#russian reconnaissance aircraft

[aanews69]

Dodáváme příběhy. Dáme vám také návody, tipy a triky, jak si vytvořit svůj vlastní.Tento kanál je věnován náhodným věcem, které se objevují na našich stolech.

[usafphantom2]

In memory of Roy Cross (1924-2024), the British aviation artist who passed away earlier this year, only one day after celebrating his 100th birthday. Cross is most famous for the many box top illustrations he created for Airfix plastic model kits in the 1960s & 70s.

@PeteHill854 via X

[nocternalrandomness]

Russian Navy Tupolev Tu-142  maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft over Russia

[blueiscoool]

Ukraine Destroys Russia’s Brand-New $65 Million Warship Sergei Kotov

Ukraine has destroyed the newest patrol ship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the $65 million Sergei Kotov, and left pro-Kremlin war reporters sulking.

“As a result of a strike by Magura V5 maritime drones, the Russian Project 22160 ship Sergei Kotov received damage to the stern, starboard and left sides,” Ukrainian military intelligence said in a statement.

“The fewer such ships, the fewer anti-aircraft missile systems will be deployed on them, meaning more opportunities for Ukrainian security and defense forces,” spokesman Andriy Yusov told local media, adding that more than 10 ambulances were spotted rushing to help the evacuated crew members. At least seven crew members were killed, Ukrainian authorities said.

Audio of what Ukraine described as an intercepted radio communication also appeared to capture a Russian commander reporting on the “tragic event” and destruction of the ship, lamenting that a helicopter had also been obliterated in the nighttime attack near the Kerch Strait.

The 308-foot, 1,700-ton ship entered the Black Sea Fleet in July 2022.

Russia’s Defense Ministry has yet to comment on the incident, though pro-Kremlin military bloggers begrudgingly admitted that Ukraine had pulled off the attack.

“If it continues like this, the Black Sea Fleet will have only catamarans and rubber banana boats for vacationers. It’s fucked,” wrote one popular pro-war Telegram channel.

The Sergei Kotov had been targeted in three previous attacks by Ukrainian forces before finally being taken out this time around. Noting that Russia had plenty of defenses in place to protect the ship, pro-war propagandist Alexander Kots said that “unfortunately, the enemy is also evolving.”

“The crew fought heroically until the end. … But this time it is a story without a happy ending,” he wrote on social media.

“The ship ‘Sergei Kotov’ sunk,” wrote former Vladimir Putin adviser Sergei Markov, calling it part of a “new type of war” in which “what matters most are the multitude of drones, space reconnaissance, and electronic warfare.”

“This is where we need to overtake the West,” he said.

By Allison Quinn.

[unhonestlymirror]

It's KAB time.

I will tell you about one more thing that we encounter here every day. These are KABs (guided aerial bomb), or FABs. Aviation bombs of great power. This is one of the most terrible things that I encountered in the war. Very destructive and the occupiers use these bombs en masse.

You can suddenly come under fire and not even have time to get scared. Hitting a bullet or bursting a mine is a moment but you hear the bomb before it explodes. You hear it approaching with a characteristic sound. And you understand that if it flies at you, there are few chances.

Roughly speaking, there are two types of gliding bombs. Those that were created as controlled (UPAB-500B and 1500B) from the very beginning and modified FABs (high-explosive aviation bombs of general purpose), to which correction and flight control modules are attached These are FAB-250, FAB-500, FAB-1500.

They are not done very well, but the russians have a lot of them, and they can quickly equip the required number of bombs. Enemy planes fly up 40-50 km to the battle line, launch these bombs. They fly to their target and hit it. If they hit, of course.

Something about the quality and design of processing. We often find remnants of control modules as in the photo.

It is obvious that the design provides for quick manufacturing, and the charter is minus the quality. Sometimes bombs fall, but do not explode.

This "specimen" actually lay under our feet for some time. Over time, it was taken away from here and, I think, blown up somewhere away from where it could do harm. They aimed at the road, or at something that was travelling by it.

I can assume that the russians, as often happens, saw ideas about such "recycling" of old bombs in the West. They liked JDAM's technical solution. Their propaganda likes to mention it in the context of the aerial bombardment campaign of Yugoslavia.

One of the russian weapons experts referred to this system (which includes a GPS-based guidance system and wings). He called it the "bra bomb." The russians have always had problems with naming.

The very range of dropping guided air bombs depends on the flight parameters of the carrier - speed and altitude. Accordingly, the higher and faster the aircraft drops, the farther such bombs will fly. KABs are considered a difficult target to shoot down since the bomb carrier does not enter the area of ​​​​air defence.

