System rewards soldiers who achieve strikes with points that can be used to buy more weapons in an online store

A computer game-style drone attack system has gone “viral” among Ukrainian military units and is being extended to reconnaissance, artillery and logistics operations, the nation’s first deputy prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has told the Guardian.

Drone teams competing for points under the “Army of Drones Bonus System” killed or wounded 18,000 Russian soldiers in September, with 400 drone units now taking part in the competition, up from 95 in August, Ukrainian officials said.

The system, which launched more than a year ago, rewards soldiers who achieve strikes with points that can be exchanged to buy more weapons in an “Amazon-for-war” online store called Brave1 filled with more than 100 different drones, autonomous vehicles and other drone war material. It has a leaderboard topped by teams with names such as Achilles and Phoenix.

  • Pennomi@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21·
    8 hours ago

    the extension of the points-based system comes amid warnings that increasing reliance on drone warfare is not something Nato countries should follow because Russian defences against such unmanned aerial attacks have become formidable

    And right, good point. NATO should definitely just ignore the most effective weapon of the era. 🙄

    • tomiant@piefed.socialEnglish
      15·
      8 hours ago

      Russian defences against such unmanned aerial attacks have become formidable

      I’m hearing we need to step up our drone game

    • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      12·
      8 hours ago

      Im constantly hearing of blown up and burning russian military infrastructure, so yeah…

      Also there is no realistic defending against fiber drones, so how does this even make sense?

      • dickalan@lemmy.worldEnglish
        8·
        8 hours ago

        I saw some guy Ukraine that has a Solar powered battery spinning a long stretch of barbed wire to cut the fiber optic drones so they do have some defense, I don’t know how effective they are though

    • GlitchyDigiBun@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      8 hours ago

      “You see, Ivan. Vhen zees drone take out all close target, our defenses are formidable! Because eez harder to hit inland target. Vee can speen dis to say our defenses improve over time. Fewer successful missions, Ivan! Western media eat it up! You see!”