#uncrewed aerial vehicles

[aria3layla]

Fighter Jets: The Pinnacle of Aerial Combat

Fighter jets are among the most advanced and powerful aircraft in the world. Designed primarily for air-to-air combat, these aircraft also possess significant capabilities for air-to-ground strikes, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance. The development and deployment of fighter jets are pivotal to national defense strategies, making them a key component of modern military forces.

Historical Evolution

The history of fighter jets dates back to World War I when biplanes equipped with machine guns engaged in dogfights. The interwar period saw significant advancements, leading to the development of more powerful, faster, and more agile aircraft. World War II was a transformative era, with the introduction of iconic fighters like the Supermarine Spitfire and the Messerschmitt Bf 109. These aircraft played critical roles in various theaters of the war, demonstrating the importance of air superiority.

The jet age began in the closing stages of World War II with the German Messerschmitt Me 262, the first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. The post-war period saw rapid advancements in jet technology, leading to the development of supersonic jets such as the F-86 Sabre and the MiG-15, which clashed in the Korean War.

Modern Fighter Jets

Today, modern fighter jets are highly sophisticated machines equipped with advanced avionics, stealth technology, and powerful engines. Fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II incorporate stealth capabilities, sensor fusion, and advanced avionics to maintain air superiority. These aircraft can engage multiple targets simultaneously and operate in contested environments with minimal risk of detection.

Roles and Capabilities

Fighter jets perform various roles, including:

Air Superiority: Dominating the airspace to prevent enemy aircraft from gaining control.

Multirole: Capable of performing multiple missions, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which can conduct air-to-air combat and ground attacks.

Electronic Warfare: Equipped with systems to jam enemy radar and communications, like the EA-18G Growler.

Reconnaissance: Gathering intelligence using advanced sensors and cameras.

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): Revolutionizing Warfare

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have revolutionized modern warfare by providing new capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat without risking human lives. UAVs range from small, hand-launched models to large, high-altitude systems capable of carrying significant payloads.

Types and Uses

UAVs can be classified into several categories based on their size, range, and capabilities:

Micro and Mini UAVs: Small drones used for close-range reconnaissance and surveillance. Examples include the Black Hornet Nano.

Tactical UAVs: Medium-sized drones like the RQ-7 Shadow, used for battlefield intelligence and target acquisition.

Strategic UAVs: Large drones such as the RQ-4 Global Hawk, designed for long-endurance missions, providing wide-area surveillance and intelligence.

Combat UAVs: Armed drones like the MQ-9 Reaper, capable of conducting precision strikes against ground targets.

Technological Advancements

UAV technology has advanced significantly in recent years, with improvements in autonomy, endurance, and payload capabilities. Key advancements include:

Autonomy: Integration of AI and machine learning enables UAVs to perform complex missions with minimal human intervention.

Endurance: Solar-powered UAVs, like the Zephyr, offer extended flight times, providing continuous surveillance.

Swarm Technology: Multiple UAVs operating collaboratively to overwhelm defenses and perform coordinated tasks.

Single-Engine Fighter Aircraft: Balancing Cost and Performance

Single-engine fighter aircraft are valued for their cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, and versatility. These aircraft have played crucial roles in air forces worldwide, providing a balance between performance and operational costs.

Historical Context

Historically, single-engine fighters like the P-51 Mustang and the Supermarine Spitfire were instrumental during World War II, offering exceptional speed, agility, and firepower. These aircraft were pivotal in achieving air superiority and supporting ground forces in various campaigns.

Modern Single-Engine Fighters

Modern single-engine fighters, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the JAS 39 Gripen, continue to be the workhorses of many air forces. These aircraft are equipped with advanced avionics, radar systems, and precision weapons, making them highly effective in a range of combat scenarios.

F-16 Fighting Falcon: Known for its agility and versatility, the F-16 can perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with equal proficiency. It is widely used by numerous air forces around the world.

JAS 39 Gripen: This Swedish fighter is renowned for its cost-effectiveness and advanced technology. The Gripen is designed for quick turnaround and high sortie rates, making it a highly efficient combat aircraft.

Advantages

Single-engine fighters offer several advantages:

Cost-Effectiveness: Lower production and operational costs compared to twin-engine fighters.

Ease of Maintenance: Simpler engine systems reduce maintenance time and costs.

Versatility: Capable of performing a wide range of missions, making them adaptable to various combat scenarios.

Tempest Fighter Aircraft: The Future of Aerial Warfare

The Tempest fighter aircraft represents the future of aerial combat. Developed by the UK's BAE Systems in collaboration with Italy’s Leonardo and Sweden’s Saab, the Tempest is a sixth-generation fighter jet designed to address emerging threats and leverage cutting-edge technology.

Design and Features

The Tempest features a stealthy design aimed at reducing radar cross-section and enhancing survivability in contested environments. It is expected to incorporate advanced materials and coatings to minimize detectability. The aircraft will also employ adaptive cycle engines, providing greater fuel efficiency and thrust across a wide range of operating conditions.

Technological Innovations

The Tempest program emphasizes several key technological innovations:

Artificial Intelligence: AI will play a significant role in the Tempest, assisting pilots in decision-making, threat detection, and mission planning. This will reduce the cognitive workload on pilots and enhance overall mission effectiveness.

Autonomous Systems: The Tempest will be capable of operating in both manned and unmanned configurations. Autonomous systems will enable it to conduct missions independently or in coordination with other UAVs.

Advanced Sensors: A cutting-edge sensor suite, including multi-spectral sensors, will provide enhanced situational awareness and target detection capabilities.

Directed Energy Weapons: The integration of directed energy weapons, such as lasers, is being explored for their potential to counter missile threats and engage enemy aircraft.

International Collaboration

The Tempest program underscores the importance of international collaboration in modern defense projects. By pooling resources and expertise, the UK, Italy, and Sweden aim to develop a fighter jet that meets their collective defense needs while remaining adaptable to future technological advancements. This collaborative approach also ensures the sharing of costs and risks associated with developing such an advanced aircraft.

Conclusion

The domains of fighter jets, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and single-engine fighter aircraft are continually evolving, driven by technological advancements and changing military requirements. The Tempest fighter aircraft epitomizes the future of air combat, blending cutting-edge technology with international collaboration. As these technologies progress, they will redefine air superiority, providing nations with the tools needed to address emerging threats and maintain strategic advantages in an increasingly complex global landscape. From the historical evolution of fighter jets to the revolutionary capabilities of UAVs and the balanced performance of single-engine fighters, the advancement in aerial combat technology continues to shape the future of military aviation.

[maritimecrashes12]

Mastering the Skies: A Comparative Analysis of Top Fighter Jets and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

In the realm of aerial warfare, supremacy is not merely a goal but a necessity. The quest for dominance has driven the development of cutting-edge technology, resulting in the creation of some of the world's most advanced fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). From the integration of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems to the deployment of uncrewed platforms, the landscape of modern air combat is continually evolving. This analysis explores the capabilities and significance of these aerial assets, with a particular focus on the Rafale Combat Aircraft.

Advancements in Fighter Jets:

The evolution of fighter jets has been characterized by leaps in technology and engineering prowess. Today's top fighter jets boast capabilities that were once the realm of science fiction, thanks to advancements in materials, propulsion, and avionics. Among the most notable are:

F-22 Raptor: Developed by Lockheed Martin, the F-22 Raptor remains unmatched in terms of stealth and maneuverability. Its combination of supercruise capability, advanced AESA radar, and integrated avionics make it a formidable adversary in any aerial engagement.

