Photos published by the Ministry of Defense in the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) showed the use of FPV suicide drones by elements of the Syrian National Army (SNA) for the first time.

The appearance of the drones was in photos shared by the Ministry of Defense through its platforms on Tuesday, August 20, for a training project for the 22nd and 28th divisions in the Second Corps of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army.

The ministry stated that a force from the two divisions carried out a live ammunition training project “simulating the liberation of several enemy sites,” which includes combat maneuvers for armored vehicles, testing the leadership and operation of FPV drones, as well as direct engagement during the storming of enemy points and evacuating the wounded from the battlefield.

The training included the 105th Victory Flag Unit of the Sultan Murad Division, one of the closest factions of the National Army to Turkey.

What is an FPV drone?

The Syrian regime has intensified its use of this type of drone to target opposition-controlled areas in northwestern Syria since the beginning of this year, but opposition factions did not possess this type of drone.

FPV drones are named because they are controlled through the first-person view function. This function includes real-time video transmission from the camera mounted at the front of the drone.

The operator controls the drone with a remote control and sees the area around the drone in real-time thanks to special goggles, as if they were sitting inside the drone like a pilot, according to the Ukrainian site “Militarnyi,” which covers combat news and military industries.

FPV drones are not military equipment, and they are used in civilian life for entertainment, such as in sports racing, and they can carry loads, but at the same time, they do not have an autopilot and fly without a global positioning system (GPS).

The use of FPV drones in the war between Ukrainian and Russian forces has led to a radical change in the pattern of modern warfare. Successful use of one or more of these drones can destroy equipment worth millions of dollars.

The advantages of FPV drones include their price and high accuracy, as the best models can cost up to 1,000 US dollars. They can carry an explosive charge, and if successful, they can hit and even destroy an armored combat vehicle or an enemy tank worth several million, according to the military site “Militarnyi.”