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 expands APKWS laser-guided rocket kit production for counter-drone use
The Pentagon signed a framework agreement with BAE to procure up to 25,000 APKWS guidance kits per year (with a path to 35,000 for allies), scaling a low-cost precision rocket that has been used as an economical alternative to air-to-air mi…
Ukraine claims first-ever drone evacuation of wounded soldier
Ukraine reports evacuating a wounded soldier from the front line using a drone, framing it as the first such mission. If accurate, this indicates a new unmanned CASEVAC/logistics tactic that could reduce risk to medics and enable extraction…
Ukrainian heavy hexacopter modified to evacuate wounded from frontline
Ukrainian forces report a frontline casualty evacuation conducted by a heavy Ukrainian-made hexacopter after ground evacuation was impossible due to mines and enemy drone presence. The unit worked with the manufacturer to modify the heavy b…
New Russian jet-powered UAV spotted from Bryansk toward Chernihiv
The post reports a “new jet UAV” launched from Russia’s Bryansk region toward northern Chernihiv oblast. If accurate, this suggests deployment/testing of a jet-powered strike/recon drone variant, potentially implying higher speed and differ…
US Army fields TACTMIS cloud system for munitions planning and reporting
The US Army is rolling out TACTMIS, a cloud-enabled SaaS replacement for TAMIS to modernize munitions requirements generation, authorization management, and expenditure reporting across the force. While not a weapon, it is a logistics/digit…
US Army stands up Indo-Pacific multi-domain command and Cross Domain Contact Layer
The article describes the US Army creating a new Indo-Pacific multi-domain command that integrates conventional forces with a "Cross Domain Contact Layer" linking sensors, drones, precision weapons, AI and electronic warfare into a continuo…
USMC AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR radar gets extended-range upgrade; Army interest grows
The post highlights the AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR multi-mission AESA radar’s recent extended-range software upgrade and ongoing hardware/software modifications to better detect and classify UAS and cruise missiles while providing weapons-quality tra…
Australia tenders Land 6504 medium-range ground-based air defense
Australia has launched Project Land 6504 to procure an off-the-shelf medium-range ground-based air and missile defense system, including terminal ballistic-missile intercept capability and integration with ADF C2. The solicitation also high…
Ukraine & NATO develop AI models to predict UAV strikes and plan artillery
Ukraine’s Defense Forces and NATO partners report two AI/ML models: one to forecast enemy UAV attack activity near the front using historical data, weather, and battlefield context, and another to generate/evaluate artillery courses of acti…
Report of new jet-powered UAVs over northern Chernihiv region
Ukrainian Air Force channel reports 'new jet UAVs' flying over northern Chernihiv region toward Slavutych. If accurate, this suggests deployment of a jet-powered drone type/variant not previously common in that area, potentially implying hi…