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.
US Navy RFI seeks carrier-based combat drones with 1,000 nm unrefueled strike radius
A new NAVAIR request for information outlines a future carrier air wing “family of systems” including uncrewed aircraft able to deliver effects at least 1,000 nautical miles from the carrier without aerial refueling. The RFI also emphasizes…
Drones: Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat · Kazhan heavy FPV bomber
UK launches Storm Fighter autonomous loyal-wingman (CCA) program
The UK RAF announced Storm Fighter, a new autonomous collaborative combat aircraft (loyal wingman) effort intended to operate alongside Typhoon, F-35, and Tempest, emphasizing low cost and rapid production. While not a front-line battlefiel…
Drones: Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat · Kazhan heavy FPV bomber
US Marines add anti-drone netting to INLS ship-to-shore platform in CJLOTS 26
Photos from a USMC logistics exercise in South Korea show mesh netting fitted over part of an Improved Navy Lighterage System floating causeway, apparently to mitigate small-drone/munition threats during ship-to-shore offload. This reflects…
UK RAF unveils Storm Chrome EW drone and Storm Fire one-way attack drone
The RAF announced new uncrewed “wingman” concepts: Storm Chrome for electronic warfare and Storm Fire as a long-range one-way attack drone. While not yet confirmed as fielded, the named designs indicate a planned expansion of EW and strike …
CIA cites AI-powered drones as key factor stalling Russia in Ukraine
The post attributes Russia’s stalled advances and extreme frontline lethality to the widespread use of AI-powered drones, implying expanded deployment of AI-assisted targeting/kill-chain automation at scale. While not naming a specific mode…
US Navy MUSV program moves to at-sea surrogate testing with selected firms
The post describes the U.S. Navy’s new Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) Family of Systems acquisition effort, including near-term at-sea testing using surrogate vessels and a shift from the canceled Modular Attack Surface Craft concept…
Typhoon USV conducts underway resupply by landing in USS Essex well deck
A Splash Industries Typhoon unmanned surface vessel reportedly completed an at-sea resupply by autonomously navigating and landing in the well deck of USS Essex during RIMPAC 2026. This demonstrates a new logistics concept: using medium USV…
Ukraine expands 'drone air defense' with interceptor-drone crews alongside mobile fire groups
The post describes Ukraine scaling a dedicated “drone air defense” structure: trained interceptor-drone crews operating in parallel with mobile fire groups (machine-gun teams) for rear-area air defense. It also contrasts Russian autonomous …
EU anti-ballistic coalition cites Ukrainian FREYA/FP-7 interceptor concept
The post claims ten European countries are forming an anti-ballistic missile defense coalition and that a Ukrainian Fire Point concept (FREYA with FP-7 interceptor) could be the basis for a cheaper complement to Patriot/SAMP/T. If pursued, …
USAF FAMM program to field mass low-cost air-launched cruise missiles incl. pallet launch
The post describes the USAF’s Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) effort to procure ~28,000 lower-cost air-launched cruise missiles in multiple configurations, including lugged hardpoint-launched (FAMM-L) and palletized cargo-aircraft…