]

Isaac ate an entire baby.

[@halekang1805]

Issac out here pretty much carrying the channel on his back.

[@tntshuffle-9799]

He is a very intelligent speaker. He has a good way of explaining things, laying things out. I appreciate all of the information he puts out.

[@DTex.45ACP]

Issac's videos are definitely my favorite, no dis to Lucas.

[@robertbiermann4666]

Cool! Never thought of using a drone to increase radio range. Could be very useful on a boat!

[@Johnny-rj9on]

Could be useful damn near anywhere

[@sillysad3198]

i am thinking about it every day :)

[@hedgeearthridge6807]

You can do it with HAM or GMRS radio! If you can get or make a little repeater. Especially for use in forests and small hills, you can make a flying radio tower basically. Even in the coastal plains of Georgia, the small hills and forests make 5 watt HT radios unusable past a mile. But if you can get LOS with a tall repeater, you can talk for crazy distances

[@3nertia]

A fixed wing would be better ...

[@RenThraysk]

Was a case in Oregon last year, guy was in spotty mobile phone coverage. Attached his phone to a drone, and sent it up to get an emergency call out. If google "Man uses drone to get help while stranded in snow" you'll get the articles.

[@wquon2007]

There's drone usage in, I believe it was Africa or the middle east, that used airplane drones launched with a catapult/sling shot and caught with a net. It's purpose was to del8ver medical and other urgent supplies to remote areas. They were simplistic and broke down to around 3 or so pieces. If interested I could likely find the video again and share it.

[@goosecouple]

I remember watching that. Made of cardboard.

[@wquon2007]

@Squatch-sj3vg yes! that's the one.

[@DZ4295DBW]

yep, there's a Zip line facility where I am. ​@@Squatch-sj3vg

[@MrPimpmygun]

The catapult / net captureethod has been pretty common for uavs since their inception, truck bed and ground mounts have been in every theatre since the 90's. Pretty normal

[@sopoko1]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoC6dYF4qp53obcsi=pfuiNvZ3g3QkbgNQ

[@billynomates920]

my friend has a racing drone he converted into a camera drone. i don't know much about them, it's running on 6s or 6c high output lipo but he told me it does 120mph straightline and i know it turns on a dime. i was watching him fly it. you ain't outrunning it. if it's zeroing in on you then by the time you realize it, only thing saving you is a 360 noscope

[@AB0BA_69]

Dodge and weave to juke the operator. Gotta count on that ms lag 😂

[@BullsMahunny]

At that point they'll just aim at your legs and hit the ground near you aiming for severe leg trauma, which will just prolong the end. Drones are a HUGE deal. It's only a matter of time before some of those bastards start coming across the Rio Grande.@@AB0BA_69

[@blueberrywilbur315]

They are more limited in flight time than a DJI by far. 6 minutes maybe, also a DJI does over 40 you’re not outrunning that either.

[@CarbonGlassMan]

@@AB0BA_69 That won't help. DJI digital FPV system is about 32ms and analog video systems is even lower than that. Around 10ms.

[@marioformicadae6637]

@@blueberrywilbur315 You think someone can't run for longer than 40 minutes? Even though the DJI won't be chasing for the whole 40 minutes

[@Skynetdronesystems]

We operate UAVs equipped with thermal cameras made by FLIR. They have a 45 min flight time with less than a minute down time to battery swap. Using a 5 battery kit and charging station we can run one in 24hr cycles. The ability to implement an asset like that in under a minute out of a backpack is absolutely incredible. 🔺

[@isaacbotkintrex]

It's pretty amazing.

[@Skynetdronesystems]

@@isaacbotkintrex If you add the UAS plugin for ATAK/TAK it can give you a whole new level of situational awareness

[@ianray8823]

This man adds wrinkles to my smooth brain

[@RE-ue6oz]

Great topic! Waiting for you guys to cover EMP protection, because of your thorough approach and the reach you have to get the word out.

[@johnhaigler407]

Limitless possibilities w/ the functions of drones. Wow! Eye opening stuff. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

[@chazvegas_]

Yes! This is going to be a great series Also, I did not expect to see something for farming on this channel. I love the depth and degree of knowledge. Super interesting.

[@isaacleachman1358]

Drinking game: take a shot of reign energy every time Isaac says “a whooole bunch” All jokes aside, love what you do. it’s amazing that content like this is free. well done guys.