Eurofighter Typhoon: Jointly developed by several European countries, the Eurofighter Typhoon is a multi-role fighter renowned for its agility and combat effectiveness. Equipped with advanced sensor fusion technology and AESA radar, the Typhoon excels in both air superiority and ground attack missions.

JAS 39 Gripen: Produced by Saab Group, the JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight, agile fighter known for its affordability and versatility. With its AESA radar and robust communication systems, the Gripen is capable of conducting a wide range of missions with minimal logistical support.

Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar:

At the heart of modern fighter jets lies the AESA radar system, which represents a paradigm shift in aerial surveillance and targeting. Unlike traditional radar systems, AESA radar offers greater precision, range, and resistance to electronic countermeasures. By electronically scanning the radar beam, AESA radars provide continuous coverage of the surrounding airspace, enabling pilots to detect and track multiple targets simultaneously with unprecedented accuracy.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs):

The emergence of UAVs has ushered in a new era of aerial warfare, characterized by remote operation and autonomous capabilities. These unmanned platforms offer numerous advantages, including:

Persistent Surveillance: UAVs can loiter over a target area for extended periods, providing real-time intelligence to commanders.

Precision Strikes: Armed UAVs can deliver precision-guided munitions with pinpoint accuracy, reducing the risk of collateral damage.

Low Risk: By eliminating the need for onboard crew, UAVs can operate in high-threat environments without endangering human lives.

Role of Rafale Combat Aircraft:

Among the pantheon of fighter jets, the Rafale Combat Aircraft occupies a unique position, combining advanced technology with operational flexibility. Developed by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale is capable of performing a wide range of missions, including air superiority, reconnaissance, and precision strikes. Its AESA radar system, coupled with its low observability and superior maneuverability, makes it a formidable adversary in any combat scenario.

In conclusion, the world's top fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles represent the pinnacle of aerial warfare technology. From the stealthy profiles of aircraft like the F-22 Raptor to the versatility of platforms like the Rafale Combat Aircraft, these assets play a crucial role in maintaining air superiority on the battlefield. As technology continues to advance, the integration of AI, autonomous systems, and network-centric warfare will further enhance the capabilities of these aerial platforms, ensuring their continued relevance in future conflicts.

[epropelledsystems]

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Explore ePropelled's advanced range of UAV motors and propulsion systems, engineered to meet the rigorous demands of modern aerial applications. Our innovative technology offers unparalleled efficiency, performance, and reliability, ensuring your unmanned aerial vehicles operate at peak capability. Whether for commercial, military, or recreational use, our Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solutions are designed to provide optimal power-to-weight ratios, extended flight times, and superior control. Trust ePropelled to power your UAVs with cutting-edge propulsion systems that deliver excellence in every mission.

[asktheguardponies]

A Zebra Colonial Marines Aviation C.207 "Dagger" linking up with a C.303 UAV (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle) above the rich farmland of the Galsorp Lowlands (July 1014.) The Zebra Empire has sovereignty over most of the southern hemisphere's prime agricultural territory, and the Colonial Marines are stretched thin to cover the vast distances.

This C.207 is flown by Major Golden Dare "Oxide" out of Gallopinghost, a major Colonial Marines base on the archipelagic chain of large islands.

[usafphantom2]

Enclosures To Defend F-15Es From Drone Attacks Eyed At Seymour Johnson AFB

Joseph TrevithickPUBLISHED May 30, 2024 5:02 PM EDT

Officials at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina are looking into the possibility of erecting physical barriers to protect F-15E Strike Eagles there from drones.

USAF

Officials at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina are looking into the possibility of setting up physical barriers to help protect F-15E Strike Eagles there from being attacked by small drones. The anti-drone barricade idea underscores the danger that drones present right now to U.S. military facilities and critical civil infrastructure domestically, as well as to American forces overseas. It also speaks to how the U.S. military is still lagging in efforts to address these still-growing threats at home and abroad, as well as continued legal, regulatory, and other challenges.

The U.S. Air Force's 4th Contracting Squadron, part of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson, put out its request for information (RFI) about potential options for "Counter Small Unmanned Aerial System Barrier" yesterday. The facility in North Carolina is one of two bases in the United States that host operational F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons. F-15Es are some of the Air Force's most in-demand tactical combat jets. In April, forward-deployed Strike Eagles, including from Seymour Johnson's 335th Fighter Squadron, played out an outsized role in defending Israel from incoming Iranian threats by downing more than 70 drones.

F-15Es on the flight line at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in 2022. USAF

"Problem Statement: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (s-UAS) disrupt airfield operations and agencies have limited response capabilities due to restrictions on counter measures posed by the Federal Aviation Administration (Section 130i, Title 10, USC)," the notice says. We will come back to that latter point.

"The requirement: Build a passive barrier that will prevent a Group 1 or Group 2 sUAS from making physical contact with an F-15E Strike Eagle using commercial off the shelf material," it adds.

The U.S. military breaks uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) down into five groups based on maximum weight, operating altitude, and top speed. Group 1 includes drones with weights up to 20 pounds, that can fly up to 1,200 feet, and can reach speeds of up to 100 knots. Group 2 is the next tier up covering uncrewed aerial vehicles that weigh between 21 and 55 pounds, can get up to 3,500 feet, and hit top speeds of up to 250 knots.

The requirements for the proposed anti-drone barriers at Seymour Johnson include that it "needs the strength to stop [a] 55lb drone traveling at 125 mph [nearly 109 knots]" and that "any space/gaps in material or design should not exceed six inches."

How exactly the barriers might be emplaced is not entirely clear, but mention is made of existing flight line shelters with simple canvas covers, suggesting that this would be add-on protection for those structures.

A look at the kind of open canvas-topped shelters in use on the flight line at Seymour Johnson now (seen here after a snowstorm in 2022). USAF

The "weight of material should be kept to a minimum to reduce structural load and facilitate rapid open/closing," the RFI does note, adding that whatever the barriers are made of needs to be flame retardant. The "system [also] needs to be tightly secured in both open and closed positions."

Whether or not any specific drone incidents at Seymour Johnson have prompted this barrier requirement is unknown and The War Zone has reached out for more information.

What is known is that drone incursions over or near U.S. military bases and training ranges, as well as critical civilian infrastructure, across the United States (including its outlying territories) have been an increasingly serious issue for years now, as The War Zone regularly reports. Just in March, we were the first to reveal that Langley Air Force Base in Virginia had been swarmed by drones for weeks last year. Those incidents prompted a major whole-of-government response, which you can read more about here.

Though many such drone-related incidents to date have appeared to be innocuous, they reflect very real potential threats that are only expected to grow in size and scope going forward. The barrier to entry to employing small drones, as well as weaponizing them to differing degrees, is also very low. The conflict in Ukraine has forced this reality fully into the mainstream consciousness, especially through the use on both sides of highly maneuverable first-person view (FPV) kamikaze drones. These are exactly the kinds of threats officials at Seymour Johnson now look to be seeking to address in part through physical barriers – which is also one of the many anti-drone countermeasures that have already emerged in Ukraine.

At the same time, it is important to stress again that these threats are not new or unknown to the U.S. military, and they are rapidly growing in frequency and sophistication.

"One day last week I had two small UASs that were interfering with operations... At one base, the gate guard watched one fly over the top of the gate check, tracked it while it flew over the flight line for a little while, and then flew back out and left," now-retired Air Force Gen. James "Mike" Holmes, then head of Air Combat Command (ACC), said back in 2017.

“Imagine a world where somebody flies a couple hundred of those and flies one down the intake of my F-22s with just a small weapon on it," Holmes added at the time.

