INTERVIEW: "In the fight against drones on the front line"

06/27/2024By Redaktion

Drohnen Drohnenabwehr Gustav Freimann Krieg

The "DRONE DEFENSE" is a daily topic on the frontlines in Ukraine. Gustav Freimann, a soldier in the International Legion with a background as a German pioneer, summarizes his operational experiences in “DRONE DEFENSE”, the first manual for combatting the "small" aerial threat - edited by Kristóf Nagy and Markus Reisner.

SPARTANAT: You are with the International Legion in Ukraine and have gained operational experience since the beginning of the war. How dangerous are drones?

Freimann: Essentially, what you are reading from me are my experiences in infantry operations. The danger of drones lies in their omnipresence. Due to their cost-effective nature, they are constantly present in large numbers. The danger does not necessarily lie in their ability to attack - whether through dropping ordnance or in the FPV role - but primarily in the fact that they enhance the user's capabilities and minimize their risk. For example, they increase reconnaissance range, providing a comprehensive picture of enemy positions. Other skills are also improved: target acquisition, target designation for artillery, the range of communication or electronic warfare, as these capabilities can be carried out by drones. Drones are not just a weapon, they enhance general techniques and weapons, extending their reach.

"The most important point for drone defense is openness and awareness. And this applies not only to soldiers themselves, but also to the army and its mindset."

SPARTANAT: What are the most immediate measures in drone defense that you would recommend?

Freimann: The most important aspect of drone defense is openness and awareness. By this, I mean not only the individual soldier who keeps an eye on the sky, but also the army as a whole, its structures, and mindset.

It is actually surprising that drones are now causing surprise, as they have been armed and used as we see today in the microdrone sector since 2014. They are not just used for combat missions, but also significantly enhance the capabilities of various troop types. This is viewed with suspicion in many armies because the applications partly come from the civilian sector and challenge established doctrines. The mistake is in not being open, because then you don't react. But even if you ignore the issue, the issue will not ignore you.

Extreme example of drone defense: Individual shooter shoots down incoming FPV drone.

SPARTANAT: You are a co-author of the new SPARTANAT Black Book "DRONE DEFENSE". What will we read from you?

Freimann: A lot of practical experience from Ukraine. The soldier in the field must work on himself to remain survivable in modern combat. What definitely needs to be done is to practice basic skills - whether infantry, artillery, or anti-tank soldier: I mean passive defense measures, camouflage, movement, reconnaissance, and direct defense.

The most efficient method against drones is electronic warfare, but it is too complex to put into everyone's hands. It involves a cat and mouse game in the electronic realm, requiring specially trained soldiers to enhance the combat capabilities of all. Direct kinetic defense measures are much more difficult. There is still a lack of weapons to shoot down drones. Bringing down a microdrone with a Stinger missile is a significant loss. It is still difficult with handheld weapons or Gepard/Skyranger anti-aircraft guns… To learn more on this topic, read "DRONE DEFENSE".

GUSTAV FREIMANN was a pioneer sergeant in the German Bundeswehr and joined the International Legion in Ukraine in February 2022 after a civilian career, initially as an instructor, then as a member of the special forces, currently as an ordnance disposal technician.