[@hk4lyfe59]

23:25 "Here at Trex arms where we specialize in SMALL arms" lol

[@chillumvillain6801]

Awesome. These tech videos are always so cool. I’m sure a ton of time goes into research on this stuff to bring us something so condensed and digestible. Great job! 👍🏻

[@laurenceb5516]

The videos coming out of Ukraine show FPV drones becoming essentially anti-personnel guided missiles. Interesting stuff

[@MS-wz9jm]

Yeh the Russians are producing 10's of thousands a month. So much NATO armor was destroyed by FPV drones the Ukrainians then stopped using armor and sent in infantry. They were also being destroyed by FPV. Russian's now putting thermals on their expendable FPV's. In modern warfare its best to become a tunnel rat.

[@Gearwhoreactual]

Yes much more fast and effective as the dropped munitions

[@sugandesenuds6663]

yeah, much cheaper than the switchblades the united states send. Not only anti-personnel, but also anti armor, the ukrainians strap a rpg warhead to a fpv racing drone and start looking for russian armor.

[@MS-wz9jm]

@@sugandesenuds6663 Russians use them on infantry now that Ukr stopped using armor. Its deadly to be above ground, best to become a tunnel rate like ww1.

[@hedgeearthridge6807]

Not even so much anti-personnel but rather like ATGMs! When they strap an RPG warhead to it and hit tanks in the back or top of the turret it usually detonates the ammo. A hit to the back of the hull or the engine deck usually mobility kills them. And I've seen no shortage of them chasing down Scooby-Doo vans, trucks, BMPs, and even motorcycles. The anti-vehicle aspect is where FPVs really shine!

[@jamesbridges7750]

The Malloy t150 and the Marine's recent adoption of it for their Littoral Logistics units for resupply drops is something you guys should look at- 150lb payload and they have a 400 lb capable version as well.

[@KermitFrazierdotcom]

Sounds like a Personnel Delivery Device Incoming...

[@runnug]

Once again, a phenomenal presentation Isaac!

[@ThoroeEsbjerg]

Great video! Can’t wait for upcoming episodes of the series!

[@coochykilla]

FPV drones are changing the game

[@isaacbotkintrex]

That will be Episode 4.

[@zachscott4867]

So low flying and crazy fast and maneuverable.

[@KermitFrazierdotcom]

Game Coders can't keep up with IRL.

[@juancolon123]

This is a great set of topics. I will definitely keep an eye out for these vids 👍

[@jasonmcclish2580]

Awesome video, guys. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

[@bryanestrada5984]

Wow!! Amazing job in getting this content out and having the talk about drones. It was ver informative. Thank you for creating it. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@angeltrujillo5351]

This is the content I didnt know I needed. I love the implications these concepts have for responsible civilian use. Here’s another one: using them for natural disasters to locate people or dangerous structural areas.

[@goliathku]

I'm looking forward to more of this, keep it up! Very interesting.

[@dylanarmament]

I am now convinced Isaac does indeed know all the things.

[@origamihawk]

the information is all out there, doing real independent research is just becoming a lost art with how fast social media moves

[@jaredking3361]

Fantastic video! I can’t wait for this series!

[@TheBenJiles]

Amazing analysis. Great delivery. Love the series. Keep it up!

[@timothyjones8863]

Really looking forward to this series!!

[@tjzulu1]

Great video brother!! Lookin' foward to the series...keep'em comin'!! 🙌🏻 🇺🇸 Ooorah!!

[@brettsnell3369]

Excellent Doco. Really like the way you present very interesting information. Thankyou!

[@perspicacity89]

I love this series. You are brilliant, friend.

[@andreashannon3928]

Thanks for covering

[@wackman123]

This was very well done. Can’t wait for the rest of the series

[@goncalosilva958]

Great episode. Looking forward for more. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@hewtwhobzux9992]

20:10 i like your tether drone idea! and put a flag at the top that says IM HERE

[@TREXARMS]

The trick with the tethered drone is NOT to be there.

[@AdamJDMartin]

Fun series. Looking forward to part 2

[@larrymarsico4059]

Love this topic & content! Great video guy's!🙌💪🤙🇺🇸

[@leightonbovee5670]

Thanks for putting this together.

[@Omegafox411]

Can't wait for part two! Great video. 😎

[@MrOliverk2]

One minute in and I can already tell the quality of this content matches anything I would have watched on the History Channel growing up. Would be right at home there.

[@den_see]

Love these nerdy videos. Please keep it up! Excellent!

[@project86xero]

Always solid stuff from Trex Arms.

[@kevinsimon4716]

Great video, looking for more in the future.

[@philhechle5175]

Very comprehensive video covering all aspects of drones. Very interesting.

[@cheuk-yintsang6623]

I have actually done what he said about the 100 ft of power and comms wire, strapped the OE-254 cone to a drone and flew it up instead of setting up the antenna poles

[@isaacbotkintrex]

Nice!

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

Must've been one hell of a drone.

[@cheuk-yintsang6623]

not really just one of those package drones@@PatrickKQ4HBD

[@vonries]

Thanks, that was one of the few videos I've seen of yours that I liked.