As we noted at the time, jets just sitting idle and exposed on the flight line would be even easier targets for drones. In this way, an adversary could potentially knock out large numbers of aircraft on the ground, even in the United States using commercially available technology, before they ever have a chance to get in the fight.

Four years later, AFWERX, an internal Air Force technology incubator, put out a broad call for proposals for ways to defend the service's bases at home and abroad from drones. As the new contracting notice from Seymour Johson Air Force Base shows, the U.S. military continues to be very much playing catch-up to addressing these now well-established threats.

Another look at an F-15E under an open shelter at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. USAF

“You can only report what you see, and so that’s part of the challenge,” a senior U.S. defense official told reporters at the Pentagon just earlier this month when asked about drone threats to domestic facilities, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. "But I’d say that’s usually two or three a week, total across the U.S. And it’s never primarily in one part of the country or another."

Part of the issue, at least domestically, continues to be the morass of overlapping authorities, as well as competing legal and regulatory requirements. Back in 2017, Gen. Holmes noted that "I have no authority given to me by the government to deal with that [drone incursions]."

Even in 2017, efforts were being made to try to expand the authorities available to base commanders in the United States to respond to potentially hostile drones. The U.S. government has made additional domestic counter-drone policy changes since then.

However, as the new contracting notice from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base makes clear, there continue to be hurdles to taking more proactive measures to address drone threats.

Section 130i, Title 10, as cited in the Seymour Johnson anti-drone barrier RFI, does provide authority for "action" to be taken to include measures to "disrupt control of the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft, without prior consent, including by disabling the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft by intercepting, interfering, or causing interference with wire, oral, electronic, or radio communications used to control the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft" and the "use reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft."

Air Force security personnel train with 'guns' designed to jam the link between a drone and its controller at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. USAF

However, the statute also stipulates that "the Secretary of Defense shall coordinate with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration before issuing any guidance or otherwise implementing this section if such guidance or implementation might affect aviation safety, civilian aviation and aerospace operations, aircraft airworthiness, or the use of airspace."

The FAA continues to impose significant limitations on the use of active anti-drone countermeasures in many domestic contexts. The War Zone has also highlighted in the past how obtuse and convoluted the existing mechanisms are for securing authorization to take action against uncrewed aerial threats within the United States can be, and that situation does not look to have improved substantially in recent years.

"The first problem is that our nation lacks adequate drone detection capability. We still rely on the early warning radars that served us so well during the Cold War," Senators Jack Reed and Roger Wicker, wrote in a joint op-ed in the Washington Post in April. "Today, though, they are unable to detect, identify and track small aircraft at both high and low altitudes. Inside the United States, we can hardly track anything other than commercial aircraft. Almost none of our domestic military bases have the sensors to identify small drones."

It's worth noting here that the filter ‘gates’ on various air defense radars in North America were altered in February 2023, which immediately resulted in the tracking of a large amount of additional aerial activity. The radar changes followed a Chinese spy balloon intruding into U.S. airspace and soaring across the country over a period of days before being shot down over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina. Within a week, U.S. fighters had brought down three more still-unidentified objects flying in U.S. and Canadian airspace, as you can read more about here. Members of the Senate subsequently demanded a review of the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) “aerospace warning and control mission and procedures."

An unclassified map showing various NORAD air defense nodes in the contiguous United States, including certain early warning radar sites. DOD

"If we fixed our tracking problem, though, a second issue would arise. U.S. agencies lack clear lines of authority about which agency is responsible for stopping these incursions. Instead, a dizzying maze of overlapping jurisdictions and inflexible bureaucracies confuses, rather than clarifies, crisis response," Senators Reed and Wicker, a Democrat from Rhode Island and Republican from Mississippi, respectively, who are also the top members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, continued in their recent op-ed. "Government officials from an alphabet soup of agencies – Defense Department, Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration – spend hours if not days simply discussing who can take action when a UAS is identified. Too often, low-altitude incursions are treated as a law enforcement matter instead of as a national security issue."

Whether Seymour Johnson ultimately gets anti-drone barriers or not remains to be seen. If these added defensive measures are implemented there, they could quickly become commonplace at other bases.

Regardless, the new contracting notice underscores the U.S. military's ongoing efforts to respond to the now well-established threat posed by uncrewed aerial systems, and its continued struggle in doing so.

Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com

@thewarzonewire via X

[mariacallous]

The explosion at the Toropets strategic ammunition depot in Russia’s Tver Oblast, approximately 500km from Ukraine, was recorded at 2.7 on the Richter scale, equivalent to a mild earthquake.

The massive explosion at Russia’s Toropets strategic ammunition depot, one of the country’s largest, highlights a significant blow to Russian military capabilities and exposes ongoing vulnerabilities in their defense systems. The attack’s success, despite claimed air defense interceptions, underscores Ukraine’s growing ability to strike deep within Russian territory.

As reported by the United Kingdom and its Ministry of Defense, fires resulting from the attack covered a 6 km-wide area. It is highly likely that poor storage of munitions, left vulnerable to one-way attack (OWA) uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV), caused a chain reaction of cascading detonations within the bunker system, resulting in enormous losses of ordnance.

Analysts of the British military intelligence agency argue that Russian air defense continues to struggle with Ukrainian deep strike operations, despite claiming to have intercepted more than 50 UAVs in this attack.

The British military analysts note that, although part of a wider supply network, this loss will highly likely disrupt Russian ground operations, particularly in the Kursk Oblast.

Munitions for frontline use, including from North Korea

Overnight on 17/18 September 2024, Ukraine conducted a successful strike on Toropets in Russia’s Tver Oblast. This depot is a storage site of the 107th Arsenal of the Russian Main Missile and Artillery Directorate, and almost certainly housed munitions of varying calibers for frontline use, as well as missiles and glide bombs used by nearby airfields.

In addition, ammunition procured from North Korea was also reportedly stored here.

Renovated in 2018, this is one of Russia’s largest strategic ammunition depots directly supporting its combat operations in Ukraine, storing more than 30,000 tonnes of ordnance.

Recent improvements to the site had been driven by previous poor storage of aging explosive material leading to a series of explosions across several depots.

One such explosion in June 2011 in Pugachevo, Udmurtia, saw 3,000 homes damaged and 30,000 people evacuated.

[tastydregs]

The US Air Force Is Moving Fast on AI-Piloted Fighter Jets

On the morning of December 1, 2022, a modified F-16 fighter jet codenamed VISTA X-62A took off from Edwards Air Force Base, roughly 60 miles north of Los Angeles. Over the course of a short test flight, the VISTA engaged in advanced fighter maneuver drills, including simulated aerial dogfights, before landing successfully back at base. While this may sound like business as usual for the US’s premier pilot training school—or like scenes lifted straight from Top Gun: Maverick—it was not a fighter pilot at the controls but, for the first time on a tactical aircraft, a sophisticated AI.

Overseen by the US Department of Defense, VISTA X-62A undertook 12 AI-led test flights between December 1 and 16, totaling more than 17 hours of autonomous flight time. The breakthrough comes as part of a drive by the United States Air Force Vanguard to develop unmanned combat aerial vehicles. Initiated in 2019, the Skyborg program will continue testing through 2023, with hopes of developing a working prototype by the end of the year. 

The VISTA program is a crucial first step toward these goals, M. Christopher Cotting, director of research at USAF Test Pilot School, explains. “This approach, combined with focused testing on new vehicle systems as they are produced, will rapidly mature autonomy for uncrewed platforms and allow us to deliver tactically relevant capability to our warfighter,” he says. 

