I spent over 100 hours compiling and analyzing over 5,000 videos of...
Louis.Saillans@LSaillans
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Feb 06, 2026
~2 min read
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I spent over 100 hours compiling and analyzing over 5,000 videos of soldiers trying to escape UAV drones — pulling material from Telegram, Reddit, and other sources. Here is what i found out.
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There are more videos available. But I had to stop at that stage because of the psychological toll.
I wanted to understand what factors affect survival when soldiers are targeted by drones. Here’s what the data revealed:
I wanted to understand what factors affect survival when soldiers are targeted by drones. Here’s what the data revealed:
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A/ 67% survival rate in obstructed environments (buildings, dense forests).
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Why? Drones are designed for speed and detonation, not collision avoidance. Many simply smash into walls, doors, windows, or get tangled in branches and detonate before hitting their target.
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B/ 92% death rate in open fields.
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No matter the escape method — running on foot, driving, riding a motorbike, or sitting on top of an armored vehicle — the drones outpace and outmaneuver almost every attempt to flee in open terrain.
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C/ Armed vehicles provide some protection, but it’s limited.
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If a vehicle withstands the initial attack and the crew dismounts, the soldiers’ survival rates revert to the numbers above (depending on the environment).
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But here’s the biggest discovery I made:
=> Smoke increases survival rates by 32%.
=> Smoke increases survival rates by 32%.
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Whether it’s using the smoke from a burning vehicle or deploying a smoke grenade to obscure a forest entrance, smoke acts as a critical cover. It confuses visual tracking systems and gives soldiers a vital edge when escaping drone pursuit.
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This analysis isn’t just academic — it’s a reminder of the terrifying efficiency of modern drone warfare and the importance of environmental and tactical adaptation on the battlefield.
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We’re building systems to detect and track drones before they strike — even in environments where visual detection or radar struggles.
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Our goal: to empower defense forces, critical infrastructure, and public spaces with early warning and real-time situational awareness against drone threats.
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We’re currently piloting projects in Europe and actively engaging with partners and investors who want to help scale Europe’s counter-drone capabilities.
If you want to connect or collaborate, DMs are open!
If you want to connect or collaborate, DMs are open!
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Research sources:
@dronewar
@strikedronescompany
@VictoryDrones2023
@dronesukraina
@dronewar
@strikedronescompany
@VictoryDrones2023
@dronesukraina
