Articles tagged with "drone-warfare"
Small sea drones with 4,400-lb payload capacity destroy enemy vessels
Two Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels, known as Baby maritime drones, successfully destroyed two large Russian oil tankers, Kairos and Virat, in the Black Sea. These vessels, part of Russia’s shadow fleet, were carrying approximately $70 million worth of oil and were targeted while en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk near Turkey’s Black Sea coast. The strikes caused significant fires on the tankers, prompting the evacuation of crew members. Both ships sailed under the Gambian flag. Turkey expressed concern over the attacks occurring within its Exclusive Economic Zone, emphasizing the risks posed to navigation safety, life, property, and the environment, and called for efforts to prevent escalation in the region. Developed by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), the Sea Baby drones have evolved from single-use explosive boats into versatile, reusable naval platforms with extended capabilities. The latest models reportedly have ranges exceeding 1,500 km and can carry payloads of up to 2,000 kg of explosives.
sea-dronesunmanned-surface-vesselsmaritime-dronesmilitary-roboticspayload-capacitynaval-technologydrone-warfare$2,500 Ukrainian STING drones down 1,000 Russian Shaheds in 4 months
Ukraine has developed the STING interceptor drone, a compact, agile, and cost-effective unmanned aerial vehicle designed to neutralize Russian attack drones such as Shaheds, Lancets, Zala, and SuperCam models. Created by the Ukrainian team “Wild Hornets,” the STING drone can be deployed rapidly—within 15 minutes—and launched from almost any surface without special equipment. It features autonomous return capabilities if no target is found, an engagement range of up to 25 kilometers, and is equipped with advanced systems like Hornet Vision and a 360° antenna ground station, enabling operation even under electronic warfare conditions. Piloted via VR goggles for first-person view control, the STING drone achieves high-speed, precise interceptions, often culminating in mid-air collisions to destroy enemy UAVs. Since the start of serial production four months ago, STING drones have reportedly downed over 1,000 Russian drones, marking one of Ukraine’s most successful combat drone programs. The “Night Hornets
dronesdrone-warfareinterceptor-droneUAV-technologymilitary-roboticsautonomous-dronesFPV-dronesCan Taiwan’s 3,200 Combat Drones Stop China’s 2,000 Warplanes?
China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force currently operates a formidable fleet of over 2,000 combat aircraft, including advanced stealth fighters like the J-20 and strategic bombers such as the H-6. In response, Taiwan is developing a substantial force of approximately 3,200 combat drones designed to counterbalance China’s aerial superiority. These drones, which include loitering munitions and kamikaze types, represent a shift toward asymmetric warfare, leveraging AI, autonomy, and swarm tactics to overwhelm traditional manned aircraft through attrition and numbers. This evolving dynamic signals a transformation in air combat doctrine, moving away from conventional metrics of air superiority based solely on the number of manned planes. Instead, success will depend on the ability to integrate and adapt to new technologies such as hypersonic interceptors and electronic warfare capabilities. The competition between China and Taiwan highlights a broader strategic contest in the Indo-Pacific region, with significant implications for U.S. military strategy and regional security. Ultimately,
combat-dronesdrone-warfaremilitary-roboticsautonomous-dronesAI-in-defenseaerial-combat-technologydrone-swarmsRussia launches 619 attack drones, 32 cruise missiles against Ukraine
On September 20, 2025, Ukraine endured a massive overnight assault by Russian forces deploying 619 drones and missiles, including 579 strike drones, eight ballistic missiles, and 32 cruise missiles. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 583 of these targets, mitigating further damage. The strikes affected multiple regions such as Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv, resulting in three deaths, dozens of injuries, and damage to civilian infrastructure and residential areas. This attack followed a recent incident where three Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace, drawing condemnation from Estonia and the EU. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes as deliberate terror tactics against civilians rather than military necessities, urging a stronger international response. He called for enhanced air defenses, increased weapons supplies, and expanded sanctions against Russia’s military and its financial backers. In response to the
dronesmilitary-technologyunmanned-aerial-vehiclesair-defensemissile-technologydefense-systemsdrone-warfareWorld’s Smallest Military Spy Drone
The Black Hornet 4 Nano UAV is currently the world’s smallest military drone, weighing just 70 grams. It is specifically designed to provide soldiers with enhanced situational awareness in challenging environments such as rooftops, alleys, and frontline combat zones. Equipped with upgraded sensors, AI-powered tracking, and stealth capabilities, this compact drone offers critical reconnaissance advantages in modern warfare. Its advanced features include thermal vision for operations in complete darkness and secure datalinks that maintain communication even in electronically jammed environments. The Black Hornet 4 is actively transforming military engagements in conflict zones like Ukraine and Afghanistan, representing a significant evolution in drone warfare by delivering real-time intelligence and improving soldier safety on the battlefield.
robotmilitary-droneAI-trackingnano-UAVsurveillance-technologythermal-visiondrone-warfareGermany to spend $9B on Skyranger 30 systems to counter drones
Germany is set to significantly enhance its short-range air defense capabilities by investing up to $9 billion in Rheinmetall’s Skyranger 30 anti-aircraft gun systems, with deliveries planned by 2035. This large-scale procurement, part of Germany’s Nah- und Nächstbereichsschutz (NNbS) program, could involve acquiring 500 to 600 Skyranger 30 units. The system, mounted on an 8×8 Boxer armored vehicle, combines a 30mm revolver cannon with short-range surface-to-air missiles, including the FIM-92 Stinger, and uses the advanced Spexer 2000 3D MKIII radar to detect aerial threats up to 40 km away. This order follows an earlier $695 million contract for prototypes and initial production units awarded in early 2024. The move reflects Germany’s response to the increasing threat posed by drone warfare, which has become a dominant factor on modern battlefields. The Skyranger 30
defense-technologyanti-drone-systemsSkyranger-30radar-technologymilitary-roboticsshort-range-air-defensedrone-warfare597 attack drones, 26 missiles: Russia's air strike on Ukraine kills six
Russia launched a massive air strike against Ukraine on July 12, 2025, deploying 597 attack drones—including over half identified as Iranian-designed "shahed" loitering munitions—and 26 cruise missiles. The attacks targeted multiple regions, including Kharkiv, Sumy, Lviv, Bukovyna, and Dnipropetrovsk, resulting in at least six deaths and dozens of injuries. Notably, two fatalities in the Chernivtsi region were caused by falling drone debris, while other casualties occurred from missile strikes in Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy. Despite the scale of the assault, Ukraine’s air defense forces successfully intercepted and destroyed 319 drones and 25 cruise missiles, mitigating further damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the effectiveness of his country’s air defenses and called for tougher secondary sanctions against entities aiding Russia’s drone production and oil profiteering. He emphasized the need for more air defense systems and investments
dronesattack-dronesair-defensemilitary-technologymissile-interceptionkamikaze-dronesdrone-warfareNew thermobaric robot tank burns enemies in half-a-mile range
robotunmanned-ground-vehiclethermobaricmilitary-technologydrone-warfareelectric-motorsbattlefield-innovation