Thermite grenades burning at over 2,200 degrees are the new weapon of Ukraine's drones

Thermite grenades burning at over 2,200 degrees are the new weapon of Ukraine’s drones

A new type of weapon has begun to be used by drones in the Ukraine conflict. termitea mix of aluminum and iron oxideis a type of ammunition that is being used by the Ukrainian Army to be launched from drones or that they carry out kamikaze attacks with it. Thermite burns at extremely high temperatures, enough to pierce through metalA recent video posted on X by Ukrainian drone fundraiser Serhii Sternenko and reported by several media outlets shows an attack carried out by a drone equipped with this weapon. on a house used as a base by Russian troops.

In the recording you can see how two drones with explosives attack the house, but they only manage to break some windows. Then the point of view of A third FPV drone crashes into the metal roof of the buildingfollowed by another shot by a reconnaissance drone. The crashed drone sputters like fireworks, scattering a shower of sparks, and continues to burn. In the next shot, The termite has completely burned through the metal roofSmoke and flames come out of the house, which is then seen completely on fire, destroying any equipment that might be stored thereaccording to Fortune.

Generally made of a mixture of powdered iron oxide and aluminumthermite burns because the oxygen in the rust is more attracted to aluminum than to iron, so does not need external oxygenIt can even burn underwater. Reaching temperatures above 2,200°Ca thermite reaction tends to melt any material it comes into contact with, as seen in the following video of a thermite grenade on steel. Thermite is used industrially for welding.

Unlike other types of grenades, the termite needs to be very close to the target to have an effect. That’s why thermite grenades AN-M14 of the US Army are classified as a demolition tool rather than as a weapon, used to “damage, immobilize or destroy vehicles, weapons systems, shelters or ammunition.” In this case, it is termate instead of termite, which adds barium nitrate to the mixture to reduce the ignition temperature.

Thermite demolition normally requires manual placement of the grenade. However, nowadays, A small drone can position it with almost the same precision.For example, a video from the Birds of Magyar drone unit shows four abandoned Russian vehicles destroyed by thermite grenades thrown through the hatches. M67 grenades are often used for the same purpose, but the advantage of thermite is reliability: Once it starts burning, it will raise the temperature enough to ensure that the vehicle burns..

Thermite burns at such high temperatures that You don’t always need a direct hit to destroy a targetIn the following video, a drone fails to reach the hatch of an armored vehicle MT-LB abandoned and the thermite bomb falls next to him. Normally, that would be a wasted grenade, but the thermite burns so hot that The jet of sparks manages to burn the MT-LB from the outsideWithin seconds, the MT-LB is engulfed in flames.

Where do the new munitions come from? There appear to be several types in use, but according to Forbes, at least some of them are made from Steel Hornetsa kind of Amazon of bombs for drones.

The smallest is a half kilo pump suitable for small drones that Cuts through 4mm steel in ten seconds for just $10The largest weighs more than two kilos and penetrates 8mm of steel leaving a hole ten centimeters wide and filling the interior with red-hot liquid metal. This slope 24 dollars.

The combination of drones and termite is effective because The precision of the drone can place the termite exactly where it will have the greatest effect.. And even a small grenade can start a big fire. It is also a weapon against which The anti-drone cages that Russia uses in its armored vehicles can do little.