Innovations
Technological and operational innovations in the UAS and counter-UAS space — what emerged first, where, and what it changes. Each entry is sourced, dated, and linked to the drones involved.
US tests TRV-150 resupply drone firing 70mm APKWS rockets
The US Army tested mounting a three-shot APKWS 70mm rocket launcher onto the TRV-150 logistics drone, converting a resupply UAV into an armed strike platform. If fielded, it could push precision rocket fires down to lower echelons using an …
HUR details new Russian jet-powered strike UAV Geran-4
Ukraine’s HUR reports Russia has begun combat use of a new jet-powered strike UAV “Geran-4” with a redesigned reinforced airframe and higher-thrust turbojet engines, intended to improve survivability and maneuvering versus interceptor drone…
Drones: Geran-3 (jet-powered) · Shahed-136
Shahed-136 (Harpia-A1) with airburst warhead reported used in Mali
The post claims Russia deployed a Shahed-136 variant (“Harpia-A1”, new “KK” series) in Mali/Sahel, marking the first confirmed use of this drone type in the region. It also alleges the downed drone had an airburst (air-detonation) function …
Drones: Shahed-136
Ukrainian 'Maya' decoy drone crashes in Turkey after apparent navigation loss
The post references Ukraine's 'Maya' decoy drone, indicating ongoing use of dedicated deception UAVs to saturate or confuse Russian air defenses during strike packages. The crash in Turkey suggests long-range employment and highlights vulne…
CENTCOM cites LUCAS low-cost one-way drones used against Iran
CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper says the U.S. is now employing low-cost one-way attack drones (including the LUCAS system, described as reverse-engineered from Shahed-136) to strike Iran and "flip the cost curve" by forcing the adversary…
Drones: Shahed-136
MQ-9 Reaper test-fires APKWS laser-guided rockets including air-to-air C-UAS use
General Atomics and the U.S. Air Force flight-tested MQ-9A Reapers firing laser-guided 70mm APKWS rockets, including profiles against aerial targets. Integrating the air-to-air optimized APKWS variant (AGR-20F/FALCO with proximity fuze) wou…
Drones: MQ-9 Reaper · Shahed-136 · MQ-1C Gray Eagle / Gray Eagle ER
Russian UAVs drop PSYOP leaflets over Sumy
The post reports a new batch of Russian information-operations (IPSO) leaflets being dispersed over Sumy using UAVs. The novelty is the continued/renewed use of drones as a leaflet-delivery payload for psychological operations, indicating i…
RU milblog discusses adjusting aerial bomb fuzes for delayed basement detonation
The post argues that standard 500kg aerial bombs often destroy upper floors but leave troops in basements alive, and proposes modifying/setting bomb fuzes for delayed detonation after penetrating concrete to explode at basement level. This …