In addition, we can not afford to keep stationary air defence systems near the front because there are not enough of them to cover objects in the rear. Moreover, as soon as the air defence systems are brought closer to the front, the resistance to their destruction also increases. In a word, it is impossible to reliably protect yourself from KABs here at the front. There is no suitable resource. And even if there was, it would not always be possible anyway.

The russians use these bombs every day and in large numbers. The targets are different. The positions of our units are in the immediate vicinity of the contact line. Logistics routes. Places of possible location of equipment, headquarters, warehouses, etc. They do not hesitate to shoot on the roads and in their own trenches, which were occupied by the Armed Forces. There is a defined list of roads and logistics routes. From time to time, bombs fall either next to these roads or even on them. However, in this case, the effect is questionable.

Daily is that the russians conduct thorough aerial reconnaissance of various depths. Near the contact line, in our rear. These are the same commercial drones as ours, as well as their regular "wings" - Orlans, Zaly, Superkams. Based on the results of the intelligence, they are trying to launch airstrikes at the corresponding points. I don't know what the accuracy statistics of these strikes are, but from what I could assess with my own eyes, I would say that it is not high.

There are objects that the russians have been shooting at for several months in a row and can not hit. Fields, towns, and villages are strewn with debris from these bombs. The worst thing is that they often purposefully launch anti-aircraft missiles at residential buildings, trying to reach infrastructure facilities. Many settlements were destroyed or hopelessly damaged by these bombs. They simply turn walnuts and neighbouring villages into crushed stone and clay.

They use them both during the day and at night. The graphs look variable. In a certain period, concentrated and massive airstrikes took place at night. For example, during the day, they reconnoitred something, and with the onset of darkness, begin shelling the specified coordinates. During the day, the strikes were carried out as a result of more operational reconnaissance or a reaction to some events. For example, the occupiers could receive information that equipment had passed in a certain place. Then they raise the plane and launch a bomb there. Even if belatedly.

Another example. When another KA-52 government helicopter was shot down, they launched 4 bombs on the square, where they thought the MANPADS missile might have come from. With the corresponding accuracy that I have already spoken about. We have repeatedly seen bomb explosions during operation. This solves the problem of high losses of battleboards. Aircraft become unreachable for MANPADS. On the other hand, the bomb's flight time increases, and we have more time to hide if there is such an opportunity.

This story is primarily about how we move forward in a situation where the enemy has air superiority. Under constant airstrikes. When the targets are located in the steppe, like in the palm of your hand, the surrounding fields are mined, and the narrow corridors for movement are restricted and shot at. I can't imagine anyone considering launching a ground offensive without the necessary air assets. But the Armed Forces do it and have success.

[mariacallous]

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for nuclear weapon drills went public on May 6, the day after Orthodox Easter—a bitter irony since he styles himself a fervent guardian of Christian values, which do not include the simulation of nuclear annihilation the last time I checked. I wonder whether he signed the order before or after his much-publicized attendance of Easter service at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

The exercises will simulate “theater,” or regional, nuclear attacks, in contrast to “strategic” nuclear exercises simulating war with the United States. These theater exercises will be centered in Russia’s southern military district, likely targeting not only Ukraine but also NATO members Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. The message coming from Moscow is that the exercises are in answer to loose talk from French President Emmanuel Macron and other NATO leaders about possibly sending alliance forces to fight in Ukraine.

The Kremlin appears to be reinforcing, in no uncertain terms, a red line against NATO boots on the ground in Ukraine. Fortunately, it is a red line that most NATO leaders share, including U.S. President Joe Biden. From the very outset of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Biden made it clear that the United States and its allies would send military assistance to Ukraine but not engage in the fighting. His goal was and remains crystal clear: to avoid a direct fight between Russia and NATO in Europe that could escalate to World War III and nuclear conflict.

Putin also wants to avoid a direct fight between Russia and NATO. For him, that means avoiding strikes against NATO territory or reconnaissance aircraft patrolling the airspace over the Black Sea. NATO deliveries are fair game for attack once they arrive on Ukrainian soil, but not while they are still transiting NATO territory.

The United States and Russia thus agree on one thing in this terrible war: They do not want to risk a nuclear holocaust. Why, then, do the Russians keep claiming that the world is facing one?

Part of it is evidently the Kremlin’s effort to derive value from this very brinkmanship—a pattern of behavior rarely seen since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, the last time the world came to the brink of a nuclear exchange. During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union fought proxy wars in many places, from Angola to Vietnam, but threats to use their nuclear forces rarely played a role. Neither side used such threats to achieve conventional battlefield goals, the way leading Russian officials have been doing throughout the war in Ukraine.

