The secret behind Russia’s swarms of deadly drones

The swarms of kamikaze drones ravaging Ukraine are cheap and deadly, and they represent a terrifying new form of warfare unleashed by an unlikely source

The off-white hull of a captured drone lies on the floor of an undisclosed Ukrainian military facility, its triangular shape accented by the hardwood’s herringbone pattern. Investigators from the nonprofit Conflict Armament Research (CAR) are trying to learn more about this new weapon. Open compartments on the wings reveal wires, tiny motors, and circuit boards. Yellow, brown, and pink cables spill over the sides.

The investigators probe the drone with the care of medical examiners, delicately lifting flaps and tugging on electrical wires. On the tail is the name Geran-2—written in Russian Cyrillic characters as a ploy to disguise the drone’s true origin.

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The attack drone is one of four types that Ukraine’s military has collected from various sites across the country. After removing the deadly warheads, they handed them over to CAR last November. In addition to the one lying on the wooden floor, Ukraine has also requested that the group investigate a smaller version called Geran-1, along with a reconnaissance spy drone that looks like the U.S.-made Predator and one other undisclosed model.

Read more: Popular Mechanics