Piranha-10 Russian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

The Piranha-10 Russian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is the most well-known variant in the family and the model responsible for the destruction of the first M1A1 Abrams tank in Ukraine. The drone is tasked against personnel, light and heavy armored vehicles, strongpoints, dugouts, and other fortified positions. The tandem warhead capability is particularly significant because it can defeat explosive reactive armor (ERA), which is how the Piranha-10 was able to damage the M1A1 Abrams despite its reactive armor protection. The Piranha-10 represents the broader phenomenon of low-cost FPV drones reshaping ground combat in the Russia-Ukraine war. At roughly $500 per unit versus $6 million for an Abrams tank, the cost exchange ratio is approximately 12,000:1. While countermeasures (including active protection systems and improved EW) are expected to eventually reduce drone effectiveness, the current tactical environment heavily favors the proliferation of inexpensive strike UAVs capable of penetrating EW defenses.