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.
Combined artillery fires with immediate drone follow-on strikes in wooded terrain
The post describes a combined-arms tactic where drones fly in immediately after artillery shells to suppress defenders and then destroy position infrastructure, especially in forested areas. It also frames counter-drone defense of artillery…
US F/A-18 disables tankers by dropping precision munitions into smokestacks
CENTCOM describes a new interdiction technique: an F/A-18 Super Hornet disabling blockade-running tankers by placing precision munitions down the ships’ smokestacks to stop propulsion without sinking the vessel. This is a notable escalation…
Drones: Elbit Hermes 900 Kochav
Russian assault troops use buried pipes to bypass positions in Sumy sector
The post describes Russian troops emerging from underground buried pipes to обходити Ukrainian positions and launch assaults, indicating a recurring infiltration method using subterranean infrastructure. While not a new technology, it is a …
U.S. Army practices island-hopping HIMARS deployments in Philippines
The post describes a renewed tactic of using Army watercraft to rapidly move ("island hop") HIMARS between austere island sites and conduct live fires, creating a distributed long-range strike network. While HIMARS itself is not new, the em…
Ukrainian infantry integrates FPV drones and ground robots for assault and CASEVAC
The post highlights frontline use of FPV drones and ground robotic complexes (UGVs/NRCs) to hold positions, evacuate wounded, and conduct assaults in place of soldiers. The novelty is the described shift toward routine infantry-robot teamin…
US F/A-18 disables blockade-running tanker by shooting rudder with 20mm cannon
U.S. forces reportedly used an F/A-18 Super Hornet’s 20mm cannon to precisely disable (not sink) an Iranian-flagged tanker by targeting its rudder, forcing it to turn back. This is a notable interdiction tactic emphasizing controlled, rever…
Drones: MQ-9 Reaper