[Goose]

I'm a bit surprised we haven't seen a more systemic targeting of electrical substations used to power rail transit. I could be wrong, but that seems a weak link in the rail transport chain relative to targeting tracks or hard targets like bridges. Maybe they are too numerous or just not enough muntiions to get that far down the list, but they should also be more poorly defended.

The reason for this is twofold. First, the transformers themselves and associated electrical equipment are quite rugged. Most drones don't carry large enough payloads to reliably destroy this equipment. This equipment, unlike munitions depots and oil storage tanks does not in general explode and catch fire. If you miss, you won't get any sympathetic detonations. Cluster type munitions which work well on fuel dumps don't work well on substations. They don't catch fire easily.

The second problem is that the electrical wiring itself (and its supports) often deflects or detonates the incoming suicide drone/warheads. These obstacles are located well above the actual substation itself. They will be damaged/destroyed, but they are relatively easy to repair and use material that is normally associated with railway maintenance and therefore readily available. Long range drones, being larger, will often hit these obstacles with parts of their structure (like wings and arms supporting lift fans). The collision usually knocks the drone down well away from its objective. These are not FPV drones so the pilot can't avoid such obstacles. Even FPV drones would have a tough time threading their way through the wiring :-).

Ukraine thinks it has better targets for its drone force.

[Goose]

I'm a bit surprised we haven't seen a more systemic targeting of electrical substations used to power rail transit. I could be wrong, but that seems a weak link in the rail transport chain relative to targeting tracks or hard targets like bridges. Maybe they are too numerous or just not enough muntiions to get that far down the list, but they should also be more poorly defended.

The reason for this is twofold. First, the transformers themselves and associated electrical equipment are quite rugged. Most drones don't carry large enough payloads to reliably destroy this equipment. This equipment, unlike munitions depots and oil storage tanks does not in general explode and catch fire. If you miss, you won't get any sympathetic detonations. Cluster type munitions which work well on fuel dumps don't work well on substations. They don't catch fire easily.

The second problem is that the electrical wiring itself (and its supports) often deflects or detonates the incoming suicide drone/warheads. These obstacles are located well above the actual substation itself. They will be damaged/destroyed, but they are relatively easy to repair and use material that is normally associated with railway maintenance and therefore readily available. Long range drones, being larger, will often hit these obstacles with parts of their structure (like wings and arms supporting lift fans). The collision usually knocks the drone down well away from its objective. These are not FPV drones so the pilot can't avoid such obstacles. Even FPV drones would have a tough time threading their way through the wiring :-).

Ukraine thinks it has better targets for its drone force.