With Ukraine’s use of semiautonomous drones, the US military’s first autonomous flight of a Black Hawk helicopter last November, and the successful testing of AI algorithms in US U-2 spy planes in 2020, it’s clear that autonomous combat represents the next front in modern warfare. But just how completely will AI take over our skies, and what does it mean for the human pilots left on the ground?

The VISTA X-62A (short for Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft) has always been ahead of its time. Built in the 1980s and based on an F-16D Block 30 Peace Marble Il, the plane previously held the designation NF-16D and became the US Airforce Test Pilot School’s go-to simulation machine in the early 1990s. A versatile and adaptable training tool boasting open systems architecture, the VISTA can be fitted with software that allows it to mimic the performance characteristics of multiple aircraft, from heavy bombers to ultra-light fighter jets. 

Prior to last year’s autonomous flight tests, the VISTA received a much-needed update in the form of a “model following algorithm” (MFA) and a “system for autonomous control of the simulation” (SACS) from Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works. Combined with the VISTA Simulation System from defense and aerospace company Calspan Corporation, these updates facilitated an emphasis on autonomy and AI integration. 

Utilizing General Dynamics’s Enterprise-wide Open Systems Architecture (E-OSA) to power the Enterprise Mission Computer version 2 (EMC2, or Einstein Box), the SACS system also integrates advanced sensors, a set of Getac tablet displays in both cockpits, and multilevel security features, all of which enhance VISTA’s capabilities, including its rapid-prototyping advantage, which allows for speedy software updates to meet the accelerating pace of AI development.

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

Conflict Armament Research (CAR) has documented Iranian-manufactured uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by the Russian Federation to attack critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine. CAR has previously confirmed the Iranian origin of these UAVs – which have caused severe power outages in major cities such as Kyiv – and shown the reliance of the systems used in Ukraine on components produced by companies based in Europe and the United States. There are 18 smaller shaped charges around the circumference of the warhead to generate a secondary radial anti-armour effect. Source: Conflict Armament Research

P.S. In fact, quite a few Western businessmen, firms and high rank politicians are involved in corrupt business schemes with Iran, Russia and China,so, helping these regimes to carry out hostile actions against the West and oppress the people of their countries...! 

Russia's aggression against Ukraine, as well as the hostile actions of Iran and China, would not have been widely possible if the West itself had not injected huge financial resources into the economies of these repressive regimes...

[sa7abnews]

Fighting in Ukraine is giving rise to a new kind of drone warfare: hit-to-kill intercepts

New Post has been published on Sa7ab News

Fighting in Ukraine is giving rise to a new kind of drone warfare: hit-to-kill intercepts

Ukraine and Russia are increasingly using small drones to take out enemy uncrewed aerial vehicles above the battlefield.

... read more !

[douxlen]

Fighting in Ukraine is giving rise to a new kind of drone warfare: hit-to-kill intercepts

New Post has been published on Douxle News

Fighting in Ukraine is giving rise to a new kind of drone warfare: hit-to-kill intercepts

Ukraine and Russia are increasingly using small drones to take out enemy uncrewed aerial vehicles above the battlefield.

... read more !

[aria3layla]

Fighter Jets: The Backbone of Modern Air Combat

Fighter jets have been the cornerstone of air superiority since their inception during World War I. These high-performance military aircraft are designed for air-to-air combat against other aircraft, as well as ground-attack missions and reconnaissance. The evolution of fighter jets has seen significant advancements in speed, maneuverability, and technology, making them integral to modern air forces.

Evolution and Technology

The development of fighter jets began with propeller-driven aircraft in the early 20th century. The transition to jet engines in the latter half of World War II marked a significant leap in aviation technology. The introduction of the Messerschmitt Me 262 by Germany, the world’s first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft, revolutionized air combat. Post-war, advancements continued with the creation of the supersonic jet era, exemplified by aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre and the MiG-15.

Modern fighter jets are characterized by their advanced avionics, stealth capabilities, and sophisticated weapon systems. The integration of fly-by-wire systems, which replace manual controls with electronic interfaces, enhances maneuverability and safety. Stealth technology, as seen in aircraft like the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II, minimizes radar cross-sections, allowing these jets to evade detection and strike with precision.

Roles and Capabilities

Fighter jets serve multiple roles in military operations. Air superiority fighters, like the F-15 Eagle and the Su-35, are designed to establish control of the airspace by destroying enemy aircraft. Multirole fighters, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Eurofighter Typhoon, can perform a variety of missions, including air-to-air combat, ground attack, and electronic warfare.

The development of fifth-generation fighters, including the F-22 and F-35, has introduced capabilities such as network-centric warfare, advanced sensor fusion, and enhanced survivability. These aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art radar, communication systems, and weapons, providing unmatched situational awareness and combat effectiveness.

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): The Future of Air Warfare

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, have become a critical component of modern military operations. UAVs offer several advantages over manned aircraft, including reduced risk to human life, lower operational costs, and the ability to operate in environments deemed too dangerous for piloted aircraft.

Types and Uses

UAVs come in various shapes and sizes, tailored to specific missions. Tactical UAVs, such as the RQ-7 Shadow, are used for reconnaissance and surveillance, providing real-time intelligence to ground forces. Strategic UAVs, like the RQ-4 Global Hawk, can fly at high altitudes for extended periods, offering wide-area surveillance and monitoring.

Combat UAVs, such as the MQ-9 Reaper, are equipped with precision-guided munitions and can conduct airstrikes against high-value targets. These drones are instrumental in counterterrorism operations, allowing for targeted strikes while minimizing collateral damage. The use of UAVs extends beyond military applications to include disaster relief, environmental monitoring, and search and rescue operations.

Technological Advancements

Advancements in UAV technology have focused on improving autonomy, endurance, and payload capacity. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms are being integrated into UAV systems, enabling greater autonomy in navigation, target identification, and decision-making. Swarm technology, where multiple UAVs operate collaboratively, is being explored for its potential to overwhelm enemy defenses and conduct complex missions.

The development of solar-powered UAVs, such as the Zephyr, aims to achieve near-perpetual flight, significantly enhancing surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Additionally, advancements in miniaturization have led to the creation of micro and nano drones, which can be used for covert operations and intelligence gathering in urban environments.

Single-Engine Fighter Aircraft: Balancing Performance and Cost

Single-engine fighter aircraft have been a staple in military aviation due to their cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, and versatility. These aircraft are designed to deliver high performance while being more affordable and simpler to operate than their twin-engine counterparts.

Historical Significance

Historically, single-engine fighters like the P-51 Mustang and the Spitfire played pivotal roles during World War II, offering a balance of speed, agility, and firepower. These aircraft were instrumental in achieving air superiority and supporting ground forces.

In the post-war era, aircraft like the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the JAS 39 Gripen have continued this legacy. The F-16, in particular, has become one of the most widely used fighter aircraft globally, known for its versatility, ease of upgrade, and exceptional performance.

Modern Capabilities

Modern single-engine fighters incorporate advanced avionics, radar systems, and weapons. The integration of AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar enhances target detection and tracking capabilities. These aircraft are also equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems, providing robust defense against enemy radar and missile threats.

The development of single-engine stealth fighters, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35A, marks a significant advancement. The F-35A combines stealth, sensor fusion, and network-centric capabilities, making it a formidable asset in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

Tempest Fighter Aircraft: The Future of Air Combat

The Tempest fighter aircraft represents the next generation of air combat capabilities. Developed by the UK’s BAE Systems in collaboration with Italy’s Leonardo and Sweden’s Saab, the Tempest aims to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon by the mid-2030s. This sixth-generation fighter jet is designed to address emerging threats and technological challenges.

