Latest news with #OleksandraMolloy
Mercury
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Mercury
Israel-Iran conflict: Israeli drone downed and smashed in Iran
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. As a deadly aerial war rages between Israel and Iran for a ninth consecutive day, one image has highlighted the evolving face of modern warfare. Long-simmering tensions between the two nations came to a head on June 13 when Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, deploying drones and jets in a blistering air campaign aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons – an ambition it denies. Iran struck back, launching over 100 drones towards Israel, almost 1500 kilometres away. In the nine days since, hundreds of missiles and drones have been exchanged between the two countries, with some successfully managing to break through Israel's Iron Dome – one of the most sophisticated air defence systems in the world. An unnamed Israeli military official told AFP on Wednesday Iran had fired around 400 ballistic missiles and 1000 drones since Friday. This week, Iranian armed forces released a photo claiming to show a smashed Israeli drone after it had been downed in the central Iranian city of Isfahan by a surface-to-air missile. The photo showed the reality of drone use in modern warfare - with the large and mechanically complex aircraft arguably different to what most Australians may imagine. The drone was downed in the Iranian city of Isfahan. Picture: Iranian Army Media Office / AFP It had been hit by a surface-to-air missile. Picture: Iranian Army Media Office / AFP In a statement on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the done 'fell in Iran' and said no injuries had been reported. 'There is no risk of an information breach,' it added. The IDF confirmed the done 'fell in Iran'. Picture: Iranian Armed Forces via AP The drone appeared large and very mechanically complex. Picture: Iranian Armed Forces via AP Israel smuggles drones into Iran Before launching its surprise attack, Israel reportedly spent months smuggling drones into Iran. Unnamed sources familiar with the operation told the Wall Street Journal the drones were hidden in trucks, shipping containers and even suitcases. 'When Israel's attack began, some of the teams took out air defences, while others hit missile launchers as they rolled out of their shelters and set up to fire,' the publication reported, citing one of the sources. The operation worked. By dismantling air defence systems, Israel had 'managed to establish air superiority over western parts of Iran and Tehran within days,' Dr Oleksandra Molloy, a Senior Lecturer in Aviation at the University of NSW (Canberra) told Since then, Dr Molloy said Israel has been largely relying on air power 'like the fleet of fighter jets, including F-35i, F-15, F-16 and launching air-to-ground long-range missiles and glide bombs striking Iranian air defence systems'. Iran comparatively has 'relatively weaker fighters' fleet, both in quantity and quality,' she said. 'Most of the Iranian fighters are Russian MIG-29 and Sukhoi aircraft, as well as 1979 American made ones, F-5B, F-5E, F-5F, and F-14 Tomcats.' But while Iranian jets are far behind the 'sophisticated capabilities of Israeli jets', Dr Molloy said the country has a 'strong arsenal of ballistic cruise missiles'. 'Hence, Iran is using both drones and missiles to strike Israel.' Iran Shahed's drones Since the start of the conflict, Dr Molloy said Iran's drone strategy has been to 'saturate Israeli air defence networks and confuse radar operations'. During its campaign, the nation has been using its homemade Shahed drones, which it has sent to Russia to fight its war in Ukraine. The noisy drones – which have been nicknamed 'flying mopeds', cost between $US20,000 to $US50,000 ($31,000 to $77,250), according to Scientific American. Dr Molloy said Iran has been using a variety of Shahed's ranging from 'one-way suicide drones or combat UAVs and long-range, multi-mission platform', as well as 'Arash-2, long-range loitering munition, capable of striking high-value targets'. One of the drones – the Shahed 136 – stretches 3.5m long and has a 2.5m wingspan. Lightweight, it is comprised of mostly foam and plywood, and has a range of more than 1500 miles (2414km). A Shahed drone lies on the ground after a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko Ukraines spiderweb drone assault Drones are becoming increasingly popular in modern warfare. 