Russia builds steel cage to protect fighter jets from suicide UAVs

Russia builds steel-frame houses with shielding nets for fighter jets, to protect aircraft from suicide UAV attacks.

On September 10, the Fighter Bomber account of a Russian fighter pilot posted on Telegram an image of a Russian fighter placed inside a large metal frame that was firmly supported.

Above this frame is a steel mesh covering, forming a solid metal cage. Fighter Bomber said this is Russia's new method to counter attacks by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), but did not mention the location where the photo was taken.

"Given the size of the structure, almost any type of strategic aircraft and some helicopters can use it," the Russian pilot said. "Canvas curtains impregnated with fire-retardant compounds can be installed at the front and rear to increase protection."

This person also said that the project cost about 10 million rubles (more than 100,000 USD) and was donated to the Russian army by a business.

Russian aircraft inside a steel mesh anti-UAV structure in this photo released on September 10. Photo: Telegram/Fighter_Bomber

It is unclear how the structure works. Aviationist military expert David Cenciotti believes the steel mesh is either a shield to prevent debris from falling on the aircraft after an enemy suicide drone explodes, or to trap the UAV before it reaches its target, as Ukraine has done.

Kiev previously released images of Russian Lancet UAVs trapped in nets that Ukrainian soldiers had made to protect military vehicles, such as self-propelled guns and tanks.

According to Cenciotii, the fighter in the photo of Fighter Bomber appears to be a decommissioned Su-27, indicating that the project is still in the testing phase and may be further modified before being put into use on the battlefield.

This is Russia’s latest method of protecting military equipment from enemy UAVs. Previous satellite images showed that Moscow had covered the fuselage of Tu-95 bombers and Su-34 fighters with tires, providing additional protection for the Russian aircraft from debris from UAV explosions, as well as making them harder to detect at night.

Satellite images show a plane covered with tires at Russia's Engles Air Base on August 28. Photo: Maxar Technologies

However, some experts say that covering tires cannot help hide Russian aircraft from modern Western reconnaissance equipment, but only wastes time when they need to be mobilized for missions, because all tires must be removed before the vehicle can take off. Russia's new method of installing steel cages will not have this disadvantage.

“The new Russian anti-UAV structure could be more effective than the tire method,” Cenciotii said. “Aircraft can move in and out of the structure just like a normal hangar, without wasting any extra time.”

Russia has recently suffered a number of drone attacks on military bases inside its territory. The drone attack on August 30 destroyed four Il-76 transport aircraft at an air base in the Pskov region. The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence later claimed that their agents carried out the attack from inside Russian territory.

Pham Giang (According to Aviationist, Defense Express )

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