Design and Features

The Tempest features a sleek, stealthy design aimed at reducing radar cross-section and enhancing survivability. The aircraft is expected to incorporate advanced materials and coatings to minimize detectability. It will also employ adaptive cycle engines, providing greater fuel efficiency and thrust across a wide range of operating conditions.

Technological Innovations

One of the key innovations of the Tempest is its focus on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. The aircraft will be capable of operating in both manned and unmanned configurations, with the potential for swarm operations involving multiple UAVs. Advanced AI will assist pilots in decision-making, threat detection, and mission planning, reducing cognitive workload and enhancing mission effectiveness.

The Tempest will also feature a cutting-edge sensor suite, including multi-spectral sensors for enhanced situational awareness. The integration of directed energy weapons, such as lasers, is being explored for their potential to counter missile threats and engage enemy aircraft.

Collaboration and Development

The Tempest program emphasizes international collaboration, leveraging the expertise and technological capabilities of partner nations. The UK, Italy, and Sweden are pooling resources and knowledge to develop a fighter that meets their collective defense needs while remaining adaptable to future technological advancements.

Conclusion

The domains of fighter jets, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and single-engine fighter aircraft are continually evolving, driven by technological advancements and changing military requirements. The Tempest fighter aircraft epitomizes the future of air combat, blending cutting-edge technology with international collaboration. As these technologies progress, they will redefine air superiority, providing nations with the tools needed to address emerging threats and maintain strategic advantages in an increasingly complex global landscape.

[maritimecrashes12]

The Cutting Edge of Aerial Dominance: Exploring the World's Top Fighter Jets and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

In the dynamic arena of aerial warfare, the evolution of fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) stands at the forefront of technological innovation and strategic prowess. From the sleek designs of the world's top fighter jets to the sophisticated capabilities of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems, and the emerging dominance of uncrewed aerial vehicles, the landscape of modern air combat is continually reshaped. Among these, the Rafale Combat Aircraft emerges as a symbol of excellence, blending advanced technology with operational versatility. Let's delve into the intricacies of these remarkable aircraft and their impact on the future of aerial warfare.

Evolution of Fighter Jets:

Since the inception of aerial combat, fighter jets have undergone a remarkable evolution. From propeller-driven aircraft of World War I to the supersonic jets of today, advancements in aerodynamics, propulsion, and weaponry have propelled the capabilities of these warbirds to unprecedented heights. Among the current generation of fighter jets, several stand out for their superior performance and cutting-edge technology.

World's Top Fighter Jets:

F-22 Raptor:

The F-22 Raptor, developed by Lockheed Martin, is hailed as the world's most advanced fighter jet. Its combination of stealth, speed, agility, and advanced avionics makes it virtually unmatched in aerial combat. Equipped with AESA radar and thrust-vectoring engines, the F-22 can dominate the skies with unparalleled situational awareness and maneuverability.

F-35 Lightning II:

The F-35 Lightning II, also manufactured by Lockheed Martin, represents the pinnacle of multi-role fighter technology. Designed to operate in various mission profiles, including air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance, the F-35 boasts advanced stealth capabilities and sensor fusion technology. Its AESA radar provides enhanced detection and tracking capabilities, while its low observability ensures survivability in contested airspace.

Su-57:

Russia's Su-57, developed by Sukhoi, is a fifth-generation fighter designed to counter the capabilities of Western counterparts. With its stealthy airframe, supercruise capability, and advanced avionics, the Su-57 poses a formidable threat to adversaries. Equipped with an AESA radar system and a diverse array of weapons, including long-range air-to-air missiles and precision-guided munitions, the Su-57 is a versatile platform tailored for modern air combat.

Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar:

Central to the effectiveness of modern fighter jets is the AESA radar system. Unlike traditional mechanically-scanned radar, AESA technology offers superior performance in terms of range, resolution, and agility. By electronically steering the radar beam, AESA radars provide faster and more precise detection and tracking of targets while minimizing vulnerability to jamming and interception. This advanced capability enhances the situational awareness and combat effectiveness of fighter aircraft across various mission profiles.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs):

In recent years, the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles has revolutionized the landscape of aerial warfare. These remotely piloted aircraft, ranging from small reconnaissance drones to large combat drones, offer unique advantages in terms of persistence, flexibility, and risk mitigation. By eliminating the need for onboard crew, UAVs can operate in high-risk environments and perform a wide range of missions, including surveillance, intelligence gathering, and precision strikes.

Impact of UAVs on Aerial Warfare:

The proliferation of UAVs has fundamentally transformed the nature of aerial warfare. These unmanned platforms, equipped with advanced sensors and communication systems, provide commanders with real-time situational awareness and actionable intelligence. Moreover, armed UAVs can deliver precision strikes with minimal collateral damage, thus reducing the risk to friendly forces and civilian populations. As UAV technology continues to advance, their role in future conflicts is expected to expand, shaping the tactics and strategies of air forces worldwide.

Rafale Combat Aircraft:

Amidst the array of advanced fighter jets and UAVs, the Rafale Combat Aircraft stands out as a symbol of French ingenuity and military excellence. Developed by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale is a multi-role fighter renowned for its versatility and combat capabilities. Equipped with a state-of-the-art AESA radar system, the Rafale offers unmatched situational awareness and target acquisition capabilities. Its ability to perform a wide range of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance, makes it a valuable asset for modern air forces.

In conclusion, the world's top fighter jets, coupled with the advancements in AESA radar technology and the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles, represent the cutting edge of aerial dominance. From the stealthy profiles of aircraft like the F-22 Raptor to the versatility of platforms like the Rafale Combat Aircraft, these technological marvels continue to shape the future of aerial warfare. As we look ahead, the integration of advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, and autonomous capabilities will further enhance the effectiveness and lethality of air power, ensuring air superiority in the battlespace of tomorrow.

[worldofwardcraft]

Our unseen wars.

November 25, 2024

During the presidential debate in Philadelphia this past September, Vice President Kamala Harris made a pretense of believing there were no US soldiers deployed in overseas areas of conflict:

And as of today, there is not one member of the United States military who is in active duty in a combat zone, in any war zone around the world, the first time this century.

But she knew better. In fact, there are thousands of US servicemen and -women stationed on bases in hot spots all over the globe. Including, according to the Defense Department, nearly 1,000 troops in Syria stationed there to help prevent a resurgence of Islamic State groups, plus another 2,500 in Iraq.

American troops often find themselves engaged in heavy combat, too. Shortly after Harris made the above statement, Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that US forces had “destroyed five Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicles and two missile systems in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.”

Last August, seven of our soldiers were injured in a US-led raid in western Iraq that killed at least 15 Islamic State "operatives." And in January, three US soldiers were killed and 40 more injured in Jordan when the base they were on close to Syria's border came under attack by an Iranian-made drone.

Here's how Florida congressman Mike Waltz, himself a former Army Green Beret and president-elect Trump's pick for national security advisor, reacted to Harris's debate comment:

I immediately thought of the three soldiers from Georgia who were killed by Iranian backed missiles and drones in Jordan. I thought of the two Navy Seals who died trying to intercept Iranian smugglers. We just had six wounded in a raid on an ISIS compound. We had another six wounded by a missile attack. I mean, this is a long list.

Recently, the secretive US Special Operations Command (which encompasses over 70,000 troops), in a rare acknowledgement, revealed that we currently have forces deployed in more than 90 foreign countries, most of them pursuing our apparently endless War on Terrorism™.

And national security investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein reports the US has had special operations forces going in and out of Ukraine for well over a year. Remarks Klippenstein, "People rightly criticize our forever wars but what about our everywhere wars?"

