logo
A new type of rifle bullet in Ukraine could give infantry a better way to survive unjammable drone attacks

A new type of rifle bullet in Ukraine could give infantry a better way to survive unjammable drone attacks

Anti-drone rifle bullets are emerging in the Ukraine war, potentially giving ground troops a safer option against the cheap drones that are now the battlefield's No. 1 killer.
While Russian troops were seen experimenting with such ammo since at least last year's winter, Ukraine's defense innovation program debuted its own version in late June.
Brave1 published a video of a soldier filling a cartridge with black and grey-tipped 5.56mm rounds, before loading it into a CZ Bren 2 assault rifle and firing at a drone in a test range.
"The goal is for every infantryman to carry these NATO-codified cartridges, enabling them to react quickly to aerial threats," the government organization wrote, adding that the bullets "dramatically increase the chances of downing FPV drones."
Brave1 facilitated the development of anti-drone rounds, significantly boosting chances of hitting moving aerial targets like enemy FPV drones or Mavics. The goal is for every infantryman to carry this NATO-codified cartridges, enabling them to react quickly to aerial threats. pic.twitter.com/qBz8MzlBbi
— BRAVE1 (@BRAVE1ua) June 30, 2025
Brave1 did not publish footage of the bullet's interior design.
However, United24 Media, an outlet run by the Ukrainian government, wrote that the bullets use a "custom-designed warhead that creates a dense and rapid fragmentation effect upon firing."
In short, the tech would allow soldiers to fire a bullet that travels some distance before dispersing a spread of pellets to strike a first-person-view drone or quadcopter.
That could allow infantry to start shooting at attack drones from a safer distance, compared to the last-resort measure of trying to down the threat with a shotgun, which is now the norm across Ukrainian units.
The shotgun tactic has become especially needed against the rising use of fiber-optic drones by both sides. These drones receive their signals through long, thin cables instead of radio, meaning they can't be jammed via electronic warfare.
As a result, many units carry 12-gauge shotguns with them. A new anti-drone bullet could allow infantry to simply bring extra rifle cartridges instead of a whole separate firearm.
Brave1 did not respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.
Russian troops are making anti-drone bullets
Notably, a similar style of bullet has appeared among Russian forces before.
In November, Russia's 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade published a photo of a 5.45mm bullet, which is fired by the AK rifle. It was tipped with a heat-shrinking tube.
Within the tube, the brigade wrote on its Telegram channel, there are four buckshot pellets meant to disperse and hit Ukrainian drones. It added that when handloading cartridges, troops should alternate between these new bullets and standard rounds or tracer rounds.
This design appears to be more of a DIY creation and is distinct from the version that Ukraine's Brave1 showed. It's not clear if the bullet was made widely available for Russian forces.
Z Parabellum MD, a pro-war Russian Telegram channel, published a separate video on November 29 showing several men working at a table to snap off the tips of 5.45mm rounds. In the footage, one of the men places heat-shrinking tubes on the bullet by hand.
The channel also posted a video of a Russian soldier demonstrating the rounds, shooting them at a metal sheet in a firing range.
In another example, a photo that circulated among Ukrainian channels in May showed a presentation board with an assortment of small-arms rounds used to destroy FPV drones.
One of these was a 5.45mm round tipped with a casing containing six pellets.
The growing appearance of such bullets on both sides shows how rapidly drone warfare is evolving in real time, with roughly three years of war driving a back-and-forth series of new technologies and tactics studied closely by militaries around the world.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The killer speedboats designed to defend Britain's coastline
The killer speedboats designed to defend Britain's coastline

