Ukraine used FPV drones to destroy Russian 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery in Zaporizhia.
Ukraine's 210th Assault Regiment has just released a video showing the destruction of a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery piece using an FPV unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), highlighting the effectiveness of inexpensive weapons in modern warfare.
The 210th Independent Assault Regiment of Ukraine recently carried out a precision strike using FPV drones, successfully destroying a Russian 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery piece in the Zaporizhia region. The operation was filmed and publicly posted on the unit's official Telegram channel.
Identifying targets through technical specifications.
According to analysis of the released footage, the Russian self-propelled artillery system was detected while in a camouflaged firing position. The UAV operator quickly launched a suicide attack on the vehicle.
Specifically, military experts identified this as a 2S1 Gvozdika based on its distinctive turret structure. The turret design of this model is quite low and, notably, lacks the visible recoil-resistance (anti-rollover) mechanism above the gun barrel found in some other self-propelled artillery systems. These technical details are key to identifying the type of equipment that was destroyed.
Statistics on artillery casualties
Notably, losses to Russian self-propelled artillery systems on the battlefield are currently very significant. According to statistics, the number of 2S1 Gvozdika artillery pieces destroyed or captured has exceeded 174.
However, this wasn't the most heavily damaged artillery piece. Reports indicate that:
- Akatsiya 2S3 System:A total of 191 guns were recorded as being out of combat.
- 2S19 Msta-S System:Ukraine suffered the heaviest losses, with approximately 256 systems destroyed or captured by its forces.
Challenges for traditional equipment
The increasing effectiveness of inexpensive FPV drones is posing significant challenges to the role of artillery and tanks on the modern battlefield. The high maneuverability, low cost, and accuracy of FPV drones are making heavy armored vehicles, which are already expensive to produce, more vulnerable than ever before.
Overall, the destruction of the 2S1 Gvozdika at Zaporizhia once again demonstrates a shift in combat doctrine, where unmanned vehicles are gradually gaining the upper hand in neutralizing the enemy's conventional firepower.
