Army bosses plan to buy drones that can be fired from VANS after Ukraine's devastating attack on Russia
THE Army plans to buy drones which can be launched out of vans after Ukraine blitzed a third of Russia's bombers from lorries.
Top Brass issued a request for a covert launcher that fits in a 'Sprinter truck or regular Transit van'.
2
Army bosses plan to buy drones that can be fired from vans after Ukraine's devastating attack on Russia
Credit: Getty
The weapon, codenamed Project Volley, must be robust, simple to use, weigh no more than 275kg, and fire at least five drones in four minutes at speeds of 200kmph.
The MoD put out a message to industry, known as a 'notice for contracts', and will potentially give the launchers to Ukraine.
It said: 'The user will use the launcher in a high-threat environment with persistent enemy surveillance.
'Therefore it must create a minimal signature — acoustic, heat, visual when used, eg hiding in plain sight.'
read more on army
It comes after Ukraine claimed to have destroyed at least 41 Russian aircraft on Sunday with 117 drones hidden on cargo trucks.
They were in pre-fabricated sheds that were loaded on to flatbed trucks and driven across Russia.
As they neared airfields, the roofs of the sheds flipped open and the drones took off.
They destroyed Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers and prized A-50 Beriev command and control aircraft.
Most read in The Sun
Russia continues to launch drone strikes of its own, including one on a residential area in Kharkiv yesterday.
The MoD's notice stressed urgency by saying that it is not interested in solutions 'that will not be ready for UK field demonstration or testing in October'.
From tactical nuke to 7,600mph missile & 50k-troop assault…6 ways Putin could respond to Ukraine blitz after Trump call
The MoD said Project Volley was part of a £5billion investment in 'advanced new weapons' based on lessons learned from Ukraine.
It added: 'This investment will improve accuracy and lethality for our Armed Forces, while boosting UK export potential.'
2
Ukraine claimed to have destroyed at least 41 Russian aircraft on Sunday with 117 drones hidden on cargo trucks
Credit: Getty
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme -
Sun Club.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
I've made £10.4k on Vinted & swear by 7 tips to make cash quick – including the magic number of pictures you must upload
A SAVVY woman has shared the secrets to her impressive Vinted fortune. So if you've got a Advertisement 4 A savvy mum has shared her top tips to ensure you sell items fast on Vinted Credit: tiktok/@isabella.98x 4 Isabella has made £10,470.65 on Vinted this year alone Credit: tiktok/@isabella.98x 4 She still has the capacity to earn £3,199 extra thanks to the 873 items she currently has listed on the marketplace app Credit: tiktok/@isabella.98x 4 So if you want to sell well, you'll need to take notes Credit: Getty Isabella, a young woman 'on a hustle mission', has made £10,470.65 on Vinted this year alone. Not only this, but she still has the capacity to earn £3,199 extra thanks to the 873 items she currently has listed on the marketplace app. Posting on social media, the mother uploaded a snap showing off a huge pile of her First things first, according to Isabella, you shouldn't upload more than seven items a day on the app. Advertisement Read more Vinted stories She advised: 'Post four to seven items daily. Don't post them all on the same day as they will then become lost.' Secondly, she revealed her top tip for taking the best pictures, as she added: 'Post your items on a plain background, e.g. white bedding or clean carpet.' Additionally, Isabella revealed the exact number of days you should wait before 'If you still haven't sold your item after seven days, delete the item and re-post,' she stressed. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Not only this, but Isabella warned against using supermarket bags to send out 'This will make you look more professional and your buyer will be more likely to return.' I've made £200 on Vinted in 24 hours - the 9 items that are flipping FAST & the retro product to always pick up But that's not all, as Isabella also advised Vinted enthusiasts to offer Not only should users take pictures of their items on a white background, but Isabella also stressed the magic number of Advertisement Do you need to pay tax on items sold on Vinted? QUICK facts on tax from the team at Vinted... The only time that an item might be taxable is if it sells for more than £6,000 and there is profit (sells for more than you paid for it). Even then, you can use your capital gains tax-free allowance of £3,000 to offset it. Generally, only business sellers trading for profit (buying goods with the purpose of selling for more than they paid for them) might need to pay tax. Business sellers who trade for profit can use a tax-free allowance of £1,000, which has been in place since 2017. More information here: She recommended: 'Use natural lighting, good quality images and always show at least three images of the item.' Finally, Isabella noted the importance of raking up five star reviews on the handy app, as she concluded: 'Having good reviews is essential when selling on Vinted. '[It] shows that you are reliable and the items are likely to be as described.' Social media users react The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ Advertisement Super helpful tips. Thanks girlie! TikTok user One person said: 'Great tips.' Another added: 'Thank you for sharing this A third commented: 'Super helpful tips. Thanks girlie! Sending love and support to you.' Meanwhile, someone else simply beamed: 'Amazing tips.' Advertisement Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON VINTED Vinted shared with The Sun some of the most popular items on the app: The autumnal months is when Vinted has the highest activity on the platform The company's most 'favourited' listing globally was a Bambino Jacquemus bag with over 1,300 Likes Most popular colours in the UK include black, white, grey, brown, navy and pink. Best-sellers: Clothing within both Women's and Men's categories, dog equipment within the pet care category, and books within the entertainment category
