Hunting the Hunter

Kamikaze drones have changed the rules of warfare. Now these ‘birds’ dictate the course of combat – they control the skies, lie in ambush, and strike with deadly precision. Most people say you should hide from FPV drones, but members of the ‘Terek’ Brigade would disagree. These fighters have completed the ‘Last Line’ smoothbore firearm training course and now know how to fight by the new rules. They practice shooting down targets that simulate FPV drones at the training ground. They also learn to blast them out of the sky from the bed of a moving pickup truck. The trainees are taught by experienced instructors, including Russian practical shooting champion Anna Tolstousova. The program’s goal is to teach soldiers how to effectively counter drones on the battlefield. As the brigade’s chaplain, Father Seraphim, put it while taking part in the training himself: “Today the war is not fought against humans – it is fought against robots.” What are ‘Waiter’ drones, and why are they so dangerous? And why is the shotgun considered the ‘Last Line’ of defense against UAVs.

Watch “Hunting the Hunter” on RTD website and on RT’s live feed. The time of the broadcast is available on RT’s schedule page.