Instead, Washington and Moscow first built up their strategic arsenals—the long-range nuclear weapons by which they threaten each other directly—sustaining essential parity as they went. So long as neither side built significantly more than the other, and as long as both sustained a high level of readiness, the two superpowers had a nuclear deterrent that both considered stable.

This stability became so boring and reliable that people more or less forgot about nuclear annihilation. Once policymakers in Washington and Moscow began to control and limit their nuclear arsenals in the 1970s—starting with the first U.S.-Soviet détente and the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty—the rest of the world was glad. No one wanted to think about what would happen if the nuclear superpowers “pressed the button.” And they did not have to: The superpowers were heading in a different direction, reducing their reliance on nuclear weapons.

The war in Ukraine has thrown this complacency into turmoil, because Putin and his minions have insisted on rattling the nuclear saber throughout the invasion. Now the rest of the world has to think again about nuclear weapons and what Russia might do with them.

This bizarre game of nuclear look-at-me is linked to the Kremlin’s equally bizarre complaint that its act of invading Ukraine has created an existential threat to Russia. In this telling, NATO support to Ukraine is tied up with strategic defeat of Russia. As commentators in Moscow claim, Russia only wanted the best for Ukraine—its liberation from a “Nazi” regime and a fake idea of statehood. However, once NATO began to aid Kyiv, the bloc’s goal was not helping Ukraine, but destroying and dismembering Russia.

Some leading officials in NATO member states have indeed voiced Russia’s strategic defeat as an objective for what they are trying to achieve in assisting Ukraine. But again, Biden has been crystal clear that the bloc has a limited objective that does not threaten Russia itself. In May 2022, he said: “We do not seek a war between NATO and Russia. As much as I disagree with Mr. Putin, and find his actions an outrage, the United States will not try to bring about his ouster in Moscow. So long as the United States or our allies are not attacked, we will not be directly engaged in this conflict, either by sending American troops to fight in Ukraine or by attacking Russian forces.”

But Putin and his chief ministers have not been mollified. They continue to go on and on about how the United States and NATO are seeking the strategic defeat of Russia and its demise as a nation. Their motivation is obvious: If its people believe that the country is facing total destruction, they will stay in the fight for the sake of survival.

So there is a lesson here for leaders not only in the United States but also in Europe and Asia: The fabric of nuclear deterrence is changing, its mind game adjusting to a new era of nuclear brinkmanship. So far, Putin and those around him have been the most active practitioners, but North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, whose nuclear capacity now extends beyond his regional neighbors, has been not far behind. Beijing, although it has sustained a nuclear good-guy image with a policy of no first use, could be tempted to follow Putin’s example as its nuclear force structure becomes more modernized and its ambitions extend throughout Asia.

With so much loose nuclear talk in the air, the United States and its allies must think hard about how to sustain stable and strong deterrence. In other words, they are going to have to focus on how to talk responsibly to the global public about nuclear weapons. The most important audience in deterrence, of course, are the potential nuclear aggressors.

The first rule should be to maintain discipline about using terms such as “strategic defeat,” so as not to pander to claims that it is Washington and its allies that are posing an existential threat. If the United States does not seek the destruction of the aggressors’ regimes and the dismemberment of their countries, it should say so. If Washington is not clear about the objectives in a conflict, then it should say nothing at all.

The second rule should be to sustain the effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent and the reliability of its command and control systems. That means consistent, solid support for the ongoing modernization of the nuclear triad. It means continuing nuclear training and exercises in a transparent manner and testing nuclear delivery systems—missiles and bombers. All of these actions should not be articulated in a threatening manner—the United States should not be the one rattling the nuclear saber—but convey quiet confidence in the country’s nuclear deterrence forces.

Third, Washington should be pursuing with assurance the mutual predictability that comes from controlling and limiting nuclear weapons at the negotiating table. Of course, Russia, China, and North Korea show little interest in coming to that table today, but the United States should not be the side that is quitting it. The global public wants to see continued progress on nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, not a descent into a new nuclear arms race. And importantly, the table of nuclear talks is a good place to deliver deterrence messages. As difficult as it may be, the United States and its allies must continue to lead in this arena.

Finally and most importantly, the United States and its allies must sustain steady progress in military assistance to Ukraine. The most serious implication of the delayed funding vote in the U.S. Congress was that the United States could be halted in its tracks by a bully brandishing nuclear weapons. U.S. leaders need to convey quiet confidence in the country’s nuclear deterrent and keep their promises to Ukraine. Together, these two elements make up the critical message that must go to others who might try nuclear threats to get their way.