'Drone use has been extensive in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, Russo-Ukraine, Syria, Iraq against ISIS, Gaza, the Hezbollah Israel war in 2024 and now,' Associate Professor Ahmed Hashim, an expert in war studies in the Middle East for Deakin University, told But while drones are cost-effective, and can be used for a range of purposes from surveillance to targeted strikes, Dr Hashim noted 'long-distance drones are slow and provide the target with plenty of warning time'. He said drones are more potent when used with infiltration by special teams such as in Ukraine's 'Spider Web' assault earlier this month. The assault, which took 18 months to plan and execute, saw Ukraine smuggle drones across the Russian border hidden in trucks, which then drove to the sites of military bases. Footage shows drone after drone hammering Russia's nuclear bomber fleet. Picture: Security Service of Ukraine At a co-ordinated moment, the trucks released their drones, which then attack while being controlled remotely. 'Planning, organisation, every detail was perfectly executed. It can be said with confidence that this was an absolutely unique operation,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after the assault. In the immediate aftermath of the operation, Ukraine's security forces claimed to have taken out about a third of Russia's strategic bombers, partially crippling Vladimir Putin's capacity to launch long-distance missile strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 'every detail was perfectly executed' in his 'Spider Web' attack on Russia this month. Picture: Security Service of Ukraine Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, head of the Security Service, puts the tally at 41 aircraft, encompassing both Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers. According to American military correspondent David Axe, the Ukrainian attacks on Russian bases appeared to have diminished Russia's already dwindling supply of A-50s – an expensive type of surveillance aircraft, equipped with a powerful radar, whose chief purpose is to co-ordinate operations involving fighter jets and bombers. Drones changing the battlefield In recent years, Dr Molloy said drones have transitioned from being an 'observer in the skies for surveillance an reconnaissance' to 'an active combatant'. 'The UAVs used in the war in Ukraine has altered the dynamics of military operations, offering unique tactical advantages and enhanced the operational efficiency in various combat scenarios,' she said. The remains of a drone that fell in Syria on June 14, 2025. Picture: Sam Hariri/AFP She believes drones will play a part in the future of warfare, with other nations inevitably having to adopt and invest in both crewed and unscrewed systems. 'Depending on the context of operations, uncrewed systems provide an asymmetric advantage over more expensive asset, and combined with sophisticated systems on board, well-trained operators and continuously evolving tactics, successes will be seen,' she said. 'The future of modern warfare will see a combination of sophisticated technologies, various tactics of operation, and excellent intelligence. These include stealth sophisticated fighter jets, missiles and drones, as well as layered defence systems to protect against them.' While Dr Hashim doesn't think drones are the future of warfare, he agrees they are 'important and are going to be critical to any arsenal'. '(Drones) are part of a growing basket of emerging disruptive technologies that are changing the character of warfare such as Artificial Intelligence.' Originally published as Drones rain down in Israel-Iran
The Age
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Boeing's safety record under scrutiny after Air India disaster
Questions swirl about the safety of the Boeing jet that crashed on take-off in India, the first fatal incident involving the Dreamliner. The 787-8 Dreamliner departing Ahmedabad, India for London Gatwick Airport was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew when it plunged into a residential area seconds after lifting off a runway on Thursday. There was a single survivor. Flightradar24 listed the Air India flight 171 as having completed a return flight from Delhi to Melbourne on Sunday. Shares in Boeing fell 4.8 per cent on Wall Street on a broadly positive session, as questions about safety issues at the aircraft manufacturer resurfaced. There are nearly 1200 Dreamliners in service worldwide made by Boeing, a company already under a cloud for deadly manufacturing issues related to the smaller 737 Max. Dr Oleksandra Molloy, a senior lecturer in aviation at the University of New South Wales, said the Air India crash may impact Boeing's reputation if it's proven the disaster is linked 'to the design or performance of an aircraft'. 'Specifically, it raises serious concerns regarding Boeing's quality control and systemic issues with Boeing's operations.' Based on the video evidence, human error may also be a cause. 'Incorrect weight entry by the crew can cause insufficient lift, and lead to wrong engine settings.' 'It also appears that there were technical malfunctions, where the landing gear remained extended, and wing flaps were not properly deployed during take-off and they are quite vital because they help an aircraft generate maximum lift at a lower speed,' Dr Molloy said.
