Innovations
Tactical and technological innovations in drone warfare — what showed up first, where, and what it changes. Each entry is sourced, dated, and linked to the drones involved.
Russian anti-drone netting ('birdcage') installed around Moscow refinery
The post notes Russia has installed anti-drone netting/cage-like "birdcage" protection around an oil refinery in Moscow to mitigate Ukrainian drone strikes. This is a battlefield-driven adaptation of physical infrastructure protection again…
Drones: FP-1
KNDS unveils CaPINT main battle tank concept at Eurosatory
KNDS showcased the new CaPINT MBT concept as a potential interim replacement for France’s Leclerc fleet. While not a battlefield deployment, it represents a new armored vehicle variant/approach that could influence future land-warfare capab…
KNDS proposes Capint interim tank with unmanned turret on Leopard 2 hull
KNDS unveiled a proposed interim French-German MBT concept (Capint) combining a Leopard 2 hull with a French-developed unmanned turret and autoloading 120mm gun, with a growth path to 140mm and integrated active protection/counter-drone fea…
French Leclerc XLR fitted with roof anti-drone cage armor
France is fielding a roof-mounted cage armor kit on the upgraded Leclerc XLR to mitigate top-attack drone/FPV threats. While similar “cope cages” are already common in Ukraine, this is a notable adoption by a NATO MBT fleet and indicates in…
IDF troops use fishing nets as improvised anti-FPV protection
The post describes Israeli troops sourcing commercial fishing nets to hang around bases and vehicles to physically snag/deflect Hezbollah FPV kamikaze drones, a low-cost passive defense as EW is less effective (including against fiber-optic…
UAE builds large metal 'cope cages' over oil tanks to blunt drone strikes
The UAE is reportedly installing large metal cage/mesh structures over fuel storage tanks near Dubai as a passive defense against one-way attack drones and small UAV munitions. While the concept is known from Russia’s anti-drone protection …
Drones: Shahed-136
Russian Borei SSBNs seen fully covered with anti-drone netting at Rybachiy base
Satellite imagery shows Russian Borei-class ballistic missile submarines at the remote Rybachiy base covered with fine anti-drone netting over the entire hull while in port. This appears to be a new, expanded physical counter-UAV measure be…
Russian Project 21980 patrol boat fitted with anti-drone cope cage
Photos show a Russian Navy Project 21980 Grachonok patrol boat in the Black Sea with a multi-level overhead screen/"cope cage" added to the superstructure for protection against drone-delivered munitions. This adapts a now-common armored-ve…
Russian Project 21980 boat fitted with anti-drone 'mangal' cage
The post shows a Russian Black Sea Fleet Project 21980 (Grachonok) patrol/anti-saboteur boat fitted with a metal cage/"mangal" style overhead protection intended to reduce damage from UAV/FPV attacks. While improvised cages are common on gr…