FPV drones have become one of the most dangerous tools of
modern warfare. They are relatively cheap, highly maneuverable, and capable of
striking personnel and equipment with extreme precision. Protecting positions
from FPV drones is no longer optional — it is essential for survival and combat
effectiveness.
In this article, we will cover practical methods for
defending positions against enemy FPV drones that are already being used on the
battlefield.
What Is an FPV Drone
and Why Is It So Dangerous?
FPV (First Person
View) drones are controlled in real time by an operator using video goggles or
a screen. Their main threats include:
High strike accuracy
Difficulty of
detection
Ability to attack from
multiple directions
Low cost compared to
the value of destroyed targets
FPV drones are often
used as kamikaze platforms carrying explosive charges capable of destroying
vehicles, dugouts, or groups of soldiers.
Camouflage — The First
Line of Defense
Proper camouflage
significantly reduces the chance of detection:
use of camouflage nets
with IR protection
avoiding straight
lines and geometric shapes
minimizing movement
during daylight
concealing dugout
entrances
controlling heat
signatures (stoves, generators)
Important: FPV
operators often rely not only on visuals, but also on patterns of behavior and
routine mistakes.
Engineering Protection
of Positions
1. Nets and Physical
Barriers
metal or nylon nets
over trenches and equipment
protective “cages”
around vehicles
stretched fishing line
or wire to disrupt drone flight
2. Depth and
Fortification
The deeper the
position, the harder it is for a drone to strike without a direct top-down
approach.
Electronic Warfare
(EW) Systems
Electronic warfare is
one of the most effective countermeasures against FPV drones:
jamming control
channels
disrupting video
transmission
interfering with
navigation signals
Even short-term
jamming can cause a drone to crash or lose control.
Drawback: EW systems
can reveal your position, so they must be used selectively and intelligently.
Detecting FPV Drones
Early
Early detection
greatly increases survival chances:
dedicated visual
observers
acoustic detection
devices
thermal imagers
short-range radar
systems
The distinctive
buzzing sound of an FPV drone is often the first warning sign.
Active Countermeasures
small arms fire
(against low, slow targets)
shotguns
anti-drone rifles
friendly FPV
interceptor drones
A trained soldier with
a shotgun in the right position can save an entire defensive point.
Discipline and
Training
Even the best
equipment is ineffective without:
clear action protocols
regular training
understanding enemy
tactics
FPV drones exploit
mistakes — repeated routes, crowding, and negligence.
Conclusion
Protection against FPV
drones requires a layered and comprehensive approach, not a single “magic
solution.” Camouflage, engineering measures, EW, detection, and discipline only
work when combined. In modern warfare, survival depends on the ability to adapt
faster than the enemy.
