The video highlights the effectiveness of Ukraine's flat-pack cardboard drones, known as the Precision payload delivery system (PPDS), which were originally designed for reconnaissance and logistics resupply but have been transformed into highly effective kamikaze weapons. These drones are easily assembled in theater and have been used to launch successful strikes on Russian airfields, reportedly destroying fighter jets, missile launchers, and air defense systems. Made from waxed cardboard, they are almost undetectable by Russian radar but relatively slow, with a top speed of around 37 miles per hour. Despite their speed limitations, these drones can carry several kilos of explosives and have forced the Russians to resort to low-tech measures for protection. With a cost of around $5,000 AUD, the cardboard drones are a more affordable option compared to other military-grade systems, and Australia has been supplying Ukraine with a hundred of them every month since March.

[–] Vex_Detrause@lemmy.ca 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Good Bot! /s

[–] Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This would actually be useful as a bot unlike the piped linking one.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 2 points 2 years ago

Might be a bit expensive to run those since you would have to link to an AI and that isn't cheap. Especially with the number of videos that are being linked to every day.

[–] Edgelord_Of_Tomorrow@lemmy.world 36 points 2 years ago

These drones are the best representation of Australia bar none.

Bastardised Nordic ideas filtered through a lens of redneck ingenuity and aggression that somehow, defying all reason, is very effective.

[–] ach@feddit.de 27 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Ukraine destroying Russian jets with Australia's flat-pack cardboard drones

ftfy

Anyway, looks easy to copy. Soon: Russian/Iranian/Chinese/North-Korean flying cardboards?

[–] chaogomu@kbin.social 11 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Russia was already using Iranian made cheap kamikaze drones, they just haven't been as cheap. The Iranian drones have a longer range and much larger payload.

[–] roguetrick@kbin.social 15 points 2 years ago (3 children)

To give a sense of the difference in the cheapness scale: this one is both held together and launched by rubber bands.

[–] Janonym@feddit.de 14 points 2 years ago

What a time to be alive.

Or die, in case you see one arriving.

[–] autokludge@programming.dev 2 points 2 years ago

Original idea:

[–] zephyreks@programming.dev 1 points 2 years ago

It's not that different in price, though: the Aussie one is 5k, while this is 10k.

[–] ilmagico@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

I guess Ukraine can just send 5 or 6 of these for likely a smaller cost the iranian ones, which combined can do quite a bit of damage, and are harder to shoot dowm by air defence, just by virtue of the larger number. Of course, each has its uses.

[–] mxcory@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Hobbyists have been building foam core planes for years. There is an interesting youtube channel that has made plenty, FliteTest. They have built models to drop pumpkins and watermelons, so they can be build to haul a bit of weight.

One of my personal favorites is the Thunderquak from Darkwing Duck.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=A68pu7EYhYc&pp=ygUSRmxpdGVUZXN0IGRhcmt3aW5n

[–] ach@feddit.de 1 points 2 years ago

Yeah, I think, FPSRussia is best known for their early prototype videos

[–] nomecks@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago (2 children)

This technology should horrify everyone.

[–] grayman@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago

We're super close to Snow Crash. The drones just have to be smaller and more numerous.

[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 years ago

I could imagine some terrorist ordering 100 of these then just flying them at random into some city/airport

[–] Kowowow@lemmy.ca 11 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Well at least the covering planes with tires makes a bit more sense now, it's really not the worst last minute idea, long term though something like a kevlar blanket portable hangar would be much better

[–] xhci@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The hole in their plan with the tires is literally that… they have big holes right through the middle.

Sure, they can probably reduce some percentage of shrapnel, but the pattern these drones throw seem to be huge. I doubt it’s enough to mitigate any meaningful amount.

[–] Mangosniper@feddit.de 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Wasn't the tire thing to stop the contour matching so that the drones can't see/find their target?

[–] Minarble@aussie.zone 7 points 2 years ago

Payback for MH 17

[–] Xariphon@kbin.social 5 points 2 years ago

I wonder if the Night Witches would be horrified, or appreciate the irony.

[–] betwixthewires@lemmy.basedcount.com 4 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I wonder if they'll open source them.

[–] LetterboxPancake@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 years ago

Or sell. Buy one, finance ten for special birthday gifts for the Russian army.

[–] roguetrick@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago

The software is already open source. https://www.theregister.com/2023/04/07/corvo_cardboard_drone/

[–] Thisfox@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 years ago

Not just targeting!