Yahoo

time8 hours ago

  • Yahoo

The killer speedboats designed to defend Britain's coastline

Credit: Kraken Technology As they zoomed around the Baltic Sea last month, a pair of British drones provided a glimpse of how navies are adapting to a new age of warfare. The K3 Scout unmanned surface vessels (USVs), made by Kraken Technology, were deployed alongside other maritime robots as part of an exercise conducted by NATO's Task Force X. With a top speed of 55 knots, the autonomous boats can be sent on reconnaissance missions hundreds of miles away, dispatched laden with troops and cargo, or loaded up with explosives for kamikaze missions. They can also carry powerful sensors and fire tube-launched loitering munitions, known as suicide drones. In the future, dozens of these relatively low-cost devices – each about 27 feet long – could be unleashed to create a high-tech 'picket fence' around the British Isles. This would allow the Royal Navy to rapidly intercept smugglers, enemy ships or investigate suspicious activity without having to dispatch crewed vessels. 'Once you've detected an object of interest, either above or below the surface, you can shadow them for some time,' says Mark Exeter, Kraken's operations chief. 'It has the speed and performance to keep up with anything or intercept it. You can't shake us off.' The drones highlight the lessons Britain and its allies are learning from the war in Ukraine, where low-cost drones are being used to destroy far more expensive platforms. Yet it also represents a change in tack for Kraken's founder, who was still focused on high-performance powerboat racing as recently as five years ago. From powerboats to firepower Portsmouth-based entrepreneur Malcolm Crease decided to pivot towards defence during the pandemic, after getting several approaches from industry. Interest was originally spurred by the advent of low-earth satellites, which opened up the possibility of controlling drones remotely, but took on fresh urgency as operations in Ukraine demonstrated a need for speed in drone operations. In the Black Sea, Kyiv's forces have put swarms of explosive-laden USVs to devastating effect against the Russian navy, causing so much havoc that Moscow's fleet has effectively been confined to port. They have even been armed with missiles and used to shoot down aircraft, including a Russian Mi-8 helicopter and a Su-30 fighter jet, according to reports. But according to Crease, there is another, far more important reason that companies like Kraken are suddenly in vogue: 'The ability to rapidly iterate and think on our feet is our greatest strength. 'We didn't have to go through months and years of development. We were able to accelerate through that very rapidly – we think like a race team. 'When we started out there was confusion about our background – people would say, 'But you're the racing guys, what do you know about defence?' 'Now, four years down the track, it's a real credibility statement for us. People like that pedigree because they understand why we are able to do what we can do. 'When you start getting out into open water and high sea states and temperatures and wind chill factors and everything else, it's a very, very different, difficult environment to operate in. 'But it's sort of our backyard – it's what we used to do for fun in a racing context. So it's in our DNA.' Small and agile alternative His firm is just one of several British engineering companies turning their hands to defence as Western governments scramble to re-arm. In the UK, ministers have said they want more of these 'small, often family-owned, firms to bring their innovations, their agility and their expert workforce' to the fore, offering a nimbler alternative to the industry's slower-moving defence giants, such as BAE Systems, Babcock and Rolls-Royce. The Strategic Defence Review, published in June, also called for the development of 'dual use' technologies that can be used for both civilian and military purposes, making the defence industry more resilient to supply chain shocks. And though small businesses are unlikely to build multibillion-pound fighter jets or submarines, there is currently an insatiable appetite for what is known in military jargon as 'mass'. These cheap weapons range from largely disposable first-person view drones to more sophisticated platforms such as Kraken's K3 Scout, which are considered 'attritable' rather than indispensable. Yet all tend to have one thing in common: they are easily produced at scale and fast. For example, while the European consortium that makes Typhoon fighter jets can currently muster 20 to 30 jets per year at a push, Kraken will soon expand its operations to make 1,000 Scout drones annually. The company has secured a contract with the Ministry of Defence and has also just secured backing from NATO's investment fund and an unnamed country in the alliance. Another business that has entered the military space is Oxfordshire-based MGI, which was founded by ex-Formula 1 engineer Mike Gascoyne in 2003. Originally, the company provided design consultancy services, but it has since expanded to manufacture unmanned aerial and maritime vehicles, as well as an ultra-cheap missile. This month, MGI demonstrated its SkyShark drone at its airfield near the village of Enstone. It can be sent on intelligence missions, loaded up with munitions or used for one-way kamikaze strikes, at a fraction of the price of a traditional cruise missile. Crucially, it also relies on an all-British supply chain, including gas turbine engines made by fellow Oxfordshire firm Argive or a silent, electric fan engine made by London-based Greejets. His company has also secured contracts with the Ministry of Defence, which he says he cannot discuss. 'Traditionally, defence projects take years to develop, but the essence of Formula 1 is you've got to develop rapidly and move really quickly,' adds Gascoyne. 'You make a new car every year, and every two weeks, somewhere around the world, you're racing a different version of it, constantly updating to stay in the game and remain competitive. 'Now, the military has realised what they need as well.' Start-up struggles Still, while the success enjoyed by the likes of MGI and Kraken so far is promising, many executives say there is still a long way to go to make the defence industry more welcoming to start-ups. It is still common for smaller companies to struggle to obtain bank accounts owing to controversial environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing rules. Many businesses also struggle to stay afloat while they wait months and often years for the Ministry of Defence to award contracts. This limbo period has been dubbed the 'valley of death' by the industry. 'British industrial creativity is second to none,' says Labour's Fred Thomas, a former Royal Marines commando who is now MP for Plymouth Moor View and a member of the defence committee. 'We have the best engineers, designers and thinkers in the world. 'Applying these advantages to defence innovation is vital for our country's security. It's on the Government to incorporate these capabilities into the national arsenal.' Ministers have vowed to improve the situation by requiring officials to award contracts far more quickly. They have also established the new UK Defence Innovation organisation, which has been given a ring-fenced budget of £400m per year and a mandate to seek out innovation. With luck, it should mean that more companies like Kraken can contribute to Britain's defences. 'We've done this in a slightly unconventional way, but we're now being taken very seriously,' Crease adds. 'We're anticipating explosive growth.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

