Cell phone footage recorded by a Russian shows a field-crafted anti-drone net for the back of a dirt bike that they intend to use for combat operations in Ukraine. It's unclear where the footage was filmed, but this is certainly evidence that the troops in the field will start developing their own low to no-cost solutions to counter the drone threat when big industry doesn't understand the problem's they're facing in the field.

Here's the thing. Will this net have a high efficacy rate against all drones? Probably not. Is there a chance that a pursuing drone could get caught in the net and subsequently not detonate itself on the driver? Yes.

Troops in the field are going to be the ones to figure out solutions to a new problem that is presented to them on the battlefield. We can throw billions of dollars at problems looking for a solution, but at the end of the day, the guy on the deck who is about to be mutilated by said problem is going to be the one that works out a high-efficacy low-cost and low maintenance solution.

This may not be that solution, but it clearly shows the intent at an attempt. If the Lance Corporal who invented the Sickle Stick in Afghanistan had presented that as a solution to the IED threat to a General Officer in Iraq back in 2005, he probably would have been laughed out of the room and given a reduction in rank for wasting the General's time. In 2011 though, we made it a standard operating procedure for every single patrol to leave the wire with a ten foot stick duct taped to the end of a garden sickle, because it worked.

Was it 100% effective? No. No it wasn't. But the sickle stick did save thousands of limbs between 2011 and 2014, making it worth our time and energy to carry.

This motorcycle net might not be 100% effective. But if it saves even one dude from being blown in half by an FPV drone while he utilizes a motorcycle to get around the battlefield, then you can bet that you'll start seeing more of them in operation.

About the Author

Josh Brooks

Josh is an American writer and former USMC machine gunner with eight years of experience in ground combat arms throughout the GWOT. He is currently based in Texas and specializes in combat footage analysis and digital marketing.Follow Josh at OfficialJoshBrooks.com