The Journal
44 minutes ago
- The Journal
Snared by the 'Spider's Web' - How Ukraine carried out their 'audacious' weekend drone attack
DESPITE BEING OUTNUMBERED and outgunned, Ukraine managed to use inexpensive drones to destroy Russian nuclear-capable bombers worth billions of dollars last weekend, in an operation carried out after months of planning. The operation targeted dozens of strategic air bases and delivered a major blow to Moscow's long-range bomber fleet. US news outlets described the attack as 'stunning' and 'audacious', UK press said it was 'unprecedented' and 'broad' – and all of them agreed that the major attack on Russia's nuclear-capable strategic bombers highlighted Ukraine's strategic savvy against its much larger invader. Codenamed 'Spider's Web' – or simply 'Web' – the operation was named for its wide geographic coverage across remote Russian locations previously thought to be beyond the reach of Ukraine's long-range drone capabilities. Some military commentators and pro-Russian bloggers even called it the country's 'Pearl Harbour'. The strikes seem to have got to Putin – with Donald Trump admitting this week that the Russian leader 'very strongly' told him he 'will have to respond' to the drone attack. Russia has since launched large-scale drone and missile strikes on Ukraine's capital and other parts of the country in an apparent retaliation. How did Ukraine do it? Planning for the operation began over 18 months ago. Ukrainian agents secretly smuggled about 150 small strike drones, modular launch systems, and 300 explosive payloads into Russia using covert routes. Babr Mash Babr Mash The drones were hidden inside wooden cabins, which were then loaded onto ordinary cargo trucks. A truck used to release some of the Ukrainian drones that attacked Russian air bases. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo A key part of the plan relied on covert logistics within Russian territory, involving unwitting Russian civilians – the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reportedly recruited Russian truck drivers to transport the mobile drone launchers disguised as regular cargo. These drivers were instructed to arrive at specific times and park at preselected spots near strategic Russian air bases, such as fuel stations and remote roadside areas. At the appointed time last weekend, the roofs of the cabins were remotely opened, and drones launched directly from inside the trucks. Footage of a Ukrainian FPV strike drone rising from a cargo truck and heading towards Russia's Belaya Airbase. The drone launch and airbase hit were over 4000 km (2500 mi) from Ukraine. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 1, 2025 This allowed the drones to strike from very close range, bypassing Russia's layered air defenses – including Pantsir and S-300 systems – before they could respond. Russian sources confirmed the drones launched just outside airfields, from places like fuel stations and roadside laybys. After launch, the trucks exploded, triggered by self-destruct mechanisms. Ukrainian leaders, including President Zelensky and SSU chief Vasyl Maliuk, were reportedly involved in planning and real-time coordination. What was the impact? In total, 117 drones were launched, striking at least 41 aircraft. Advertisement Ukraine's SBU put the estimated cost to the Kremlin at $7 billion. Footage from a Ukrainian drone striking Russian planes deep in Russia's territory. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Ukrainian estimates claim this damaged 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile platforms, including some of the few remaining A-50 early warning aircraft critical for Russia's air surveillance and targeting. Russia's major losses include strategic bombing, aviation, and airborne early warning and control aircraft. An overhead view of the damage at Olenya air base. Sumy Oblast government Sumy Oblast government The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the attacks had occurred in five regions of Russia – Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur – but stated planes had been damaged only in Murmansk and Irkutsk, while in other locations the attacks had been repelled. One of the air bases impacted by the strikes was 2,500 miles behind Russian borders, deep in Siberia. Yohann Michel, a researcher at the French university Lyon 3, said the loss of the aircraft was 'a serious blow to Russian offensive capabilities'. 7 млрд. доларів США. Така орієнтовна вартість стратегічної авіації ворога, яка була вражена сьогодні в результаті спецоперації СБУ «Павутина». Вражено 34% стратегічних носіїв крилатих ракет на основних аеродромах базування рф. Слава Україні! Героям Слава! 🇺🇦 — СБ України (@ServiceSsu) June 1, 2025 'The main impact could be felt in several weeks' time with a reduction in the number of sorties by the rest of the fleet' due to difficulties in finding spare parts for the Soviet-era planes, which are no longer in production, he said. Maxim Starchak, a fellow at the Centre for International and Defence Policy at Queen's University in Canada, said it would take Russia a long time to replace the lost aircraft. 'Russia is extremely slow and inefficient in developing new aircraft for its nuclear forces,' he explained. 'Essentially untracable' Michael Shurkin, a former CIA officer, said Ukraine's operation was likely to have struck fear into militaries across the world, adding that potential targets for such drone attacks could include refineries, ballistic missile silos or military bases. 