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.
Reuters: China covertly trained Russian drone/EW troops for Ukraine war
The post cites Reuters reporting that China covertly trained ~200 Russian personnel in late 2025, including courses on strike drones/FPV, counter-UAV (EW guns, nets, interceptor drones), and combined-arms tactics integrating drones for mort…
AFSOC to test OA-1K Skyraider II rapid disassembly for C-17/C-5 deployment
AFSOC plans to demonstrate the OA-1K Skyraider II’s ability to rapidly disassemble/reassemble for airlift in C-17/C-5 aircraft, enabling expeditionary deployment in hours rather than days. The command also outlines planned weapons growth (A…
DZYNE BlitzBox containerized launcher can deploy up to 100 Blitz drones
DZYNE’s BlitzBox is a containerized launch system designed to rapidly launch waves of up to 100 small fixed-wing, modular, weaponizable Blitz drones. The combination of mass-launch packaging, modular payload bays (including a small frag war…
Russia flies two-seat Su-57D prototype as potential C2 platform for drone teaming
Russia’s UAC reports the first flight of a two-seat Su-57D prototype, a notable variant intended not just for training but potentially as a command-and-control platform. The added crew station is framed as enabling manned-unmanned teaming (…
SOCOM to test AC-130J with AGM-190A mini cruise missile and AESA radar
USSOCOM plans to demonstrate an AC-130J “Precision Strike Package” integrating an AESA radar with the AGM-190A (Havoc Spear/SCM) small cruise missile. This would give the gunship a new extended-range stand-off strike role (reported range 40…
US Army tests networked comms in special forces-infantry exercise at Fort Carson
The post references a novel exercise at Fort Carson where special forces and infantry linked up, implying experimentation with Army networking/communications integration (“network wars”). While details are sparse, the novelty is the cross-u…
US Navy MQ-25A Stingray enters LRIP and deployment phase
The US Navy says the MQ-25A Stingray has reached Milestone C and is moving into low-rate initial production and deployment as the first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft. Its primary innovation is integrating unmanned aerial refue…
AFSOC tests rapid field disassembly/reassembly of OA-1K Skyraider II
US Air Force Special Operations Command is testing a concept to rapidly disassemble the OA-1K Skyraider II, load it into a C-5/C-17, and reassemble it in the field within hours. This enables fast global deployment of a modular armed-overwat…
Iran adapts air-defense by studying US flight patterns, per NYT
The post claims Iranian commanders analyzed recurring US fighter/bomber flight patterns (possibly with Russian help) to make US operations more predictable and improve Iranian air-defense effectiveness. If accurate, this reflects an adaptiv…
Spanish Navy BHC vessels to use ABB DC-grid electric propulsion with batteries
ABB will supply Navantia with a DC-based onboard power distribution and propulsion suite (Onboard DC Grid + PEMS, thruster motors, and batteries) for two new Spanish Navy coastal hydrographic vessels. While not a frontline combat tactic, it…