Dragon or drone? The frightening weapon that rains down fire on the battlefield
A frightening new weapon has appeared on the battlefield in Ukraine as flames rain from the sky above Russian positions.
Videos circulated online appearing to show a specially designed Ukrainian drone dropping burning thermite on a forest strip in the countryside around Zaporizhzhia.
The drone seen in the video has been referred to as Dragonfire, as its effects have provoked imagery of the mythical creature from medieval literature.
In response to the footage, defence commentators have speculated that the drone might be dropping thermite – a mixture of metal powders that emits high temperatures during combustion.
Similar weapons, including thermite rockets, have reportedly been used by the Russian armed forces against Ukrainian settlements and positions.
It is also thought the weapon could be using iron thermite, a substance that can be made from readily available components, generating a temperature of 2,400°C which can easily ignite trees and enemy forces positioned within them.
Drone warfare has played a key part in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and it is thought that Moscow is experimenting with similar drones.
Such a lethal weapon will likely strike fear into the minds of the enemy, leaving them no other choice but to hide from its fire.
Under international law, the use of anti-personnel incendiary weapons is prohibited, unless it is not feasible to use a less harmful weapon to render a person hors de combat - out of action due to injury or damage.
The UK's Armed Forces have also developed a weapon named DragonFire, but instead of using thermite, this weapon is a laser-directed energy system.
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