In each of these steps, Washington has great potential to bolster its nuclear deterrent. The United States’ naturally open system facilitates communicating deterrence messages when a president speaks to the nation or military and political leaders testify before the U.S. Congress. The national budget process permits the country to convey openly and clearly the process of its nuclear modernization. And working together with allies, the United States can drive nuclear statecraft forward in ways that preserve nuclear predictability and, at the same time, strengthen deterrence. The fabric of nuclear deterrence may be changing, but determining its future must not be left to the aggressors.

[captain-price-unofficially]

Ukrainian Army soldier with his shoulder fired anti-aircraft missile launcher, and a captured Russian Orlan-10 reconnaissance UAV: downed on the Kharkiv front, September 2022.

[argumate]

Ukrainian Commander in Chief General Valery Zaluzhnyi recently articulated the main factors that have brought positional war to the conflict and made mechanized maneuver difficult or impossible. The recent Russian offensive operations around Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast, among others, have shown that the Russians are suffering equally from these problems. Zaluzhnyi’s assessment tracks with what many other observers of the war have also seen. The most salient of these factors include:

The pervasiveness of reconnaissance drones makes large-scale surprise impossible, and the effective creation by both sides of reconnaissance-strike complexes that merge reconnaissance and strike drones with artillery and other long-range systems makes visible concentrations of vehicles prohibitively dangerous;

Russian electronic warfare, particularly jamming of GPS signals and drone communications, on an unprecedented scale severely hinders Ukraine’s ability to make full use of Western-provided precision munitions that rely on GPS and undermines the effectiveness of Ukraine’s own drone systems;

Russian defensive works prepared over the course of many months and supported by extremely deep and dense minefields preclude rapid mechanized maneuver;

Limited Ukrainian air defenses and Ukraine’s lack of a modern air force allows Russian manned aircraft to operate in close support of front line units and to target Ukrainian tactical reserves and logistics nodes;

Limited Ukrainian long-range strike capabilities preclude the effective operational-level interdiction necessary to isolate the battlefield from Russian operational and strategic reserves; and

Inadequate numbers of tanks and armored vehicles, coupled with uncertainty about the future availability of replacements, require Ukraine to husband its mechanized forces rather than accepting the losses inherent in concentrated assaults in the current state of the battlefield.

[workersolidarity]

🇩🇪🇺🇦 🚨 GERMANY TO SEND NEW WINTER MILITARY AID PACKAGE WORTH $1.3 BILLION TO UKRAINE

During a visit to Kiev, German Federal Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius announced a new winter Military aid package worth an estimated $1.3 Billion for Ukraine.

Germany will deliver it's third package consisting of four Iris-T SLM air defense systems, increasing the total number of Iris-T's promised to be delivered to Ukraine from 8 to 12.

However, according to German media, only 3 Iris-T SLM systems have actually been delivered so far, and only one for this year.

Pistorius also promised Kiev 20'000 rounds of 155mm shells, equal to the number sent by Germany to Kiev so far.

In addition to 155mm shells, Germany will also be sending a total of 8'000 PARM anti-tank mines which fire a small fin-stabilized rocket when an armored target is acquired.

According to German media, the Federal Government of Germany hopes to produce an additional 130'000 shells for delivery to Ukraine over the next year, which would require a large expansion of shell production.

The new aid package also includes 60 "high-tech surveillance drones" of various types, as well as an additional two dozen radar systems for detecting enemy drones.

The German government also made no mention of whether there will be any deliveries of Taurus cruise missiles in this or future aid packages, hinting at a long-term "no" from the Chancellor, according to German media.

The German Defense Minister also visited the location of a German-supplied American Patriot missile defense system, located somewhere outside the Kiev region.

German media agency, Bild made extensive claims without evidence about the capabilities of the Patriot air defense system, going so far as to claim the system defends Kiev from both cruise and ballistic missiles.

Including claims about the system's ability to target and intercept the Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missile, something the Kiev regime has said repeatedly without producing evidence.

The total aid package worth $1.3 Billion Germany intends to send Ukraine includes:

▪️4 IRIS-T SLM anti-aircraft missile systems

▪️20,000 shells of 155mm artillery ammunition

▪️More than 24 drone detection systems

▪️60 high quality reconnaissance drones

#source

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[emily0976]

Unleashing Power and Precision: A Comprehensive Guide to Indian Air Force Fighter Planes

Introduction

The Indian Air Force (IAF) stands as a symbol of strength and prowess in the vast skies above the subcontinent. Over the years, it has acquired a formidable fleet of fighter planes, each a marvel of engineering and a testament to the nation's commitment to aerial defense. In this blog post, we will delve into the Indian Air Force Fighter Planes list, exploring the capabilities and features that make them the guardians of the Indian airspace.

Evolution of the Indian Air Force

The IAF has come a long way since its inception in 1932. From its humble beginnings with obsolete biplanes, the force has evolved into a modern and technologically advanced air arm. The backbone of the IAF's aerial might lies in its fleet of fighter planes, which have played a crucial role in safeguarding the nation's sovereignty.

