All articles tagged with #kamikaze drones
Ukraine's Brave1 defense cluster has completed testing of new kamikaze drones capable of over 40 km range and resistant to Russian electronic warfare, aiming to enhance Ukraine's strike capabilities behind Russian lines amid ongoing conflict. The drones are designed to overcome jamming and spoofing, and could significantly impact Ukraine's military operations if deployed successfully.
Despite U.S. sanctions, at least 130 U.S.-made Ram 1500 trucks have been imported into Russia, some of which are used to launch kamikaze drones against Ukraine, with several companies in the UAE and Virginia facilitating these transfers through illegal transshipment and direct sales, violating export restrictions.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is reportedly involved in the development of a kamikaze drone startup called "White Stork," aiming to sell advanced AI drone technology to Ukraine for its war efforts. Schmidt, who has been vocal about the future of AI drones in warfare, has been building White Stork under shell companies and has been in close contact with Ukrainian officials. The use of AI in kamikaze drones is expected to play a significant role in future wars, potentially leading to a greater presence of AI companies in warfare despite their claims of benefiting humanity.
Ukraine has deployed the AQ 400 Scythe kamikaze drones, with a range of 466 miles, to counter Russia's use of drones in the ongoing conflict. These low-cost drones have proven effective in targeting strategic sites and even taking out advanced tanks. The introduction of the AQ 400 addresses the absence of a similar weapon in Ukraine's arsenal.
A massive explosion and fire have engulfed a Russian factory that produces engines for tanks and armored vehicles, causing significant damage. The cause of the explosion is still unknown, but sabotage or kamikaze drone attacks have been suggested as possibilities. The factory, located near the border with Kazakhstan, is under US and Ukrainian sanctions and is a key supplier for the Russian military. The incident comes after Ukraine launched a major kamikaze drone attack on Russia, resulting in the closure of several airports. Russia has shot down numerous drones, and there have been reports of damage to buildings.
Russia has been using cheap and disposable kamikaze drones, known as Shaheds, to launch attacks on Ukraine. These low-tech drones have been causing damage to buildings and forcing Ukrainian civilians into air raid shelters. The Ukrainian military has been relying on mobile, automatic weapons fire and the use of anti-aircraft systems like the German Gepard to counter these drone attacks. Russia has been exploiting Ukrainian concerns about protecting major population centers and has been launching multiple waves of drones from different directions to confuse and overwhelm the Ukrainian defense. The scale of the attacks has been increasing, with Russia reportedly placing a $2 billion order with Iran to produce thousands more drones. The Ukrainian military believes that Russia will continue to improve the quality of these drones, making them more difficult to detect and counter.
Ukraine is using the US-made 'Vampire' rocket system to shoot down Russian kamikaze drones. The system consists of a laser-guided-missile launcher that can be installed on a military or civilian truck and fires rockets equipped with fuses designed to detonate near a drone. The Vampire provides Ukraine with a relatively cheap and accurate solution to combat Russia's drones, allowing them to preserve their more advanced anti-aircraft systems for critical areas. The Pentagon has confirmed that the Vampire is now being used by Ukrainian forces, marking the first deployment of the system in a combat zone.
The conflict in Ukraine has showcased the future of warfare with the use of drone swarms, specifically kamikaze drones. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been employed by both sides, demonstrating their effectiveness in targeting enemy positions and infrastructure. The use of drone swarms in Ukraine highlights the evolving nature of warfare and raises concerns about the potential for widespread adoption of this technology in future conflicts.
Ukrainian forces have showcased a contraption made of six AK-74 assault rifles strapped together, serving as an improvised anti-drone gun. Footage shows the weapon being fired at flying targets, although its effectiveness in shooting down drones remains uncertain. The creation of such weapons highlights the impact of Russian kamikaze drones in the conflict, with soldiers resorting to small arms fire to counter them. While computer-aided rifle sights exist for this purpose, it is unclear if they have been deployed in Ukraine.
Russian ZALA Lancet drones have become a significant threat to Ukrainian forces during their counteroffensive, with increased use in recent months. Lancets are X-winged suicide drones controlled by pilots through real-time video transmission, and they can stay airborne for about 40 minutes. The latest version has a range radius of over 40 kilometers and can carry a warhead of up to 5 kilograms. Ukrainian forces have resorted to using metal netting to protect valuable hardware from these drones. While some Lancets have been successfully shot down, their small size and speed make interception challenging. Ukraine has called for Western allies to provide radar-equipped anti-drone guns and electronic warfare systems to counter the threat.
Russia has targeted Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, for the third night running, with officials reporting falling debris causing several buildings to catch fire. Ukraine's air defences intercepted over 20 drones, with at least one person killed. This marks the 17th attack on the capital since May, with Russia using kamikaze drones, cruise and ballistic missiles. Analysts suggest Moscow is seeking to deplete and damage Ukraine's air defences ahead of its long-expected counter-offensive. Ukraine has been planning a counter-offensive for months, but it has wanted as much time as possible to train troops and receive military equipment from Western allies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to the people of Iran not to become complicit in Russia's war, in which Iranian kamikaze drones are being used to kill Ukrainian civilians. Zelenskyy asked why Iran would want to be on the side of an evil state and support ruthless murders committed by Russia's hands but with Iranian weapons. He added that Iran is only becoming even more isolated from the world and building up even greater problems as a result of helping the aggressor.
Russia launched a fresh wave of drone and missile strikes on Ukraine, including the "biggest" kamikaze drone attack so far, injuring five people in Kyiv and killing one person in the southern Odesa region. The Red Cross warehouse was hit, and all aid deliveries had to be suspended. The attack marks the fourth in eight days on Kyiv and comes just 24 hours before Russia celebrates Victory Day. The Ukrainian military said the latest Russian raids saw Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones swarm across the country.
Russian Lancet-3 kamikaze drones have destroyed nearly 45% of towed and self-propelled artillery guns from NATO, including the US M777 light-weight towed howitzer, Polish 155mm Krab, and US M109 Paladin self-propelled guns (SPG) since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. The use of loitering munitions has evolved dramatically from the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the battle in Ukraine. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) had successfully begun targeting thinly stretched Russian supply lines, making sustained combat untenable, which forced Russia to withdraw to the west side of the Dnieper River in Kherson in November 2022. Russia then switched to using Lancet-3 loitering munitions to eliminate the need for long-range guns, rocket artillery, and the supply lines that feed them.
Russian social media is abuzz with fear of an imminent attack by thousands of small kamikaze drones that could overwhelm their front lines. Ukrainian military and political observer Alexei Arestovich says they are preparing a drone offensive, and in January Ukrainian General Command announced the formation of new tactical drone assault units. Racing drones, also known as FPV or First Person View drones, are smaller than standard quadcopters but have powerful motors giving speeds of 120 mph or more. The key point about the FPV attack drones is that, compared to other guided weapons and loitering munitions, they are cheap and easily available.