Thermite Terror: Russia Faces New Threat In The Skies Over Ukraine – Analysis

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A new kind of weapon is now being used in Ukraine. Thermite is being attached to drones.

Thermite burns at very high temperatures, hot enough to melt through metal. Made from a mix of iron oxide (rust) and aluminum, this material generates its own oxygen and can even burn underwater. When this weapon is used, it does not cause an explosion, or produce thick white smoke, but can burn right through metal—even the metal roof of a house. The weapon can melt and fuse the metal parts of any object it touches.

According to a report from Interesting Engineering, the Ukrainian forces recently used this weapon to attack a house occupied by Russian troops. At first, two ‘first-person view’ (FPV) drones with small explosive warheads targeted the house, but they only managed to break a few windows. The thermite, however, burned straight through the metal roof. In the context of drones, FPV refers to a method of controlling a drone using a live video feed from the drone’s onboard camera, allowing the operator to see what the drone sees in real time.

A video shows a third FPV drone crashing onto the corrugated metal roof, followed by footage from a reconnaissance drone. The crashed FPV fizzes like firework, shooting out sparks and continuing to burn. According to a report from Fortune, the munition burned through the metal roof, destroying any equipment stored underneath.

US Military’s Thermite Grenades

The US military also utilizes thermite grenades, but they are primarily used as demolition tools, rather than as weapons. In October 2023, the U.S. resumed production of these grenades after a nine-year break. These grenades, known as thermate, contain barium nitrate that lowers the ignition temperature.  Thermate hand grenades are usually used by the military to partially destroy, or disable, equipment and artillery. They can damage, immobilize, or destroy vehicles, weapon systems, shelters and munitions.

When these grenades are used, the thermate mixture turns into molten iron, burning at around 4,000°Fahrenheit (about 2,200°Celsius). Traditionally, thermite demolition required placing the grenade by hand. Nowadays, drones can carry out this task with precision. Recently, an elite Ukrainian drone unit used thermite to destroy four abandoned Russian vehicles.

Thermite Proves Reliable in Use

Thermite has proven to be reliable because, once ignited, it reaches temperatures high enough to burn through armoured vehicles. Even if a drone misses the exact target and drops the thermite nearby, it can still destroy the target. It is said that drones loaded with thermite can destroy any type of military equipment. The combination of drones and thermite is lethal, because drones can place the thermite exactly where it will cause the most damage. Even a grenade relatively small in size can ignite a huge fire.

Girish Linganna

Girish Linganna is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: [email protected]

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