Dragon drones

15.10.2024

Dragon drones

Why in the news?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

A deadly new weapon has taken to the skies in the Russia-Ukraine war. Both sides have posted visuals of drones appearing to rain down fire earning this weapon the moniker of “dragon drone”.

About Dragon Drones:

Dragon drones essentially release a substance called thermite, a mixture of aluminium and iron oxide  developed a century ago to weld railroad tracks.

Working of Dragon Drones:

○When ignited (usually with the help of an electrical fuse), thermite triggers a self-sustaining reaction that is quite difficult to extinguish.

○It can burn through almost anything, from clothes to trees to military-grade vehicles, and can even burn underwater.

○On humans, it causes severe, possibly fatal, burns and bone damage.

○Combining thermite with high-precision drones that can bypass traditional defenses makes dragon drones ‘highly effective’ and ‘dangerous’

• In recent times these dragon drones are believed to have been first deployed in the Russia-Ukraine war around September.

International regulation

○The use of thermite in war is not prohibited under international law.

○However, the use of such incendiary weapons against civilian targets is barred under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons  Cold War-era guidance issued under the auspices of the United Nations.

                                                                 Source: Indian Express

Consider the following statements regarding Dragon drones:

Statement-I They release a substance called thermite which is a mixture of aluminium and iron oxide.

Statement-II These thermite induced drones can only affect trees and military-grade vehicles.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer C