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.
Starlink-guided kamikaze drones strike logistics in Crimea
The post claims regular raids by guided kamikaze drones using Starlink connectivity, including an FP-2 strike on a locomotive near Dzhankoi, enabling ~100 km-range attacks on logistics. It also highlights the proposed countermeasure of depl…
US considers procuring major warships from Japanese and South Korean shipyards
The Pentagon is considering foreign ship designs and overseas construction/component builds in Japan and South Korea to rapidly expand U.S. naval shipbuilding capacity. This is a novel industrial/logistics approach (“Bridge Strategy”) aimed…
Thermal image claims NGAD/F-47 precursor aircraft flying near Area 51
A thermal image/video teaser allegedly captures a previously unseen tailless-canard stealth aircraft over Groom Lake, speculated to be an NGAD/F-47 technology demonstrator. If authentic, it indicates a new (or newly revealed) sixth-generati…
Ukraine tests Fire Point FP-7.X as low-cost Patriot-like interceptor path
Ukraine’s Fire Point published a test launch of its FP-7.X missile, described as a controlled maneuvering flight, as a stepping-stone toward the production Freyja interceptor intended to give Ukraine a domestic anti-ballistic missile capabi…
USMC seeks 5.56mm multi-projectile 'Drone Round' ammo for counter-FPV defense
The US Marine Corps plans a sole-source buy of Drone Round 5.56x45mm 'L Variant' cartridges whose projectile splits into multiple segments to raise hit probability against small, fast drones. The novelty is a drop-in, no-modification, no-ne…
USAF outlines 'MQ-9 Next' modular, attritable Reaper successor concept
The post describes USAF requirements work for an MQ-9 Reaper replacement emphasizing modular hardware/software (open architecture, government-controlled software) and an 'attritable' low-cost design intended for higher-risk contested enviro…
Drones: MQ-9 Reaper · Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat
Netherlands opens THeMIS UGV assembly line to scale deliveries to Ukraine
Milrem Robotics and VDL Defentec opened a Netherlands-based assembly line producing THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles, enabling faster, scalable supply of UGVs for Ukraine. While THeMIS has been used since 2022, the novelty is the new Europea…
Ukrainian long-range drones strike Kronstadt Baltic Fleet base near St. Petersburg
Ukraine reportedly used long-range drones to hit the Kronstadt naval base near St. Petersburg, setting the Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy on fire in dry dock—an unusually deep strike against the Baltic Fleet. The post notes apparent av…
Drones: FP-1
Large Chinese 'sailless' submarine design spotted at Jiangnan Shipyard
Satellite imagery shows a new large Chinese submarine with an apparent absence of a traditional sail, plus an X-form stern and possible shrouded/pumpjet propulsor. A sailless hullform could reduce drag and acoustic signature, improving subm…
Lockheed GRIZZLY containerized C-UAS uses JAGM to kill Group 3 drone
Lockheed demonstrated a containerized GRIZZLY launcher firing JAGM in a full detect-track-engage kill chain (Fortem R-40 radars + Sanctum battle manager) to down a live Group 3 one-way attack drone. The novelty is the rapidly integrated, mo…