AI-fueled crypto scams are booming, up 456% — and no one is safe, expert warns
AI-fueled crypto scams are booming, up 456% — and no one is safe, expert warns

New York Post

timea day ago

  • New York Post

AI-fueled crypto scams are booming, up 456% — and no one is safe, expert warns

Crypto crooks are getting bolder — and now, they sound just like your mom. Global crypto scams soared 456% between May 2024 and April 2025 — becoming increasingly reliant on AI-generated voices, deepfake videos and phony credentials to fleece unsuspecting victims, blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs' Ari Redbord told The Post after testifying before Congress last Tuesday. 'These scams are highly effective, as the technology feels incredibly real and familiar to the victim,' Redbord said. Advertisement 4 TRM Labs' Ari Redbord, who testified before Congress last week, says scammers are now using AI-generated voices and deepfake credentials to mimic loved ones and steal crypto. Igor Faun – 'We've seen cases where scammers use AI to replicate the voice of a loved one, tricking the victim into transferring money under the guise of an urgent request.' And the threat is exploding — especially in high-density cities like New York, Miami and Los Angeles, he added. In June, New York officials froze $300,000 in stolen cryptocurrency and seized more than 100 scam websites linked to a Vietnam-based ring that targeted Russian-speaking Brooklynites with fake Facebook investment ads. Advertisement Meta shut down over 700 Facebook accounts tied to the scam. Investigators say the group used deepfake BitLicense certificates and moved victims onto encrypted apps like Telegram before draining their wallets. 4 Even crypto pros aren't safe — MoonPay's CEO and CFO were conned into wiring $250,000 to a scammer pretending to be a Trump inauguration insider. Igor Faun – Advertisement Some New Yorkers lost hundreds of thousands of dollars — and it's not just everyday joes getting targeted. Even crypto insiders are falling for it. Florida-based crypto firm MoonPay saw its CEO Ivan Soto-Wright and CFO Mouna Ammari Siala duped into wiring $250,000 in crypto to a scammer posing as Trump inauguration co-chair Steve Witkoff, according to a recent Department of Justice complaint. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Globally, fraudsters swiped more than $10.7 billion in 2024 through crypto cons — including romance scams, fake trading platforms and 'pig-butchering,' where scammers build fake relationships before draining victims' accounts, Redbord said. Advertisement In the US, Americans filed nearly 150,000 crypto-related fraud complaints in 2024, with losses topping $3.9 billion, according to the FBI. But the real number is likely much higher. 4 A Vietnam-based ring targeted Brooklyn's Russian-speaking community with fake BitLicenses and phony Facebook accounts before vanishing with hundreds of thousands. Igor Faun – 'Only around 15% of victims actually report these crimes,' Redbord said, citing shame, fear and distrust in law enforcement — particularly among older adults and immigrant communities. One of these scammers go-to tools? Crypto ATMs — especially those tucked inside New York delis and convenience stores. Illicit use at these kiosks is more than twice as high as in the broader crypto market, Redbord said. Victims are often directed to scan a QR code and deposit cash, instantly converting it to crypto before the funds disappear. As the scams rage on, Washington is starting to bring order to the Wild West of crypto. 4 Officials say the real number of crypto scam victims is far higher than reported, as shame and fear keep many from coming forward. Igor Faun – House lawmakers wrapped up 'Crypto Week' last Thursday by passing the first-ever comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation — a trio of bills focused on regulating stablecoins, trading platforms and digital asset infrastructure. Advertisement Even so, Redbord advised, common sense is the best defense. 'If something feels too good to be true — especially unsolicited investment advice — it almost always is,' he said. 'Verify the platform. Confirm identities. And when in doubt, report it — whether to IC3, Chainabuse or your local authorities.'

