Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) revealed on May 14 that it has so far been supplied with 158,000 square meters of mesh netting to counter the threat posed by Hezbollah’s fiber optic-guided first-person view (FPV) drones.
In a statement, the military said that it is working on procuring another 188,000 square meters of netting. In total, the netting purchased by the military is equivalent to the area of some 20 soccer fields.
Photos shared by the IDF show the netting being deployed on vehicles and at military posts. The drones seen in the images are part of tests conducted by the military.
Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Hezbollah’s drone units have inflicted some serious losses on the IDF since the start of the United States-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon last month. Recent days saw a steady increase in the number of FPV drones used by the group, as well as an overall improvement in the tactics in which these drones are used.
Using mesh nets to stop drones is of course not a new technique. It has been already implemented by both the Russian and Ukrainian armies.
While this technique does not cost much and can be effective, it is certainly far from a complete solution to stop FPV drones.
Mesh nets could protect to some degree deployment points, and parked vehicles. However, with just a few FPV drones equipped with highly sensitive fuses, any net can be breached, and once a hole is opened, more drones will be able to sneak in and attack whatever they want.
Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
These drones have proven to be a gamechanger for Hezbollah. In addition to being cost-effective, the group appears to be manufacturing these drones with ease.
The IDF is already developing a system to counter FPV drones. Israeli military officials have acknowledged, however, that such a system will be ready in the short term, nor will it provide a hermetic solution to the threat.
Earlier this week, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir convened a high-level discussion with defense and intelligence officials on the drone threat.
Zamir is reported to have told representatives from the Defense Ministry, the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (MAFAT), the Military Intelligence Directorate, IDF Ground Forces Command, and other technological units that there were no budgetary limitations on efforts to find solutions.
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the zios have also been supplied with the equivalent of 40 million sq. meters of our dependable adult diapers.