'This technology is akin to stealth technology: The threat is difficult to detect both because it emerges near the target and is too small and too low to be picked up by sensors designed to catch aircraft or missiles,' said Shurkin, director of global programs for the consultancy 14 North Strategies. Footage from a Ukrainian drone targeting Belaya Air Base in Russia's Irkutsk region in Siberia last week. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Ukrainian military analyst Oleksii Kopytko said anyone delivering a pizza or driving a horse-drawn cart could present a danger. 'The organisers and main perpetrators are essentially untraceable,' he said. A French arms manufacturing executive said Ukraine could even have trained AI algorithms to recognise aircraft or guide the drones in case of jamming. 'New tools are forcing us to completely rethink defence systems and how they are produced,' said the executive, who asked not to be named. 'It opens up possibilities that we hadn't even imagined.' Zelensky 'just proved that he and Ukraine are more than able to pull aces out of their combat fatigue sleeves,' said Timothy Ash, an emerging market economist focused on Russia. Additional reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
44 minutes ago
- The Journal
At least five killed as Russia launches major attack on Ukraine
AT LEAST FIVE people have been killed after Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles, drones and bombs across Ukraine early this morning. Russian forces have accelerated attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, with the Kremlin vowing to retaliate over a brazen attack on its air bases last weekend. The Ukrainian air force said Moscow had fired 206 drones and nine missiles, adding that 'the air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces'. In Kharkiv, Mayor Igor Terekhov counted 48 Iranian-made drones, two missiles and four guided bombs before dawn in the city of some 1.4 million residents located less than 50 kilometres from the Russian border in northeastern Ukraine. 'Kharkiv is currently experiencing the most powerful attack since the beginning of the full-scale war,' Terekhov posted on Telegram around 4.40am (2.40am Irish time), adding that drones were still buzzing overhead. The Russian strikes pummelled homes and apartment blocks, killing at least three people and wounding 17 more, the mayor said. A woman was also pulled alive from the rubble of a high-rise building. Kharkiv region Governor Oleg Synegubov said the wounded included two children. 'Medical personnel are providing the necessary assistance,' he wrote. The northeastern city was already reeling from an attack on Thursday that wounded at least 18 people, including four children. Advertisement Rescuers carry a wounded woman after Russian attack that hit a residential building in Kharkiv. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In the southern port city of Kherson, Russian shelling killed a couple and damaged two high-rise buildings, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, governor Sergiy Lysak said Ukrainian forces had repelled 27 drones and two missiles overnight, but two women aged 45 and 88 were injured. Rescuers in the western city of Lutsk, near the Polish border, meanwhile discovered a second fatality from Friday's strikes, describing the victim as a woman in her 20s. The aerial bombardments come days after Ukraine launched a brazen attack well beyond the frontlines, damaging nuclear-capable military planes at Russian air bases and prompting vows of revenge from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia's defence ministry meanwhile said that 36 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles had been downed across a wide swath of territory. Ukraine has been pushing for an unconditional and immediate 30-day truce, issuing its latest proposal during peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. But Russia, which now controls around one-fifth of Ukraine's territory, has repeatedly rejected such offers to end its three-year war. The Kremlin said on Friday the Ukraine war was 'existential' for Russia. Ceasefire hopes dim The comments are Moscow's latest to dampen hopes for a breakthrough amid a flurry of meetings between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, as well as telephone calls between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, aimed at stopping the fighting. 'For us it is an existential issue, an issue on our national interest, safety, on our future and the future of our children, of our country,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, responding to remarks by Trump on Thursday comparing Moscow and Kyiv to brawling children. Related Reads Trump-Putin phone call will not lead to 'immediate peace in Ukraine', US President says Ukraine attacks bridge connecting Crimea to Russia with over a thousand kilos of explosives Ukraine says it destroyed more than 40 military planes in drone attack in Russia Ahead of the talks this week in Istanbul, an audacious Ukrainian drone attack damaged nuclear-capable military planes at Russian air bases, including thousands of kilometres behind the front lines in Siberia. Putin had told Trump he would retaliate for the brazen operation, 18 months in the planning, in which Ukraine smuggled more than 100 small drones into Russia, parked them near Russian air bases and unleashed them in a coordinated attack. Putin has issued a host of sweeping demands on Ukraine if it wants to halt the fighting. They include completely pulling troops out of four regions claimed by Russia, but which its army does not fully control, an end to Western military support, and a ban on Ukraine joining Nato. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the demands as old ultimatums, questioned the purpose of more such talks and called for a summit to be attended by him, Putin and Trump. With reporting from © AFP 2025 Want to know more about what's happening in Ukraine and why? Check out our new FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