[@zAlwaysTilted]

I keep a quadcopter in my get home bag. Glad you are finally bringing this topic up! Analogue tech is what I would recommend to anyone serious in the hobby. Maybe not a dji product

[@RodCornholio]

What are some use cases for the quadcopter in a situation where you have the bag?

[@CMDR_Shokwave]

Whatever tech you use, always understand it's weaknesses. Whether it be power needs, range, noise, signal location triangulation. And with DJI in particular: wifi and GPS requirements, Flysafe zone limitations, RFID, Chinese software. What's in that latest firmware update? Hmmm....

[@ShooterMedic1818]

We need a new comms gear guide for 2024! Love the outside the box vids. Great job.

[@mweb586]

This video is on point, and I hope for more. When Isaac was talking payloads for CAS vs. Air Dominance it was spot on. Sure, he didn't know the buzzwords (apportionment vs allocation, is what he meant) but his completely outside assessment of what aerial war means got down to the meat very eloquently, and much faster than delving into the nuances of military doctrine. As a pilot I really dislike how many jobs these drones can take from us flyers, however, they assume the worst jobs, and, their replacement of us will only serve to prolong our lifespans.

[@dothedewinme]

Are you saying you don’t want to fly your plane into a tank or dive bomb a trench to take out a squad?

[@bobbafett3050]

I think it's easy to underestimate the value drones have in absorbing casualties. Your long range surveillance drones start dropping off the net that gives you pre-warning of the attack. Your one way recon waves probing easiest routes of advance and triggering ambushes. Those goofy grenade drop drones... The operator gets a lot of free tries to get it right with limited risk to themselves. The battlespace is definitely changing. When you think about the possibilities when combined with AI and less scrupulous rules of engagement it's pretty scary stuff.

[@BullsMahunny]

Goofy grenade drop drones? Those "goofy drones" are responsible for tens of thousands of dead in Ukraine. We need to start calling them what they are - serious threats that can cause a lot of problems a lot of different ways very quickly. Honestly, no one is prepared for a future conflict. The US is trying it's hardest to get their Anti-Drone capabilities up but that still takes time.

[@metallampman]

the first time i dropped in to your channel i thought it average but really you do an excellent job and your narrations are great ..

[@Abdallah-pd9my]

Never watched a video from TRex Arms. Extremely impressed by the tight editing and visuals on display here.

[@flat-earther]

hi abdallah-, have you become a flat earther yet? If not I suggest viewing the 13 part series _what on earth happened_ in my about to learn how the earth is not a globe

[@texanborn7747]

I love Issac’s videos. He’s a awesome teacher

[@Korruptor]

Glad I'm not the only one coming away with these take-aways watching Ukraine footage, in particular what it means for the prepared citizen.

[@flat-earther]

hi korruptor, have you become a flat earther yet? If not I suggest viewing the 13 part series _what on earth happened_ in my about to learn how the earth is not a globe

[@chardeemacdennis357]

Kudos on making a contrasting yet complementary approach to Garand Thumb on the drone frontier. While he addresses irl experience and tactics, you guys address history, technology, and theory/strategy. Bravo! 👏

[@dezertsky7677]

Eager for more already! Great info

[@quandaledingle113]

Hoping for more and more episodes. Great work

[@joelwright1822]

Awesome video! Keep up the good work and sharing the latest in battlefield technologies and threats. Things have changed rapidly since the GWOT. Just an FYI, The U.S. made Flex Force Dronebuster is designed to counter small UAS drones and drone swarms. It can detect drones from several kilometers away and take control of the drone's command and control, which cuts the video feed. The new version can even force the drone to descend to the ground, or completely take control of the drone. All of this in a small and light (5 lb) package, which is available on GSA.

[@coochykilla]

Link?

[@davidhenry7484]

Love it! Keep emailing coming. PS, I was a scout sniper in the 10th mtn div.

[@khidaral-mukhtaar7327]

This is a very good presentation. I have been following ALL of the Ukrainian drone videos ( since they are the underdog and are very smart people. Their war is still lost.). This is a real quality presentation!✅

[@kilolimafpv5537]

I’m excited to hear what you have to say about this topic. Especially FPV drones!

[@josueneris1861]

I’m excited for this new series!

[@pak3211]

love the series!

[@retepeyahaled2961]

Impressive video! A real eye opener. I want more.

[@ericferguson9989]

I am looking forward to this series.

[@mountainskyaerialphotograp3921]

For the average person, I feel that small commercial drones can be used for a number of things including surveillance, forward observement (Think a couple miles away) checking the interstate for riots or enemy positions. That's just touching the surface. I have been flying commercially since 2017, too many uses for this comment space.