Video Shows Direct Strike On Sanctioned Russian Military Factory
Video Shows Direct Strike On Sanctioned Russian Military Factory

Newsweek

timea day ago

  • Newsweek

Video Shows Direct Strike On Sanctioned Russian Military Factory

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Video footage released on social media purports to show the moment when a Ukrainian drone hit a critical Russian military site, sanctioned by the EU and the U.S. A clip showed the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying across the sky before striking the facility in the Stavropol region of southern Russia. Newsweek has contacted the Russian and Ukrainian defense ministries for comment. Illustrative image from August 11, 2023 shows an operator in the Kyiv region with the airstrike drone called Punisher made by the Ukrainian company UA Dynamics. Illustrative image from August 11, 2023 shows an operator in the Kyiv region with the airstrike drone called Punisher made by the Ukrainian company UA It Matters Faced by constant Russian bombardment, Ukraine has continued to use drones to strike at Russian military targets, although Kyiv often does not claim responsibility for these strikes. Ukraine's latest hit on one of Russia's largest manufacturers of radio electronics which is sanctioned by the EU will deliver a blow to Moscow's military capabilities. What To Know Ukrainian drones struck the Signal radio plant in the Stavropol region overnight Friday according to a source in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) quoted by the Kyiv Independent. The plant is just over 300 miles from Ukraine-controlled territory and makes electronic warfare equipment for front-line aircraft as well as active jamming systems, remote weapon-control modules, and other radio-electronic equipment. The Kyiv Independent said the attack hit premises which hosts expensive imported equipment, including computer numerical control machines. A second strike hit another building that hosts an electronic devices workshop. The facility is sanctioned by the European Union, the U.S. and Japan. Video posted on social media by Russian independent media outlet Astra purportedly showed one of the strikes, with a drone flying across the sky before striking a building, causing an explosion. Other social media channels posted the footage with one saying that the drone was a Shahed-type device. ❗️Another video of the attack by a new 🇺🇦Ukrainian kamikaze drone of the Shahed type on the 🇷🇺Russian Signal plant in Stavropol — 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) July 26, 2025 Stavropol regional governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed the attack but said there no casualties were reported and there was a small fire. Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces downed 54 Ukrainian drones across eight Russian regions but did not report any being intercepted over Stavropol region. Pro-Ukrainian open source intelligence X account Tatarigami said that one building appears to have avoided critical structural damage, though localized fires were reported. The facility served military and civilian sectors, including supplying cathodic protection equipment for the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran, the post added. Meanwhile, Russia launched ballistic missiles against Ukraine overnight Friday with the heaviest attacks targeting Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, according to Ukrainian authorities. What People Are Saying X channel War Translated posted: "Drones hit the Signal defense plant in Stavropol, a major facility in Russia's military-industrial complex. The plant makes radio-electronic equipment for combat aircraft, air defense, and electronic warfare systems. Pro-Ukrainian open source intelligence X account Tatarigami on X: "The Signal facility includes 7 production workshops, a testing center, and 2 design bureaus." Ukrainian intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent: "The SBU continues to systematically disable enemy (Russia's) facilities working for the war against such attack stops production processes and reduces the enemy's military potential." What Happens Next Ukraine is likely to continue its strikes against Russian military sites as it steps up its drone production. Meanwhile, Russia continues to use drones to strike at Ukrainian infrastructure.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store