Ukraine is testing a ground-based drone for setting up smoke screens

Ukraine is testing a ground-based drone that carries smoke mortars to create smoke barriers on the battlefield.

The National Information Portal “Tysch” published the pictures of the ground drone.

Ukrainian engineers have mounted a battery of 15 Tucha smoke grenade launchers on a remotely controlled tracked platform.

The AEK-902 Tucha is a Soviet system designed specifically for mounting on light armored vehicles and tanks.

The smoke grenades are fired using an electric trigger, so their integration into an unmanned platform is relatively simple. The launchers themselves are stationary.

The system uses 81-mm smoke grenades 3D6, 3D17, and their modifications to create smoke screens. Depending on the type of ammunition, the time of appearance of a dense curtain and its characteristics differ.

Older 3D6 ammunition falls to the ground after being fired and then forms a dense curtain within 10-20 seconds that lasts about 2 minutes. The weak point of this ammunition is the time it takes to form a veil, during which the combat vehicle is still visible.

At the same time, more modern models of the 3D17 Purga-2 series detonate in the air after firing, immediately forming a dense, three-dimensional curtain. However, such a barrier remains in the air for about 20 seconds and then dissipates.

Unmanned platforms adapted for smoke screens can be extremely useful both in offensive operations, where it is necessary to cover an assault group from enemy weapons, and during retreat.

The use of such systems on ground platforms allows the installation of a curtain anywhere on the battlefield despite the density of enemy fire. This makes it possible to accomplish the task unnoticed and without the involvement of third-party equipment or artillery.

On June 11, Vadym Sukharevskyi, Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, reported that separate companies of ground-based unmanned systems have already been deployed in the Armed Forces to perform tasks at the front line.

According to Sukharevsky, the companies of ground-based UAVs are tasked with fire control, mining and demining, kamikaze missions, and logistics operations, including evacuation.