Ukraine

The war that rewrote drone doctrine. FPV strikes, interceptors, jamming, and the industrial race behind them — reported from the open record.

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Oct 5

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Aerovironment

From Florist To Drone Maker: How Ukraine’s War Democratized Military Technology And Sparked A Global Industry Boom

Before Russia’s invasion, Kseniia Kalmus arranged flowers in Kyiv and traveled Europe showcasing floral designs. Today, she builds combat drones that destroy Russian equipment on the front lines. Her transformation from artisan to arms manufacturer encapsulates how Ukraine’s conflict has democratized military technology and triggered explosive growth in both drone production and counter-drone indu

Haye KestelooNov 14

Ukraine

Russia Recruiting 12,000 North Korean Workers For Shahed Drone Factory At $2.50 Per Hour

Russia plans to import 12,000 North Korean workers to its primary drone manufacturing facility by the end of 2025, where they’ll assemble the Shahed attack drones pounding Ukrainian cities for just $2.50 per hour, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) announced that the workers will be deployed to the Alabuga Special…

Haye KestelooNov 14

Anduril

Counter-Drone Radar Firm Chaos Industries Raises $510M As Defense Tech Investment Hits Record Highs

Counter-drone radar manufacturer Chaos Industries has secured $510 million in a Series D funding round that closed last month, bringing the Los Angeles-based company’s valuation to $4.5 billion. The funding represents the latest sign of surging investor interest in defense technology as drone threats validated by the Ukraine war drive unprecedented capital flows into the…

Haye KestelooNov 13

Counter-Drone

Senator Warns U.S. Drone Defense “Severe and Growing” Crisis As Protection Authorities Face January Expiration

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton is sounding the alarm on what he calls a “severe and growing” threat from unauthorized drone flights over U.S. military bases, border facilities, and major public events, warning that critical airspace protection authorities are set to expire just one week before next year’s Super Bowl. In an interview with…

Haye KestelooNov 13

Former USAF pilot Nolan Peterson warns that Iran’s drone campaign has permanently eliminated "safe zones" for military personnel. Explore the tactical and psychological shifts in warfare as Shahed drones target RAF Akrotiri and Baghdad. - US Sanctions Ukrainian Firms Supplying Drone Parts to Iran—The Same Drones Russia Uses to Attack Ukraine

Ukraine

US Sanctions Ukrainian Firms Supplying Drone Parts to Iran—The Same Drones Russia Uses to Attack Ukraine

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned two Ukrainian companies Wednesday for supplying critical aerospace components to Iran’s state-owned drone manufacturer HESA—the same entity producing Shahed-136 drones that Russia has launched by the tens of thousands against Ukrainian cities throughout 2025. The sanctions expose a troubling supply chain in which Ukrainian-based firms allegedly acted as fron

Haye KestelooNov 13

Ukraine

US Slaps Sanctions on Global Network Fueling Iran’s Drone Rebuilding Effort After June War

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned 32 individuals and entities across eight countries on Wednesday for operating procurement networks that supply Iran’s ballistic missile and drone production programs, marking the latest attempt to prevent Tehran from reconstituting military capabilities destroyed during the 12-Day War in June 2025. The sanctions target a sophisticated web of front companies…

Haye KestelooNov 12

Europe

Unidentified Drones Surveil French Military Tank Convoy and Ammunition Factory in Escalating European Security Crisis

French authorities opened investigations after unidentified drones conducted surveillance over a military train carrying Leclerc main battle tanks and an ammunition factory producing gunpowder for Ukraine’s artillery—the latest incidents in a coordinated pattern targeting NATO military infrastructure across Europe. The drone sighting over the military convoy occurred shortly before midnight on Nov

Haye KestelooNov 12

Weaponized drones

Shield AI’s X-BAT: SpaceX-Style Vertical Landing Meets Combat-Proven AI in $27M Fighter Drone

A jet-powered drone that launches vertically like a rocket, flies over 2,000 miles autonomously without GPS, and lands tail-first on a trailer could reshape air warfare—and it’s built by engineers who perfected SpaceX’s reusable rocket landings. Shield AI unveiled the X-BAT on October 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C., revealing a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)…

Haye KestelooNov 12

Ukraine

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.