Ukraine’s Army of Drones unveils EFP-S armor-piercing ammunition for FPV drones
According to a recent report by Iryna Voichuk for EuroMaidan Press, Ukrainian engineers have unveiled a remarkable advancement in the realm of FPV (first-person view) drones, introducing the EFP-S armor-piercing ammunition. This innovative development, as part of the Army of Drones project, signifies a substantial leap in targeting lightly armored vehicles, proving its efficacy against a range of military assets.
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FPV drone with EFP-S armor-piercing ammunition (Picture source: Army of Drones/TG)
The EFP-S ammunition has demonstrated its capability in dealing with lightly armored vehicles, including self-propelled artillery units, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers, even when equipped with anti-cumulative and anti-drone defenses.
Ukraine has already been employing small FPV drones along the frontline, effectively targeting Russian equipment, vehicles, and military personnel. However, the challenge has often been the limited impact force of a single FPV drone when it comes to penetrating armored vehicles and causing destruction.
The key to the effectiveness of the EFP-S ammunition lies in its combat component, featuring an "impact core" designed to deliver formidable behind-armour action, coupled with an impressive remote striking distance. The specifications provided indicate that this ammunition weighs 165 grams, boasts a velocity of 1,800 meters per second, and encompasses an effective blast radius of 8 meters.
The composition of the EFP-S includes various essential components such as detachable parts of the body, screws for securing these detachable parts, a cap for fixing the detonator, an adapter for mounting it to the drone frame, a sight for calibrating the course camera, and rubber padding. This design is ingeniously attached to an FPV drone using nylon ties, showcasing a harmonious blend of simplicity and effectiveness in both its construction and deployment.
Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, has encouraged Ukrainian citizens to partake in a free training program aimed at assembling FPV drones for military purposes right in the comfort of their homes, underlining the nation's commitment to innovation and defense.
The key to the effectiveness of the EFP-S ammunition lies in its combat component, featuring an "impact core" designed to deliver formidable behind-armour action, coupled with an impressive remote striking distance (Picture source: Army of Drones/TG)
Defense News January 2024