Key Considerations in Fighter Plane Selection

Before diving into the list of Indian Air Force fighter planes, it's essential to understand the criteria that govern the selection of these aerial assets. The IAF considers factors such as range, speed, agility, firepower, and electronic warfare capabilities when choosing its fighter planes. These aircraft are designed to operate in diverse environments, from the scorching deserts of Rajasthan to the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas.

Indian Air Force Fighter Planes List

Sukhoi Su-30MKIThe Su-30MKI, a Russian-origin aircraft, has become the backbone of the IAF's fighter fleet. With its twin-engine design, long-range capabilities, and advanced avionics, the Su-30MKI is a versatile and lethal platform. It can carry a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, making it a potent force in both aerial combat and ground attacks.

Dassault RafaleThe Dassault Rafale, a French-made multirole fighter, represents the cutting edge of modern military aviation. Its advanced radar systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and precision-guided munitions make it a force to be reckoned with. The Rafale has significantly bolstered the IAF's strategic capabilities, providing an edge in both air superiority and ground attacks.

MiG-29The MiG-29, a stalwart in the IAF's fleet, has undergone various upgrades to enhance its performance. Known for its agility and speed, the MiG-29 is a fourth-generation fighter that can hold its own in air-to-air combat. Its role in providing air defense and escorting other aircraft adds a layer of versatility to the IAF's operations.

TejasDesigned and manufactured indigenously, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is a point of pride for India's aerospace industry. With its lightweight design and advanced avionics, the Tejas is tailored for maneuverability. As the IAF continues to induct Tejas variants, it marks a significant stride toward self-reliance in defense production.

JaguarWhile originally designed for ground attack missions, the Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar has been adapted for various roles within the IAF. Equipped with a combination of precision-guided munitions and a formidable gun, the Jaguar serves as a potent asset in both air-to-ground and anti-ship operations.

Strategic Importance of Fighter Planes

The role of fighter planes extends beyond just engaging in dogfights. They serve as a critical component of national defense, acting as a deterrent and providing a strategic advantage. The IAF's fighter planes play a pivotal role in ensuring air superiority, conducting reconnaissance, and delivering precision strikes when needed.

Challenges and Future Developments

While the IAF's fleet of fighter planes is formidable, it is not without challenges. The need for continuous upgrades, technological advancements, and the emergence of new threats require constant vigilance and adaptation. The IAF is actively pursuing modernization initiatives, including the development of next-generation fighter aircraft, to maintain its edge in an ever-evolving geopolitical landscape.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Indian Air Force's fighter planes stand as a testament to the nation's commitment to aerial defense. From the iconic MiG-21s of yesteryears to the state-of-the-art Rafales and Tejas of today, each aircraft in the IAF's inventory plays a crucial role in securing the skies above India. As the nation continues to invest in indigenous defense production and embraces cutting-edge technology, the future of the IAF's fighter fleet looks promising, ensuring that the Indian skies remain safeguarded for generations to come.

[pretordh]

An Israeli ship broke through the grain blockade in the Black Sea.

Despite Russian threats, Ams1 is included in the Ukrainian branch of the Danube. Starting its movement from Ashdod, Israel from the very beginning indicated the destination - Ukraine and crossed the sea in a direct course. This ship is followed by other vessels that will anchor in the river as well.

Security is monitored by the American P8 Poseidon aircraft. It is refueled directly in the sky of Romania. Additional information is provided by the Forte12 RQ-4 reconnaissance drone.

[dialogue-queered]

Article

Paul Cureton

Innovative design choices can have a massive impact in the theatre of war, so it is important to understand the principles behind their development. Recent use of low-cost cardboard drones by Ukraine, supplied by Australia, to attack targets in Russia is a good example of how this can work.

Australia has been supplying Ukraine with 100 of the drones per month from March this year as part of an aid package deal worth an estimated £15.7 million, following an agreement struck in July 2021, according to the Australian Army Defence Innovation Hub.

Emerging technologies tend to override current technologies, and in turn, this generates competitive counter-technologies. This circular relationship driven by innovation is often critical in warfare as it can provide key technological advances.

Drone technology was originally developed for military use. It was then seen to offer opportunities in the civilian sphere for logistics, delivery and disaster relief. This then in turn has offered new innovations that can translate to military applications.

Conflicts in the future will be particularly shaped by drones, which will have implications for international relations, security and defence.

The Australian firm Sypaq, an engineering and solutions company founded in 1992, created the Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System (PPDS) for use in military, law enforcement, border security and emergency services, as well as food security, asset inspection and search and rescue.

