There was a video a while ago that showed a lancet chasing and eventually destroying a Ceasar. That means dispersed forces fundamentsally need a lot of cheap AAA. Something like a LMG with electro optics and small radar and AI or something as RWS. And a _lot_ os SPAAGs. I know they are getting more Gepards, but in the light of the yuuuge drone factory Russia is building, a lot more is needed. And missiles are simply too expensive. 

Till something better comes along Jammers are the way to go 'cheap AAA' in form of a RWS is still a 250-500k$ unit , jammer might be 30-50k$ or less . Currently FPV drones that are very easy to jam seem to be close to no.1 killer right now they are probably already close rivaling artillery in numbers of casualties inflicted  this month. It looks like September FPV strikes might end somewhere between 500-600 published strikes which is more in a single month,than all the strikes so far in this war

Lancet strikes are actually down considerably as production moved to a different company/production line

Manual WS and a search light or two

Streamable

video_2023-09-27_12-12-21

Watch "video_2023-09-27_12-12-21" on Streamable.

I'm impressed how well the searchlight worked.

The rest...is certainly a case for proximity airburst / AHEAD / robotic tracking and firing. 

This was on display at a show recently per SSD. Shows both lessons from Ukraine, and highlights how important anti-drone weapons will be going forward.

Fascinating.  And a little scary.  

gatnerd said:

'm impressed how well the searchlight worked.

Searchlights worked very well in the past.
The difficult part is not keeping the beam on target but finding the target first. Keeping a beam on target with a drone or cruise missile is particulary easy because they do not try to evade. Back in WW2 a pilot would try to shake the beams by doing evasive manoeuvers. They also flew conciderable higher and could use coulds as cover.

With propper communication and somebody telling the searchlight opperator where to point the beam to pick the target up once it comes into range searchlights are very effective.

With manual aim you can imagine the lead needed is well ahead of the illumination beam so the shooter is aiming a black sight into dark sky  , 

Mr. T (MrT4) said...

With manual aim you can imagine the lead needed is well ahead of the illumination beam so the shooter is aiming a black sight into dark sky  , 

These days one would expect that illuminated ring sights would be a possibility. Even using WW2-style AA rings with a low power LED shining on the sight elements would probably do for an illuminated target.

What also occurs to me. If individual assets have their own self defence be that EW or RWS, will that mean an additional crewmember for instance on 2 man crewed mobile arty?