Forbes
08-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Ukraine Is Making FPV Drones Without Chinese Parts And At Lower Cost
Ukrainian Vyriy Drones now make FPV drones entirely from Ukrainian parts At a time when reducing imports and building national capacity is become ever more important, Ukraine has achieved what seemed impossible: producing drones using entirely locally made components. This gives them an unrivalled ability to develop and mass produce drones to their exact requirements. More surprising is the cost. Rather than adding a premium, by building locally the Ukrainians are actually undercutting Chinese makers. Last month, Ukrainian makers Vyriy Drone performed an official handover of the first batch of 1,000 'all-Ukrainian' FPV drones. A company spokesman said the government did not demand local production, but it has been one a long-term company goal. Vyriy Drones have been making FPVs for over two years. The spokesman noted that Vyriy make their own frames, initiation boards, flight controllers, and radio control systems, and that other components including cameras and video transmitters and cameras are sourced from Ukrainian companies. It is important to note that some of the electronic chips in that make up devices may in fact come from China or other countries. But these are simple building blocks, commodity products which can be sourced from the U.S. and Japan. They are very different to specialist end products for drones like flight controllers. Dr Oleksandra Molloy of the University of New South Wales is the author of a study for the Australian Army Research Centre on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. This highlights the importance of sovereign drone production. 'While since the start of the war most of the components were brought from China, most of them now are produced locally,' Molloy told me. 'Ukrainian manufacturers are constantly looking for components to improve them.' China is reportedly tightening export controls on the sale of components used in drone production. Cutting China out of the supply chain removes a critical dependency. Graph from Serhii Flash showing how Ukrainian made drone components have become progressively ... More cheaper over the last two years The locally made drones cost less than those made with Chinese parts thanks to concerted efforts by local companies to produce specific components, 'Initially, there was a generally accepted opinion that China could not be beaten on price,' Ukrainian analyst Serhii Flash wrote on his Telegram channel. 'Never. But competition, time, volumes, optimization of business processes work wonders. ' Flash shares a graph showing how the prices of various locally made components including motors, frames and propellers have dropped an average of around 50% over the last two years. Frames and propellers are relatively easy to make without a major investment in production machinery. Other components are more challenging. In 2024 we reported on how Ukrainian makers Wild Hornets were making their own flight controllers on a robotic assembly line,and later set up a similar process to make their own drone batteries. Specialist companies have gone further. Thermal imagers are a particular challenge, and FPV makers have spent considerable time and effort finding Chinese suppliers who meet their requirements for cost and capability. In other countries, the defence sector makes it own high-end thermal imagers and price is not a factor. Drone makers are on a tighter budget. A $2,000 military imager is not a viable proposition for a $400 FPV, In October 2024 Ukrainian start-up Odd Systems announced that they were producing locally-made thermal imagers. These are comparable to Chinese 256x192 pixel imagers, but about 20% cheaper at $250. Odd Systems say they when they can make their Kurbas-256 in volume the unit price will drop even further. Comparison of Kurbas-256 thermal imager with Chinse commercial products Importantly the Kurbas-256 is designed for FPVs rather than general industrial use. The developers talked to users about their combat experience with commercial Chinese thermal imaging cameras and modified their design accordingly. For example, some Chinese cameras suffer from condensation forming inside them, making them unusable, so Kurbas cameras come in a sealed unit sealed to prevent condensation. 'We studied the experience and considered the wishes of FPV operators. We have created a Ukrainian product with full control of hardware and low-level software,' the company told Militaryni. For example, the operator can adjust the output of the Kurbas-256 in flight, changing contrast for a clearer image depending on conditions. Also, most thermal cameras have automatic calibration which sometimes freezes the image for several seconds. This is not an issue for most applications but disastrous on a drone, so Odd Systems' cameras do not have this 'feature'. As well as providing benefits at the micro scale of drone operation, local production is critical on the macro scale of defence procurement. '[Sovereign drone production capability] allows for a faster cycle of innovation and adaptation, via fast response to the needs of the military, and fast implementation of the required,' says Molloy. 'Local production makes it possible to control all aspects of the technological process, including improvement and adaptation to the specific military needs of the country, and reduce the risks of defective parts.' Ukrainian FPV drones lie ready for handover. Large scale production is a now a critical national ... More capability It also means not being forced to rely on, for example, China. 'Domestic production mitigates vulnerabilities associated with international supply chain disruptions and potential political constraints on foreign procurement,' says Molloy. And, as seen in Ukraine, it can mean getting more drones for less. Molloy notes that other countries are now starting to wake up to the importance of local production, many of them gaining directly from Ukraine's experience.. 'In Europe, for example, many countries are investing in establishing joint manufacturing of UAV components,' says Molloy. 'This has become possible through collaboration between manufacturers and local businesses. Many countries, including UK, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Netherlands learn lessons from Ukraine and collaborate with Ukraine, while stepping up own production of UAVs and their components. ' Countries like Australia and the U.S. are investing in drone technology, but not on the scale that many would like to see. Last year, George Matus, CEO of Teal Drones, argued that the U.S. could transform drone infrastructure for the price of one F-35. This has not happened yet, though clearly there is a renewed emphasis in reducing mports. On April 7thy Twitter/X user Naval posted that 'Any country that can't manufacture its own drones will be a vassal state' - a sentiment greeted with a bullseye emoji by Elon Musk. Ukraine is on course to produce over four million drones this year. A steadily increasing proportion of these will be made from local components. With drones already inflicting the majority of combat losses, this production will be the cornerstone in the war effort against Russia. After the war, Ukrainian drone production may become a significant export earner, as other nations without this sort of production capacity scramble to build their own drone arsenals.