These conflicts generally go unnoticed by most of the mainstream media and therefore by the American public as well. But, like it or not (and whether we know it or not), US troops in all sorts of places are engaged in intense, but unobserved warfare.

[blogchaindeveloper]

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on National Security

Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforms military strategy and worldwide impact, modernizing national security. Although many people still associate military artificial intelligence (AI) with science fiction and killer robots, the truth is that AI is now a major topic of conversation regarding national security. The ramifications of AI in the military garner attention worldwide, from existential threats warned by philosopher Nick Bostrom to worries about AI starting World War III, as noted by Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin's claims about AI leadership.

AI as a National Security Facilitator

Like electricity or a combustion engine, artificial intelligence (AI) is not a weapon in and of itself but an enabler. How artificial intelligence is applied will determine how it affects military might and global strife. The key elements of artificial intelligence (AI) and its military applications will be covered in this article, including what AI is, how it compares to other technological developments, its military uses, its limitations, and its effects on global politics.

The primary benefit of artificial intelligence is its ability to increase the efficiency and accuracy of a range of military tasks, including preparation for combat, logistics, and decision-making. AI offers the US military a chance to maintain its military superiority while possibly cutting expenses and lowering risks to its soldiers. In the meantime, nations like China and Russia see AI as a way to subvert US military might. Beyond just military might, economic rivalry and worldwide clout are other factors in this fight for AI leadership.

However, the course and orientation of AI research are still unknown. Concerns over safety and dependability could limit the use of AI in military applications, and there's always the chance that technology won't live up to expectations.

Knowing Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the application of machines or computers to do tasks that conventionally need human intelligence. Scholars, corporations, and governmental organizations use a variety of artificial intelligence (AI) approaches, like machine learning and neural networks. Some believe that artificial general intelligence (AGI) will arrive soon, while others see it several decades before that happens. The main topic of this article is "narrow" AI, or the use of AI to address specific issues.

From a historical perspective, artificial intelligence (AI) is a flexible technology that, depending on how quickly innovation advances, might affect many facets of the economy and society. The military best views AI as an aid rather than a weapon.

Various AI Applications in the Military

There are several possible uses for AI in the armed forces. First, many contemporary armies struggle to analyze enormous amounts of data quickly. Applications of narrow AI can speed up data processing so that human resources can focus on more complex tasks. For example, Project Maven of the US military seeks to use algorithms to analyze drone surveillance photos quickly. By processing databases that are either classified or publicly accessible, this technology can be expanded to improve decision-making and information interpretation.

Second, AI has the potential to be extremely important as the pace of battle picks up. Artificial intelligence (AI) enables technologies like uncrewed aerial vehicles to function faster and more effectively than human-piloted equivalents. These AI-powered systems perform exceptionally well when quick decisions, such as air defense, are crucial.

Thirdly, AI can support novel military ideas like the "loyal wingman" notion, in which AI systems support human tank operators or pilots. AI can help efficiently coordinate numerous assets and swarms in complex fights.

Militaries worldwide are incentivized to investigate AI applications that can improve their efficacy. These incentives are driven by internal political and bureaucratic issues rather than just the competitiveness of other militaries. Autonomous systems can accomplish jobs more affordably and with less danger to human people in democracies such as the United States. On the other hand, autocratic governments like China and Russia see AI as a tool for maintaining control over increasing segments of the populace.

Beyond deadly autonomous weapons—discussed at the UN—AI has many military applications. AI is not just for autonomous systems capable of killing people; it can also be used in various military settings.

Obstacles in the Application of AI

The military faces challenges in effectively utilizing artificial intelligence. AI systems—narrow AI in particular—are designed to accomplish specific tasks, and if the context changes quickly, their dependability may be jeopardized. Predicting how AI systems will behave can be challenging, which could make military planning and operations more difficult. Explainability, bias, and training data issues further increase the complexity.

Cybersecurity concerns are also genuine because AI systems are susceptible to malicious data manipulation and hacking. By manipulating the data that AI systems are trained on, adversaries may attempt to bring them down.

It is doubtful that the military will give up on their AI research initiatives despite these obstacles. Concerns about dependability and safety may impact the kinds of AI systems created and how they are incorporated into military operations.

Accrediting AI Knowledge for the Military and Defense of the Future

The significance of AI certification programs in the changing military and defense sectors cannot be overemphasized. The article's exploration of AI's revolutionary potential in contemporary combat makes it clear that having skilled AI professionals on staff is essential. 

Certification as an AI expert gives people the knowledge and abilities to use AI for military purposes. Professionals who possess these credentials can better handle the intricacies of AI technology. AI developer certifications provide a critical guarantee of proficiency and comprehension of what constitutes AI certification in a world where AI's involvement in military operations is only growing in terms of safety and dependability. They are crucial in ensuring that the military and defense sectors achieve the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) while reducing the risks involved with its use. 

As a result, AI certification tests serve as the entry point for developing AI specialists who may advance military innovation and eventually shape the course of warfare and defense.

In summary, the future of warfare and AI's influence on the military might be becoming increasingly important. To remain ahead of possible enemies, top armed forces across the globe are investing in AI research. While valid, worries about safety and dependability might not wholly prevent AI from being used in military applications. 

The history of technical development shows that safety concerns have already been resolved, leading to notable gains in military power. Beyond just altering military might, AI will impact how people work in the future and society. To fully utilize AI's potential while minimizing hazards, the military must balance capability and reliability as the technology develops.

In this dynamic environment, AI certification greatly aids professional preparation for the opportunities and challenges posed by AI in the military. Platforms such as Blockchain Council offer crucial AI certification courses to guarantee that civilians and military professionals are adequately equipped to handle the intricate realm of artificial intelligence in the military and defense. 

These platforms enable professionals to become certified chatbot specialists and succeed in state-of-the-art AI chatbots through AI prompt engineer certification and chatbot certification programs, ultimately helping the successful integration of AI in the military and defense.

[cnilocates]

An Unmatched Guide For Hiring Professional Drone Imagery Services

Almost any industry can benefit from aerial imaging. Photography and videography captured from a birds-eye vantage point get the attention and visibility you want for everything imaginable, from marketing to site inspections to thermal energy detection. Aerial images can be further processed to offer additional insight, a game changer in industries like agriculture. At C-N-I Locates, our drone services have taken aerial photography to the next level by introducing uncrewed aerial vehicles with high-resolution cameras and advanced capabilities. Read More: https://cnilocates.com/blog/an-unmatched-guide-for-hiring-professional-drone-imagery-services/

[mariacallous]

Above the bar at a small brewpub in Užupis, a hip neighborhood in Vilnius, Lithuania, hangs a portrait of a Madonna-like saint cradling a weapon—something between a rifle, a bazooka, and a 5G antenna.

The caption below reads: “Saint EDM4S.”

EDM4S—or Electronic Drone Mitigation 4 System—is a portable electronic-warfare weapon from Lithuania. Point the EDM4S at a hovering uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) and pull the trigger: The drone should lose contact with its operator and fall inertly from the sky.

Hundreds of EDM4S systems have been donated to Ukraine over the past two years. They are just one weapon in an unseen, and under-appreciated, battle for control of the electromagnetic spectrum. Powering this battle is a furious arms race. Ukraine and its allies on one side, Russia on the other. Both sides are trying to innovate better ways to spoof, jam, and disrupt enemy communications, particularly drones, while simultaneously working to harden their own systems against hostile signals.

This is electronic warfare. In late 2023, Kyiv identified winning the upper hand in this battle as one of its key priorities. With Russia steadily advancing across eastern Ukraine, the need to gain control of the electromagnetic space—and the skies—has only grown more important. Regardless of how this war unfolds in 2025, Ukraine has already changed electronic warfare forever.