Ukrainian forces reportedly used the PDDS cardboard drones in an attack on an airfield in Kursk Oblast in western Russia on August 27. The attack damaged a Mig-29 and four Su-30 fighter jets, two Pantsir anti-aircraft missile launchers, gun systems, and an S-300 air surface-to-air missile defence system.

Design principles

The design principles behind the success of the drones revolve around several factors including the production cost, airframe material, weight, payload, range, deployment and ease of use. Other considerations include the reliability of the operating software and the ability to fly the drone in various weather conditions. Seven Network news report on SYPAQ’s cardboad drones.

Generally, small drones offer high-resolution imagery for reconnaissance in a rapidly changing theatre of war. The Corvo drone has a high-resolution camera that provides images covering a large area, transmitting footage back to its user in real time.

The importance of real-time mapping is critical in modern agile armed forces’ command and control as this can direct ground forces, heavy weapons and artillery.

In some cases, the design of small drones is concentrated on adapting the payloads to carry different types of munitions, as seen in the attack in Kursk.

The cardboard drones can carry 5kg of weight, have a wingspan of two metres and a range of 120km at a reported cost of US$3,500 (£2,750). Waxed cardboard is an ideal material as it offers weather resistance, flat-pack transportation (measuring 510mm by 760mm) and, importantly, a lightweight airframe, which enables a longer flight range and a high cruise speed of 60km/h.

Fixed-wing drones also offer longer ranges than rotor-based drones as the wings generate the lift and the airframe has less drag, so they are more energy efficient. They can also fly at higher altitudes. The drones can be launched from a simple catapult or by hand and so can be rapidly deployed.

Low-tech material, hi-tech thinking

Radar involves the transmission of electromagnetic waves, and these are reflected off any object back to a receiving antenna. Cardboard is generally harder to detect by radar – but its components, such as the battery, can be detected.

But the Corvo drone is likely to have a small signature. Radar-absorbing materials are needed to have full stealth properties. These polymers have various absorbing qualities to avoid radar detection.

Another design principle is the swarming capability of the drone. Swarms of drones can overpower air defence systems through sheer volume and or can be used as decoys in counterintelligence operations.

Swarms are highly reliant on the development of artificial intelligence, which is still an embryonic research area. But a recent drone race at ETH University in Zurich, in which AI-piloted drone beat drones controlled by world-champion drone racers, highlighted this potential.

All of these design principles and innovations have and are continuing to transform warfare and theatre operations. It is likely that small drones at low cost are likely to have further mission success in the future.

[usafphantom2]

MiG-25P

@Vladwlad777 via X

[nocternalrandomness]

Russian M-55 reconnaissance aircraft appearing at the 2011 MAKS Airshow

[tomorrowusa]

Ukrainian forces discovered that Russia was using an artillery piece which had been designed in the mid 1940s – when Donald Trump was born. Of course Ukraine destroyed this gun which probably belonged in a Cold War museum.

In the Kupiansk sector, Ukraine’s Steel Border [Stalevyi Kordon] assault brigade, consisting of border guard officers, used a suicide drone to destroy an obsolete Russian gun, which was designed in the mid-1940s. The relevant video was posted by the Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “The Steel Border brigade’s suicide drone hunted down an obsolete gun,” Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko noted. In particular, during an aerial reconnaissance, Ukrainian defenders detected the Soviet-era S-60 anti-aircraft artillery system with the 57mm AZP-57 gun, which was designed back in the mid-1940s, in enemy positions.

This article, authored on June 19, 1999, called it "obsolete" – way back then. 🤣

S-60 / Type 59 57mm Anti-Aircraft Artillery

Russia has launched what seems to be a counteroffensive in eastern Ukraine. The objective apparently is to take pressure off of Ukraine's advance in the south.

The Russians are hurting down south and especially on the Black Sea where a Russian missile carrier was put out of commission last week. The funny thing about the severe damage to the Pavel Derzhavin is that it could have hit a Russian mine. 😝

Anton Gerashchenko, an Interior Ministry spokesman, in a Wednesday afternoon statement said Ukrainian intelligence sources confirmed the fact of the explosion but the cause was unknown. He suggested that it was possible that a Ukrainian missile or long-range drone was responsible for the strike. Serhiy Bratchiuk, head of the regional defense command in Ukraine’s western Odesa region, in statements carried by local media said that according to his sources the most likely cause was that the Pavel Derzhavin had struck a Russian sea mine protecting the Sevastopol harbor. Ukrainian intelligence operatives were still investigating, he said. Russian language Wikipedia had, by Wednesday evening, written the ship off as a total loss and closed the page dedicated to the vessel.

