According to Business Insider (BI), an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operator of the Ukrainian Unmanned aerial System Force, named Dimko Zhlutenko, said that distinguishing between Russian and Ukrainian UAVs on the battlefield is truly a "big problem" in the context of this type of weapon being increasingly widely used and "very similar in technology".
Zhlutenko said that Ukrainian soldiers could face the situation of a UAV falling towards them without knowing whether it was Russian or a teammates flying around them from behind. At that time, if soldiers have an electronic warfare system (EW) in hand, they often signal to interrupt all frequencies because they are "too scared".
According to Zhlutenko, soldiers who are not proficient in technology or, as he described it as "never using a smartphone", will have many difficulties in distinguishing between enemy UAVs and our own, as well as adjusting the correct frequency on the jamming device.
Therefore, instead of targeting a specific frequency, they cause total disruption, disrupting the operations of not only enemy UAVs but also UAVs of their own forces. There have been reports of Ukrainian forces accidentally harassing their UAVs.
The combat videos from the front that BI accessed showed that the chaos caused by UAVs was real, with dozens of them continuously flying in the sky. Whose UAVs are these? and Is it mine? are frequently asked questions amid the sound of fire.
Another Ukrainian UAV driver, who asked to remain anonymous, said that during the riot, infantrymen sometimes tried to shoot down any UAVs that appeared in range.
Although Zhlutenko believes that some Russian UAVs are easier to identify because Russia produces fewer UAV models, he admits that it is difficult to distinguish in the context of UAVs constantly flying overhead and the front is always full of threats. They all say the same thing, look the same and even have the same radio signal, Zhlutenko added.
According to BI, the phenomenon of radio signal overlap occurs when both sides use a UAV model, especially the DJI Mavic model. Sometimes, the radio frequency is overwhelmed to the point that the controller accidentally sees images transmitted from another person's UAV.
To overcome this situation, Zhlutenko said, UAV operators must coordinate closely with soldiers, giving prior notice before allowing UAVs to operate near the battle line or in areas with Ukrainian soldiers.
