UPSC Knowledge Nugget of the day: Dragon drones
As the Russia-Ukraine war continues to rage, newer weapons of destruction have come into play. Recently, both sides have posted visuals of drones appearing to rain down fire — earning this weapon the moniker of “dragon drone”. What are these drones? What these drones are spewing? Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here’s your knowledge nugget for today. Why in news? A deadly new weapon has taken to the skies in the Russia-Ukraine war. Videos have emerged across various social media platforms showing drones appearing to rain down fire — earning this weapon the moniker of “dragon drone”. Key Takeaways : 1. Dragon drones essentially release a substance called thermite — a mixture of aluminium and iron oxide — developed a century ago to weld railroad tracks. 2. 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 …