The article was written by Maciek Kucharczyk, a journalist for Gazeta.pl.
Videos of the so-called "dragon drones" or "Dracarys" (from the dragon in the fantasy world of "A Song of Ice and Fire"), have started appearing over the past week. They surfaced quickly and on widely separated sections of the front line. This suggests that it is not just an isolated innovation from one drone unit, but something produced in larger quantities that may become a common sight along the line of contact.
Molten Metal Falling from the Sky
So far, there have been no detailed photos or videos showing the "dragon drone" itself. However, based on its function and descriptions from Ukrainian soldiers, much can be deduced. The drone is most likely a first-person view (FPV) machine typically equipped with a payload of one to two kilograms, though larger ones can carry up to seven kilograms. Usually, the payload consists of homemade fragmentation or shaped charges. In the case of the "dragon drones," these have been swapped for a container of thermite. The exact construction is unknown, but the drone evidently includes an igniter, as the thermite only ignites over enemy positions.
Thermite is a mixture of powdered metal and metal oxide. Initially, it was aluminum and iron oxide, but there are variations aimed at achieving higher temperatures or longer reaction times. A common feature of these mixtures is that once ignited (by high temperature), thermite burns extremely intensely, reaching temperatures of up to 3,800°C. The reaction also produces molten metal. Once ignited, thermite is very difficult to extinguish. Pouring water on it can cause an explosion as the water rapidly evaporates, and standard fire extinguishers are ineffective. Burying it under sand to cut off oxygen is also ineffective. Once ignited, the thermite will continue to burn until its components are consumed.
Extinguishing such a substance in battlefield conditions is practically impossible. The only option is to avoid contact to prevent severe and deep burns and wait it out. Due to these properties, thermite is widely used in incendiary ammunition. It has been used almost since the beginning of the war in Ukraine—by Russians in Grad rocket systems, which shower the area with burning thermite, and by Ukrainians, often in grenades dropped from drones, especially on abandoned vehicles or trenches. Contrary to popular belief, thermite is not a banned weapon. The Hague Conventions only prohibit its use against civilians or vegetation if no military positions are nearby.
Sweeping Across Forest Strips
Ukrainian drone creators have long dealt with thermite, and they seem to have taken things further. The realities of the war in Ukraine - with its static front line and numerous field fortifications hidden in strips of vegetation between fields - help facilitate this. It’s an ideal target for a drone trailing a rain of fire, and this appears to be how the Ukrainians are using the "Dracarys". They send them over Russian positions hidden in vegetation, hoping the thermite will hit something valuable and start a fire or, at the very least, ignite trees and bushes, depriving the Russians of cover and making it easier for conventional drones to attack later.
Dropping a stream of fire from a drone certainly looks spectacular and has a significant impact on the morale of those targeted. However, its combat effectiveness should not be overstated. It is not a deadly flamethrower that burns everything below it. Hiding in dugouts usually provides sufficient protection from thermite. Several videos taken by Russians whose positions were targeted by the "dragon drones" show no mentions of deaths or severe injuries, only complaints about lost equipment, often stored above ground and hidden under vegetation near trenches and dugouts. The losses are significant but not enough to leave scorched, abandoned positions behind after a "dragon drone" strike.
Therefore, these new drones will not replace conventional bomber drones or regular FPV strike drones. They will most likely serve as a complement, and even then, in limited cases. Standard FPV strike drones have proven to be highly effective, partly due to their precision. It seems unlikely that anything currently threatens their dominant position, certainly not "dragon drones", whose effectiveness depends largely on chance - whether the incendiary mixture hits exposed, flammable objects.
