You do not understand the difference between a dedicated artillery drone and an ordinary drone (no matter it’s other capabilities).
First: a dedicated drone is run by and for the artillery unit and cannot be taken away, nor can the data be given to other units - lest other units demand mission data and subvert the drone’s dedicated purpose.
Second: such a drone needs to be able to feed real time data directly to the artillery unit - such that on receiving the data, the operators need only press the fire button.
Third: the drone must have long range, long endurance, be easily launched under any weather conditions - including below freeing, and easily recovered, be cheap to manufacture (< US$10,000), have interchangeable parts which can be switched out for any similar part from any parts manufacturer.
The UA and the US do not have such a drone, nor any answer.
Here’s and overview from War in Ukraine, July 3 2022 (edited):
••Orlan-10 overview
Why it is cheap deadly effective weapon. Wings made from carbon plastic hard to detect by radar. Gasoline powered. Flies for 16 hours and can fly in cold to -30C. Small, light, cheap to make. Distance signal can travel 120km to Msta 2C19 Long Range SPG, seek out high value targets like all the western artillery: HIMARS, Krabs, Caesars, etc.
Actually cost is US$6-7,000 with equipment another $20,000. So $40,000 for the unit, The remainder is profit for manufacture and RGF. Make 200-300 a year - used in wide range of areas, not just military. Flies up to 5000m (3 miles) altitude so is expensive to shoot down.
Excellently engineered product for the job. Catapult launched and parachute landed, super easy to disassemble and so to repair - can cannibalize broken ones to make a new one; parts from different commercial manufacturers are easily interchangeable from the engine to the electronics. No military grade parts. Coke-A-Cola cap can be used for gas tank cap. Expendable UAV.
Orlon-10 has direct integration with Orc artillery in real time, artillery had digital pad and the new numbers are quickly punched in - 46 sec to 1m 15 sec to correct fire.
Now there is the addition of the Orlan-30 which is a night flier with IR capability.
Orlon-10 has direct integration with Orc artillery in real time, artillery had digital pad and the new numbers are quickly punched in - 46 sec to 1m 15 sec to correct fire.
Now there is the addition of the Orlan-30 which is a night flier with IR capability.
........
This capability that you describe above is what I was arguing that the ukes should have. I’ve seen many youtubes that suggest that they do.
Are you saying the the Ukes don’t have this capability.
The 3 mile range of the Orlan-30’s as you describe then is sufficient for killing front line troops but not artillery sited further back. Ukes need to kill either the Orlan-30’s or the artillery that they support OR the communications between them.
You’re saying that none of that is happening?
If that’s true then the Uke lines are unsustainable, the Uke generals incompetant and their western advisors are totally inattentive to the situation.