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.
Claim: Pokemon GO 3D scans used to train GPS-denied drone navigation AI
The post claims Niantic/Pokemon GO player-generated 3D environment scans were transferred to a US military contractor and are being used to train neural networks for drone navigation and targeting in GPS-denied conditions. If true, this is …
Pentagon solicits ARV-S unmanned surface vessel for contested logistics
The U.S. DoD/DIU is seeking to procure and rapidly scale production of the ARV-S (Autonomous Resupply Vehicle–Surface), an unmanned surface vessel designed to autonomously deliver 20-foot containers to forward units in contested Indo-Pacifi…
German F125 frigates to add IRIS-T SLM Naval VLS launchers (32 missiles total)
Germany plans to upgrade F125 frigates with two 16-cell vertical launchers per ship for an IRIS-T SLM Naval configuration, addressing a major air-defense shortfall. The novelty is adapting the land-based IRIS-T SLM into a shipboard, permane…
US Navy uses Saronic Corsair USV for search-and-rescue of downed pilots
The post describes Task Force 59 employing a Saronic Corsair unmanned surface vessel to recover two downed U.S. Army pilots, described as the first known USV-conducted search-and-rescue mission. This is a novel operational use-case for USVs…
US Navy USV used for personnel recovery after AH-64 crash near Hormuz
A U.S. Navy uncrewed surface vessel (USV) reportedly located and rescued the crew of a downed U.S. Army AH-64 Apache near the Strait of Hormuz. The article frames this as the first known instance of a drone boat conducting a personnel recov…
Airbus unveils U760 Ravenstorm collaborative combat drone concept
Airbus revealed the U760 Ravenstorm, a stealthy uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft intended to team with fighters for air-to-air, strike, and electronic-warfare missions. The portfolio also highlights Airbus’ MARS mission system, descri…
Drones: Anduril Altius-600 / Altius-700
Ukraine AI-enabled mid-range kamikaze drones hunt Russian logistics 150–250km deep
Ukraine’s Azov/NGU describes a coordinated “mid-range strike campaign” using modified fixed-wing kamikaze drones with AI-assisted target identification and Starlink-enabled communications to hunt logistics targets far behind the front. The …
US Navy Corsair USV used to recover downed Apache crew in Gulf of Oman
CENTCOM confirmed a Saronic Corsair uncrewed surface vessel (Task Force 59) physically recovered and transported downed AH-64 aircrew during a SAR event. This appears to be the first known use of a drone boat for personnel recovery, signali…
Claims Iran downed US AH-64 with Shahed/drone near Hormuz
The post claims an Iranian drone (including reports specifying a Shahed) struck and brought down a U.S. AH-64 Apache, highlighting an emerging tactic/capability of using one-way attack drones against manned helicopters. If accurate, it sign…
US Navy surface drone used to rescue downed Apache crew in Hormuz
The post reports a U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessel (surface drone) locating and rescuing the two crew of a downed U.S. Apache near Oman. Using an unmanned surface platform for personnel recovery is a notable operational employment of USVs…