[@user-qn7ui7sb1q]

True but they are dependent on cellphone service the government will shut that down

[@DonnieDarko727]

Not true​@@user-qn7ui7sb1q

[@dafunkmonster]

@@user-qn7ui7sb1q No, they're dependent on line-of-sight wifi signals.

[@helloterran]

@@user-qn7ui7sb1q No they don't

[@TheInfekt]

This is what I subbed for, we need more Isaac knowledge

[@Doesntmatteratall]

I’m very excited about this series

[@dennisnaffah8733]

Such an entertaining and easy to follow documentary. Great work

[@rogerw.3935]

Great video..well explained and very interesting!

[@patrickfitzsimmons6046]

Love the Garand Thumb reference. I almost snorted my bourbon out of my nose 😂

[@GrahamBartle]

Oh heck yes! Thanks. This is awesome.

[@03stmlax]

FPV quad drones will prove to be one of the most effective weapons in the history of warfare

[@IowasDirtyCivilian]

I've heard of commercial electricians using drones to hunt down wiring because they don't want to crawl through the small areas. Pretty neat idea I'd say

[@jP-nw7nm]

This channel just gets better and better…

[@maddantt7757]

this is very informative. thank you

[@bitferret-rx5rn]

cant wait for part 2

[@jimboalogo]

Pretty suspicious raising of the eyebrow there at the end. Something big coming? Once again, you demonstrated why you're one of my favorite KZbin channels. Great job on this. Looking forward to the rest.

[@elietaylor4858]

Great series

[@DallasPirateMike]

Can’t wait to see the whole series…

[@BiGDuke6Actual]

Great video. Looking forward to succeeding episodes of this topic matter. Subscribed..

[@paul20363]

Cool to see the USS Alabama park as a backdrop

[@marineplaysairsoft]

Mmm yes I'm listening... Good on you guys, this is a really interesting topic!

[@AnthonyAdrianAcker]

Looking forward to the rest of the series. I use my DJI air2s for photography and scouting trails. I want to try using it for recon during an airsoft event. I think that would be rad. It's incredible how inexpensive this kind of technology is now.

[@tallspy7150]

Ah, the old eb and flow of technological warfare. The problem I see with drone is the reliance on them when the time comes. Where technology becomes a hinderance instead of an asset. Ill give you a current example that is currently affecting the military today. But to start we have to go back some years. In the beginning, we transported people in cargo trucks with a cloth covering. That didnt stop bullets, so we armored them, made armored personel carriers. So then they made weapons better, then armor better, then weapons better... etc. Fast forward to today and we have humvees that cost about .5 million each, with all the cool gear and stuff. Not to mention the 4 or 5 people and their gear. All can be taken out with a few 200 dollar RPG's. So the military is giving serious consideration to the idea of removing armor to make their vehicles more mobile and harder to hit. Now we are back to transporting people in unarmored vehicles. An old military officer got into a war came with modern officers. They had all of the tech they could ask for, radar jammers, comms intercepting, the whole package. And they lost because they couldnt figure out how he was communicating with his team. The answer was he was hand writing letters and giving them to guys on motorcycles, they just couldnt see it. Having MRE's are great. But knowing which bugs and plants you can eat is probably better. Youll eventually run out of MRE's, you cant run out of knowledge. I look at drones the same way. They are great and cool until the technology fails. Then you lose to the guy who has been practicing the old ways.

[@_--Reaper--_]

Star Wars: The Drone Wars, Drones Strikes Back

[@BrassAngels]

Very cool, very interesting, & very impressed by the amount of research & Intel you went through to put this series together! I am definitely hooked! Keep up the good work & cheers! #ARJunkie #2ARights #RepealNFA

[@mascasa7502]

Great video! Looking forward to the series. I'd say drones have democratized (or distributed, if you will) air power to state and non-state actors who didn't previously have any way to achieve effects from the air.

[@soiralknarf]

This might be one of the most important thing people hear this Christmas!

[@stevewapner9061]

Santa Claus needs to see this.

[@The_Professional_Hobbiest]

Awesome video love this

[@HouseholdDog]

This was really well explained.

[@MichaelJohnson-fz2ry]

Awesome video.

[@user-jz4hy8yn6p]

Thank you!

[@Man_De]

45 seconds in. That intro is the best thing I’ve ever seen

[@boylukefirearms]

very interesting. That’s a new era

[@thomasverges8953]

Amazing content !!

[@PacificPlinker]

This is the series we need. I’ve been curious about drones as a civilian for a number of years now.

[@discount_ChadKroeger]

whatttt. I really enjoyed this video. TREX doesn't disappoint.

[@joshmccartney6474]

Keep it coming