Fighting to Electromagnetic Stalemate

Electronic warfare, or EW, has been a part of human conflicts for more than a century. Soon after radios were deployed to the battlefield, soldiers realized that sending bursts of static over a frequency could disrupt the enemy’s ability to communicate. But it wasn’t until World War II that EW really came into its own.

Early in WWII, the British were desperately trying to recapture control over their skies in the Battle of Britain. While British dogfighters grew steadily better at downing incoming Luftwaffe bombers, the Germans slowly moved their raids to the cover of darkness. This prompted a perplexing mystery for the British: How were the Germans so good at flying to their targets in the dead of night?

A young British scientist solved the mystery when he discovered a clue in the wreckage of a downed bomber. The plane’s landing assistance system, which used radio waves to measure the plane’s relative distance to the runway, had been improved so dramatically that it was being used as a rudimentary navigation device. Operators on the ground in Germany and occupied France would emit long, narrow bands of radio signals over British skies: The target factory or town could be found where the two beams coincided.

Armed with this information, the English raced to build their own radio and relay stations, broadcasting their own radio beams into the skies to confuse the incoming German pilots.

Thus began the Battle of the Beams. The Germans refined and upgraded its ability to broadcast and receive signals in British airspace, while the United Kingdom raced to detect and disrupt those signals. It set the pace of EW fights for a century to come.

Today, the electromagnetic space is much more complicated: Different types of signals are broadcast straight across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radar to GPS and GLONASS, to cellular signals. At any given moment, a soldier, UAV, fighter jet, or cruise missile could be sending and receiving a variety of different signals.

With that, militaries have raced to find new ways to jam, intercept, and even spoof those signals. One nation may issue new encrypted radios to its forces, prompting a rival country to develop more powerful radios to flood those channels with static. Recent decades have also seen radar and radio used to detect artillery launches and triangulate their exact position, allowing counter-battery systems to hit the source of fire. Fighter jets, in particular, have developed some of the most advanced onboard radio and radar systems for communications, EW, and counter-EW.

Throughout the Cold War, NATO and the Soviet Union were locked in a fierce battle to obtain even a marginal advantage over the other in this EW fight. That dynamic has driven some anxiety. A 2017 report commissioned by Estonia’s military took stock of Russia’s EW capabilities and warned that, should Moscow invade NATO’s eastern flank, it could likely knock out communications across a huge swath of the Baltics, thereby “negating advantages conferred on the Alliance by its technological edge.”

It wasn’t until Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that the world got to see the extent of Russia’s EW prowess. And it was a dud.

“Russian EW was a no-show,” wrote Bryan Clark, director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, in a July 2022 analysis for IEEE Spectrum.

Moscow had spent years planning for a major war with NATO, designing its EW systems to interfere with the onboard systems of advanced fighter jets and to jam the targeting computers of advanced ballistic missiles. Instead, it found itself in a war against fast-moving defenders making ample use of off-the-shelf UAVs.

Russia’s systems were “not very mobile, not very distributed,” Clark tells WIRED. Their relatively small number of big systems, Clark says, “weren’t really relevant in the fight.”

Moscow’s strategy assumed there would be a relatively static battlespace. Along the front, they would deploy the Infauna, a heavily armored vehicle that targets radio communications. Further out, around 15 miles from the front lines, they would send the Leer-3, a six-wheeled truck capable of not only jamming cellular networks but of intercepting communications and even relaying SMS to nearby cell phones. Even further out, from a range of about 180 miles, the fire-truck-sized Krasukha-4 would scramble aerial sensors.

“When you get close to the front, you get electronic weather,” Clark says. “Your GPS won’t work, your cell phone won’t work, your Starlink won’t work.”

This electromagnetic no-man’s-land is what happens when you “barrage,” Clark explains. But there’s a big trade-off, he says. Jamming across the spectrum requires more power, as does jamming in a wider geographic area. The more power a system has, the bigger it must be. So you can disrupt all communications in a targeted area, or some communications further afield—but not necessarily both.

Move Fast and Jam Things

Russia’s military was marred, early in the war, by bad communication, worse planning, and a general sluggishness in adapting. Even still, it had a big head start. “Unfortunately, the enemy has a numerical and material advantage,” a representative for UP Innovations, a Ukrainian defense tech startup, tells WIRED in a written statement.

So Ukraine developed two complementary strategies: produce a large volume of cheaper EW solutions, and make them iterative and adaptable.

Ukraine’s Bukovel-AD anti-drone system, for example, fits comfortably on the back of a pickup truck. The Eter system, the size of a suitcase, can detect the jamming signals from Russian EW systems—allowing Ukraine to target them with artillery. Ukrainian electronic warfare company Kvertus now manufactures 15 different anti-drone systems—from drone-jamming backpacks to stationary devices that can be installed on radio towers to ward off incoming UAVs.

When the full-scale war began in 2022, Kvertus had one product: a shoulder-mounted anti-drone gun, like the EDM4S. “In 2022, [we were producing] tens of devices,” Yaroslav Filimonov, Kvertus’ CEO told me when we sat down in his Kyiv offices this March. “In 2023 it was hundreds. Now? It’s thousands.”

“Our advantage is that we have many clever people and clever engineers, and we have our own research and development department,” Filimonov says. “Our reaction for different changes on the front line is very fast.”

That’s because Kvertus dispatches its staff to the front lines to see how things are working—or not. EW operators constantly send back reports on which parts of the spectrum are being bombarded by Russia, and which parts of the spectrum Russian forces are inclined to use. Military tech firm Piranha-Tech’s systems are now capable of downing drones from more than a kilometer away, from a height of roughly 500 meters.

UP Innovations was financed as part of Business Springboard, a government-led initiative to finance veteran-run businesses in Ukraine. Being veteran-run means they have firsthand knowledge of what their soldiers actually need. UP has been working on special helmet pads with fabric that works as a Faraday cage to protect the wearer’s radios from jamming.

“Today, every unit has specialists working with tactical radio electronic warfare devices,” Yuriy Momot, deputy CEO of Piranha-Tech, tells WIRED. “There is no operation that goes without the use of radio electronic warfare. As we talk, one of their anti-drone guns sits on the table between us. Just the day before, guns just like this one helped one unit shoot down a dozen enemy drones—including one carrying a grenade.

The early versions of these anti-drone guns caused some skepticism that they would ever be much use in the real world—Russian military analysts mocked them as cheap toys. That mockery has long since faded, however. In recent months, plywood shacks have been popping up on high-rise rooftops in Moscow and St. Petersburg. They house a couple of Russian soldiers, a shotgun, an assault rifle, and a Russian-made anti-drone gun.

But when it comes to defending themselves, Kyiv has opted for a very apropos solution: a decentralized, distributed EW solution.

For more than two years, Ukraine has faced an onslaught of missiles, drones, and glide bombs—all equipped with onboard communications and radar designed to overcome Ukraine’s air defense systems. In recent months, the Iranian-designed Shahed drones have been known to weave, deke, and loiter through Ukrainian skies, distracting and frustrating air defense systems.

To deal with this aerial threat, Kyiv developed Pokrova, a secretive mesh network of EW systems that was revealed earlier this year.

“It’s not one, not two, not three transmitters” that make up Ukraine’s electromagnetic force field, Oleksandr Fedienko, a Ukrainian politician who serves as deputy chairman of a parliamentary committee on digital transformation, wrote on Telegram earlier this year. “There are hundreds of thousands of devices that are installed throughout the country.”

