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Shaheds, Lancets, fiber-optic FPVs and the counter-drone scramble — Russia’s drone war, tracked.

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French Fishing Nets Become Anti-Drone Barriers Protecting Ukraine From Russian FPV Attacks
NASA

French Fishing Nets Become Anti-Drone Barriers Protecting Ukraine From Russian FPV Attacks

Discarded fishing nets from Sweden and France’s Brittany coast are finding new purpose on Ukraine’s frontlines, where they’re being deployed as low-tech anti-drone barriers against Russian attack drones. The Breton charity Kernic Solidarités has delivered 280 kilometers (174 miles) of horsehair netting to Ukraine—transforming what would be 800 tons of annual waste into frontline protection…

US Army Plans 1 Million Drone Purchase In Dramatic Pivot To Ukraine-Style Mass Production
Amazon

US Army Plans 1 Million Drone Purchase In Dramatic Pivot To Ukraine-Style Mass Production

U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll announced plans to purchase at least 1 million drones over the next two to three years, marking a dramatic 20-fold increase from current acquisition levels as the Pentagon races to catch up with adversaries who produce drones by the millions. Driscoll detailed the massive ramp-up in an exclusive interview with…

Russian President Vladimir Putin toured a drone manufacturing facility at the Special Technology Centre in St. Petersburg on September 19, 2024. The image was captured by Valery Sharifulin for Sputnik and distributed through the Reuters news agency.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Ukraine

Russia Spends $82 Million On 18,000 Combat Drones To Train Teenagers For War

Russia has purchased 18,000 drones for 500 schools at a cost of 8.38 billion rubles ($82 million USD) in 2024 as part of a program training teenagers to operate unmanned aerial vehicles for combat, according to Ukrainian intelligence reports. The program, which began in 2023, targets students from grades 8-9 and aims to develop “understanding…

Poland Won’t Wait for EU’s Stalled Drone Wall, Launches Independent Counter-Drone System After Russian Incursions
Anduril

Poland Won’t Wait for EU’s Stalled Drone Wall, Launches Independent Counter-Drone System After Russian Incursions

Poland plans to build a national anti-drone defense system within months without waiting for the European Union’s stalled “drone wall” initiative, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk announced in a Bloomberg interview today. The decision comes after 19 Russian drones violated Polish airspace in September, forcing NATO to shoot down hostile aircraft for the first time…

Ukraine's Drone Manufacturing: A Remarkable Leap in Defense Technology
Ukraine

Ukraine’s Viral ‘Call Of Duty’ Drone System Awards Points For Russian Targets

Ukraine’s military has transformed drone warfare into a competitive video game where verified kills earn points redeemable for advanced weapons, resulting in 18,000 Russian casualties in September alone. The gamified “Army of Drones Bonus System” has gone viral among Ukrainian units and now extends beyond drone strikes to artillery, reconnaissance, and logistics operations, fundamentally reshaping

Brazen Drone Incursion Over US Nuke Base - Has NATO Already Lost the Drone War?
Police

Belgium Authorizes Military To Shoot Down Drones After Three Nights Of Suspected Espionage At Nuclear Weapons Base

Belgium’s chief of defence has authorized military personnel to shoot down unauthorized drones flying over the country’s military bases following three consecutive nights of suspected espionage operations at Kleine-Brogel Air Base, which houses U.S. nuclear weapons and F-16 fighter jets. The shoot-down order marks a significant escalation in Belgium’s response to what defense officials characteriz

Helsing Unveils AI-Powered Attack Drone, Claims 'Counter-Invasion Shield' Capabilities
Anduril

Germany Awards $950M Drone Contract Despite Disastrous Test Results

Germany plans to award contracts worth up to €900 million ($950 million USD) for kamikaze drones to two defense start-ups and an established contractor, even as one company’s systems failed spectacularly during recent military trials. The Financial Times reports that Helsing, Stark, and Rheinmetall will each receive approximately €300 million ($317 million USD) to supply…

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