Thread by @ChrisO_wiki

1/ Russia's VT-40 'Judgment Day' FPV drones are reportedly blowing up on launch and killing their own operators. It's the latest in a series of problems that are being blamed on a manufacturer that appears to be more interested in quantity than quality. ⬇️

2/ The 'Romanov Light' Telegram channel reports:

"In the last few months, when launching VT-40 Sudoplatov "Judgment Day" FPVs, there have been more frequent cases of warheads being initiated during drone launch. There are quite a few dead and wounded."

3/ "Considering that it takes a considerable amount of time to train a good FPV operator, these losses are especially noticeable. Among the dead are operators of very serious units and services.

4/ "The reason is in the new versions of VT-40, or more specifically, in their video transmitters operating at lower frequencies than before. They create a field sufficient to initiate an electric detonator.

5/ "That is, the VT-40 Sudoplatov 'Judgment Day' FPV drones now supplied to the Front are actually dangerous primarily for the operators themselves."

6/ Romanov Light has previously highlighted serious problems with VT-40 drones, in particular the failure by the manufacturer to adapt to Ukrainian electronic warfare by changing the frequency on which they operate.

7/ Similar complaints have also been made by other Russian milbloggers, who confirm that the VT-40 drones are vulnerable to jamming.

https://x.com/sambendett/status/1764635627444711777

8/ According to Romanov Light, "The enemy has long identified this frequency and provided almost the entire line of contact both in the [Kherson] area and in other directions with the appropriate electronic warfare."

9/ "As a result, the overwhelming majority of drones launched by our operators do not reach their targets.

The problem could be solved by changing the frequency, but for the supplier this has obviously turned into 'just a business'."

10/ The manufacturer was said to be under investigation for embezzlement by pricing the drones far higher than their reported unit cost of 20,000 rubles ($191). However, production has not only continued but the manufacturer reportedly wants to monopolise FPV drone production:

11/ "Currently, the order has been sent down from above for the quantity (not quality) of applications – as a result, most drones just fly into the ground. But beautiful statistics in numbers are sent to the top.

12/ "Moreover, the businessmen behind 'Sudoplatov – Judgment Day' have come up with a new scheme - a monopolisation is being prepared and pushed through the Ministry of Defence for 'Judgment Day', which has already shat itself everywhere – the introduction of a single standard…

13/ …for FPV drones and the introduction of a [standard] ground control station – "GCS 2.0". According to their idea, all other manufacturers and suppliers (including volunteer drones) will be required to work only through it..."

14/ According to Romanov Light, the proposed new contract is for no less than 120 billion rubles ($1.14 billion) and is being promoted by Deputy Defence Minister General Alexey Krivoruchko.

15/ The author's complaints are consistent with previous complaints from volunteer drone makers that defence manufacturers and the Russian MOD have created a corrupt system to monopolise supply while charging excessive sums for their products.

https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1846823163620950271

Sources:
🔹 t.me/romanov_92/445…
🔹 t.me/romanov_92/447…
🔹 t.me/romanov_92/449…
🔹 t.me/romanov_92/456…