Amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine continues to adapt older technologies for modern battlefield applications. A notable example of this strategy is the integration of Soviet-era RPG-18 rocket launchers onto FPV (first-person view) drones. This approach seeks to overcome the limitations of conventional weapons by adapting them to current combat conditions.
The RPG-18 is a portable anti-tank rocket launcher, developed by the Soviet Union and introduced in the 1970s. Designed as a disposable, single-use weapon, it fires a 64 mm rocket with a shaped-charge warhead capable of penetrating up to 300 mm of armor.
However, its main drawback is its limited range of 135 to 150 meters and lack of a guidance system. These features require the operator to get dangerously close to the target to effectively engage armored vehicles, making them vulnerable to countermeasures.
To mitigate these risks, Ukrainian forces have turned to an innovative solution by mounting the RPG-18 on FPV drones, operated remotely. This method allows the weapon to be deployed without exposing the operator, while improving the accuracy of strikes.