Unmanned aerial vehicles also known as drones are flying machines that are remotely controlled or equipped with an autopilot, commonly used for military tasks such as reconnaissance, surveillance and attack. They vary in size, range, speed and manoeuvrability, depending on their purpose and use. They can be powered by internal combustion, electric or hybrid engines, and are equipped with a variety of sensors, cameras and tools. Military drone warfare is becoming an increasingly important challenge for armies around the world. With rapid advances in technology, drones have become increasingly sophisticated and capable of performing a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, attack, air defence and supply delivery.
One of the most important aspects of military drone warfare is the ability to detect and identify these devices. Troops use a variety of systems to detect drones, including radiometers, thermal imaging cameras, as well as optical and radar systems. There are also special systems, such as drone attack warning systems, which detect the threat and warn troops of a possible drone attack. Another aspect of military drone warfare is the ability to disable these devices. Troops use a variety of methods, such as signal jamming systems, which disrupt communication between the drone and the operator, or intercept systems, which capture the drone in the air and move it to a safe location.
These requirements are met by the REKiN system, i.e. the Revealing Kinetic and Non-Kinetic Emitter, in the development of which our company has made a major contribution. As the Polska Zbrojna portal mentions, “The concept of this system was developed under the leadership of Professor Laskowski and is the result of the efforts of Polish scientists and the capabilities of the Air Force Institute of Technology, Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów and the Kubara Lamina company. REKiN is a multi-module system designed to provide comprehensive anti-drone protection by combining kinetic and non-kinetic means of fighting drones. How does it work? The first line of defence deploys jammers, which are radio jamming systems with proven effectiveness up to 4,000m. The second line of defence is made up of ITWL-developed missiles, which can fire shrapnel at enemy drones. On the third line is a multi-barrel machine gun designed to neutralise large drones. The final element is an electromagnetic cannon with a power of up to 10 GW.”
Further reading in the article, we learn that the system is safe for soldiers in combat formation and can be used stationary, in addition to being suitable for, for example, military installations or as a mobile system. The antenna and the station, which weighs about 500 kg, form one of the modules of the system. This will be able to be placed on the back of an all-terrain vehicle, which to a significant degree facilitates transport, continuous movement with own troops and significant support for units during patrols.
In summary, UAVs are a valuable technology in today’s military operations, providing support in various aspects of operations, from reconnaissance to strike and supply delivery. They increase the efficiency of military operations and allow tasks to be carried out with minimal risk to people. Nowadays, in order to ensure security at the highest level, the position of drones is significant but also the power of systems to combat the potential threat from enemy UAVs should not be ignored.