News from Ukraine is being overshadowed by news from the Middle East for obvious reasons. Putin is happy to have a distraction to take the international spotlight off of his war crimes in Ukraine.

If you live in the United States, contact your member of the House of Representatives and urge them not to give in to the dysfunction caused by the Putin Caucus which includes the most extremist anti-democracy House members. Do it today!

Find Your Representative | house.gov

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up February 9-10, 2023

Now with the correct spelling of “February!”

Under the cut:

Russia launched a large-scale missile attack in Ukraine on Friday, striking several cities including the capital, Kyiv, in an apparent attempt to probe the country’s air defences and to intimidate Ukraine’s allies. Ukraine’s air force command said it had shot down 61 out of 70 cruise missiles and five Iranian-made drones. The figures included an earlier wave of 35 S-300 rockets fired on Thursday night. These landed in and around the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.

Russian forces likely lost “at least 30” armoured vehicles in a single, failed attack near the eastern Ukrainian city of Vuhledar earlier this week, British intelligence said on Friday, sparking renewed anger among prominent Russian pro-war telegram channels over Moscow’s military blunders.

Russian forces have intensified their offensive efforts in the Luhansk region over the past week, with a slight increase in operations near Kupyansk and Lyman, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. In its latest update published Thursday, the General Staff said 25 settlements had come under artillery fire and Russian forces had carried out several air strikes in the area.

A drone launched by Russian troops struck an energy infrastructure facility in the Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the Southern Operational Command of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Feb. 10.

The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said it was informed by Ukraine's energy regulator on Friday that the power output at two nuclear power plants was reduced as a precaution after sustained Russian shelling. The IAEA said in a statement that the power plants in Rivne and in southern Ukraine "had reduced power output as a precautionary measure due to renewed shelling of the country’s energy infrastructure."

Two Russian missiles crossed into Romanian and Moldovan airspace before entering Ukraine on Friday, the top Ukrainian general said. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, said two Kaliber missiles launched from the Black Sea had entered Moldovan airspace, then flew into Romanian airspace, before entering Ukraine.

“Russia launched a large-scale missile attack in Ukraine on Friday, striking several cities including the capital, Kyiv, in an apparent attempt to probe the country’s air defences and to intimidate Ukraine’s allies.

Ukraine’s air force command said it had shot down 61 out of 70 cruise missiles and five Iranian-made drones. The figures included an earlier wave of 35 S-300 rockets fired on Thursday night. These landed in and around the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.

The command’s spokesperson Yuri Ihnat said the Kremlin appeared to be carrying out a “reconnaissance attack” ahead of a possible major offensive. Western governments expect Vladimir Putin to launch a renewed bid to grab territory ahead of the anniversary on 24 February of his full-scale invasion.

Ihnat said Russian forces “traditionally” dispatched rockets and drones from eastern positions in Russia and the Azov Sea. On Friday, however, Moscow launched Kalibr cruise missiles from a frigate and a submarine in the Black Sea, as well as from the occupied southern city of Tokmak.

Ukraine’s commander in chief Valerii Zaluhnyi said two of these sea-launched rockets entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace soon after 10am local time, as air raid sirens rang out across the country. They then reentered Ukraine and the western Chernivtsi region, he suggested.

Romania’s foreign ministry categorically denied the report. It said the Russian cruise missiles came to within 22 miles (35km) of the country’s north-eastern border but did not violate its territory. Two MiG-21 aircraft on a training flight were diverted to monitor the area, it said.

“After about two minutes the situation was clarified and the two aircraft resumed their original mission,” the ministry added. Romania has been a member of Nato since 2004. It “constantly monitored” the vicinity next to Ukraine and cooperated with allied forces, the ministry said.

Moldova summoned the Russian ambassador over the incident and confirmed at least one missile had overflown its airspace. This is not the first time Russia has sent its missiles into Moldova, with the conflict now in danger of spilling out across the region. On Friday, Moldova’s pro-EU government resigned, adding to the sense of crisis.

Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv and other cities around breakfast time on Friday. There were five booms in the Ukrainian capital, as air defence batteries shot down enemy missiles. A trail of white vapour could be seen above tower blocks and the railway station area. It was the first attack on Kyiv for two weeks.

Ukrainian officials describe Russian behaviour as cynical and provocative. They say Moscow deliberately targets Ukraine’s international border regions so when missiles are intercepted debris falls on neighbouring countries such as Poland and Belarus, itself a frequent launching pad for Russian plane and rocket attacks.

In a short video report on Friday Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia had targeted civilians and civilian architecture. “Unfortunately there are victims,” he said. He added: “Today’s rockets are a challenge to Nato, to collective security. It’s terror that can and must be stopped. The world must stop it.””-via The Guardian

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“Russian forces likely lost “at least 30” armoured vehicles in a single, failed attack near the eastern Ukrainian city of Vuhledar earlier this week, British intelligence said on Friday, sparking renewed anger among prominent Russian pro-war telegram channels over Moscow’s military blunders.