Pokrova isn’t just jamming the Shahed navigation systems, but spoofing their signal. This allows Ukrainian EW operators to feed them new coordinates, gently bringing down the drones so that they can be analyzed and cannibalized for parts. In recent months, Ukraine managed to spoof the signals being sent to these drones—flying more than 100 back into Russia.

Fedienko promised that Ukraine was still racing to scale up the system even further. “It's only a matter of time when the rockets and missiles with which the Russians attack us will fly in the opposite direction,” he wrote.

EW isn’t completely foolproof. But it remains an incredibly promising defensive technology when layered on top of other anti-air systems.

Ukraine’s ability to scale up this domestic industry has put it toe-to-toe with Russia, once thought to have the most impressive EW program in the world. But Russia has learned and adapted too. It’s now a “cat-and-mouse game,” Clark says.

Beating EW

In a secret drone workshop in Kyiv, Yvan holds up a tiny chip. Installed on a small FPV drone, Yvan hopes this chip could overcome Russia’s EW efforts.

With these chips and two cheap antennas, Yvan’s drones are programmed to hop across the electromagnetic spectrum at a dizzying rate, as many as 25 times per second, in unison with its base station.

Yvan hopes that the link between the drone and its operator can move frequencies faster than Russian EW operators can jam the signal. If that works, it could keep these drones in the air significantly longer. AI is already being used to make this signal-hopping seem as random as possible. (Just as AI is being used to detect the hopping pattern in order to predict its next move.)

There are existing solutions to these problems, like controlled reception pattern antennas (CRPAs), which can tune out jamming signals. However, they can cost upwards of $30,000 per unit, meaning Ukraine simply cannot afford to acquire them at scale. So they’ve had to innovate. Yvan’s solution can be dispatched for just hundreds of dollars.

Ukraine first started sending drones deep into Russia in early 2023—with a brazen attack on the Kremlin itself. Then, one small drone exploded spectacularly over the Moscow sky. Since then, Ukraine has stepped up its efforts. In early September, Kyiv launched its most expansive drone attack on Russia since the beginning of the war: An estimated 158 drones descended on targets across the country, setting fires at oil refineries, power plants, and pipelines. Although most were downed, likely through more traditional air defense systems, the attack shows the limitations of Russia’s own EW defenses.

With this constant competition on the electromagnetic spectrum, defense companies are getting creative about how their drones travel.

“In the Western world, GPS always works. Here, GPS never works,” says Stepan, a Ukrainian defense executive. (WIRED is using only his first name for security reasons.) That’s why he’s been developing drones to operate without GPS—or its Russian equivalent, GLONASS. Instead, he employs the drones’ onboard cameras to conduct thermal imaging of the ground below, employing “pure math” to confirm its trajectory by checking terrain, landmarks, and waypoints. This is not entirely new: The US Tomahawk missile, for example, has used terrain mapping for decades. What’s novel is how quickly and nimbly Ukraine has been able to distribute this technology to its nascent drone industry.

Since speaking to Stepan in Kyiv in March, this strategy of terrain mapping has become more common on the battlefield. Artificial intelligence has helped augment how drones understand the land below. They’ve also introduced other kinds of strategies, such as using cell phone towers as landmarks to guide their trajectory—much like the Luftwaffe pilots used radio beams to guide their flight towards British cities.

“The newer systems are using a combination of GPS, terrain mapping, and electronic signal intelligence to figure out where they are and to make themselves more precise,” Clark says.

Ukraine is already coming up with new ideas about what it could achieve if its drones can penetrate deeper into Russia. One drone prototype is equipped with EW systems that could, if it lands in the right spot, wreak havoc on Russian radar, air defense, and communications systems.

Innovation isn’t just moving forward—it’s also looking backwards. One of the most ingenious innovations being deployed in Ukraine is the German-made HIGHCAT drone, and it’s surprisingly old school. A lightweight quadcopter, the drone comes with a 6-mile cable, providing a fixed link to its base station.

It’s not just uncrewed aerial vehicles that are targeted by EW: Ukraine has increasingly deployed land and naval drones to aid in its fight to recapture territory.

Drone manufacturer SkyLab has, despite its name, become known for its ground-based autonomous vehicles. Those land vehicles have been used to deliver artillery, carry wounded soldiers, and could even be used for demining efforts. At their secretive offices in Kyiv, Denys gestures to a stout four-wheel vehicle in the corner. He says SkyLab has been exploring everything from AI to lidar to help these devices find their way home, even in an electromagnetic barrage. (WIRED is identifying the executive with a pseudonym for security purposes.)

“What frequency and mode do I have to use in the next version? What cameras, what gimbals, what logistics, what batteries?” he says. “Now it’s six, maybe seven generations of this rover.”

Innovate or Die

The Battle of the Beams was on track toward an electromagnetic stalemate. As they continued to improve and pioneer their radio warfare technique, neither the British nor the Germans looked set to gain a meaningful advantage over the other.

Then Britain innovated. When the Bristol Beaufighter took to the skies in mid-1940, it adapted Germany’s innovation to create an early aircraft interception radar. By using radio signals to identify enemy planes in the dark skies, British pilots quickly began downing Luftwaffe bombers and took back control of its airspace. The Germans then abandoned the Blitz and redeployed most of their offensive air assets eastward.

England’s victory in the battle came, in large part, because it was capable of uncovering the secrets to Germany’s innovation and reverse engineering it.

That’s happening in Ukraine, too, in both directions. Filimonov says his company’s effort to stay one step ahead is always frustrated by the “rats”—those who are “gathering information and then sending this information to our enemy.” The longer Ukraine’s technological innovation remains a secret, the more effective it will be. On the other side, Piranha-Tech’s Momot says he is always racing to identify Russia’s technological leaps forward, then “developing a countermeasure before the enemy can start large-scale production.”

Late last year, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the erstwhile commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, wrote in a detailed paper that Ukraine had achieved “parity” with Russia on EW—but it needed superiority.

While Ukraine is iterating advantages, a real breakthrough may have to come from Washington.

The United States has transferred an enormous amount of equipment to Kyiv, but it hasn’t—yet—handed over the EW crown jewels. “Electronic warfare is one of those very, very closely held technologies for the US and its closest partners,” Mick Ryan, a veteran of the Australian military and an independent military analyst, tells WIRED. “We're going to have to change the paradigm on how we look at EW and how we share the technologies with other partners, if we want to beat the Russians.”

Clark agrees that the Pentagon is “holding back some of the most sophisticated capabilities,” but there are signs that has changed in recent months: When the American-made F-16 fighter jets arrived in Ukraine in August, the US announced it had upgraded the jets with advanced onboard EW systems.

“One F-16 with a reprogrammed pod won’t achieve air dominance alone, but it may give you a pocket of air superiority for a moment’s time to achieve an objective that has strategic importance and impact,” the director of the US Air Force 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing said in a statement.

More than 80 years after the Battle of the Beams, Ukraine has put a modern spin on the Bristol Beaufighter: drone-on-drone combat. Footage emerged last year of two drones duking it out over the front lines. In mid-April, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was briefed on a new drone capable of intercepting Russian helicopters and loitering munitions.

The world may soon see more of these drone dogfights. Igor, another defense executive (who WIRED is not identifying for security reasons) says his company has been working furiously on a drone designed to hunt and destroy Russian UAVs.

Igor’s anti-drone drone would be a “fire and forget” solution, he says, meaning the drone could loiter in the skies, using a suite of onboard sensors to target all incoming Russian drones. If perfected, it would bring the story of EW full-circle.

There’s one big technological problem with having these drones patrol the skies, Igor says. “You need to confirm that it’s not a bird,” he laughs. “You don’t want to make enemies with Mother Nature.”