“Russian troops likely fled and abandoned at least 30 mostly intact armoured vehicles in a single incident after a failed assault,” Britain’s defence ministry said in a daily briefing.

Last month, Russia launched a fresh Russian assault around the southern Donbas town of Vuhledar, as Moscow stepped up its assault on the eastern front.

The Ukrainian ministry of defence on Friday released a video on Twitter that appeared to show several Russian armoured vehicles and tanks scattered across the battlefield near Vuhledar.

“There are clearly questions to the command for this episode, a lot of equipment was lost…The tank division has lost its combat capability,” wrote Rybar, a pro-war blogger with over a million followers.

Another Russian soldier with the callsign “13th” called for the execution of commanders responsible for the failed offensive.

“I just have no words...They need to shoot a dozen generals and a couple of dozen colonels...then maybe the rest will start thinking,” the soldier wrote on Telegram.

The Russian ministry of defence has not yet commented on the incident. Earlier this week, defence minister Sergei Shoigu said that the military operations around Vuhledar were “progressing”.”-via The Guardian

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“Russian forces have intensified their offensive efforts in the Luhansk region over the past week, with a slight increase in operations near Kupyansk and Lyman, according to the Ukrainian General Staff.

In its latest update published Thursday, the General Staff said 25 settlements had come under artillery fire and Russian forces had carried out several air strikes in the area.

Some analysts have suggested Russia may be starting a new offensive in the Luhansk region, while adding that the movement was not yet significant.

The Institute for the Study of War said Russian forces were “gradually beginning an offensive” in the area, noting Russian operations had “increased markedly over the past week.”

However it added that Ukrainian forces had been able to prevent Moscow’s armies from securing significant gains.

CNN teams on the ground noted that the tempo of attacks had increased slightly in the past few days, but it was “nowhere near the energy that could be described as an offensive.”

Kupyansk and Lyman were seized early in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, on February 28 and May 27 last year respectively.

They were then re-taken by Ukrainian forces during a counter offensive in September 2022.”-via CNN

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“A drone launched by Russian troops struck an energy infrastructure facility in the Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the Southern Operational Command of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Feb. 10.

The command added that another drone had been shot down in the district. No casualties have been reported.

Earlier in the evening, the governors of Mykolaiv and Odesa oblasts said that the Ukrainian air defense had shot down several Iranian-made Shahed drones over their regions.”-via Kyiv Independent

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“The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said it was informed by Ukraine's energy regulator on Friday that the power output at two nuclear power plants was reduced as a precaution after sustained Russian shelling.

The IAEA said in a statement that the power plants in Rivne and in southern Ukraine "had reduced power output as a precautionary measure due to renewed shelling of the country’s energy infrastructure."

The shelling of a third plant — the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant in western Ukraine — caused one of the plant's reactor units to "shut down," continued the statement. The UN watchdog added that its own support and assistance missions present on the ground had confirmed that "all nuclear safety systems at Khmelnytskyi worked as expected."

Talks with Russia: IAEA chief Rafael Grossi held talks with senior Russian officials in Moscow this week. According to the IAEA, the talks were part of the lengthy efforts to "agree and implement a much-needed nuclear safety and security protection zone around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP)."

The UN watchdog said it has been unable to rotate its team of experts present in the plant in southern Ukraine due to "increased military activity."

After meeting on Thursday with the head of Russian state nuclear company Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, and an intergovernmental group of the Russian Federation, Grossi met representatives from the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday, according to the statement.

As the meetings wrapped, Grossi said he remained hopeful that the safety zone will be established while acknowledging it should've been done earlier. He also raised the idea of the zone during recent talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials, according to the IAEA statement.

“The situation around Europe’s largest nuclear power plant remains volatile and unpredictable, as it is an active combat zone. The postponement of the planned rotation demonstrates all too clearly the need for urgent measures to protect the plant and the people working there,” Grossi stressed.”-via CNN

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“Two Russian missiles crossed into Romanian and Moldovan airspace before entering Ukraine on Friday, the top Ukrainian general said.

Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, said two Kaliber missiles launched from the Black Sea had entered Moldovan airspace, then flew into Romanian airspace, before entering Ukraine.

Reuters could not immediately verify the statement. Russia did not immediately comment on it.

The Ukrainska Pravda media outlet quoted the air force spokesperson as saying separately that Ukraine had the ability to shoot down the missiles but did not do so because it did not want to endanger civilians in foreign countries.”-via Reuters