Latest news with #UNITED24
Forbes
3 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Ukraine Turns To AI-Controlled Guns To Stop Russian Shahed Drones
Russia's drone bombardment of Ukraine has escalated remorselessly, with successive nightly attacks breaking records for the number of Shaheds fired. So far, the defenders have contained the worst of the onslaught, but the defense is under increasing strain. Now UNITED24, an official fundraising platform set up by President Zelensky, is raising funds for automated turrets to shoot down the attacking drones. The radar-guided weapons function without human intervention, and the plan is to raise $1,500,000 for 10 turrets, enough to provide defensive coverage for a small city. These Sky Sentinels should stop drones and save lives. On the night of 26th May the Ukrainian Air Force reported 355 incoming drones – almost as many as they were launching in a whole month in 2024. The Shahed, built in Russian to an Iranian design, is a simple, low-cost drone. Russia produces them in increasing numbers and bombards Ukrainian cities in an attempt to break the people's will to fight. While earlier Shaheds were equipped with warheads optimized to damage infrastructure such as electrical substations, more recent models are armed with shrapnel warheads and cluster munitions in a deliberate attempt to maximize civilian casualties. While previously Ukraine was shooting down something over 95% of the incoming drones, last month the rate dropped to 84%. Coupled with the increase in the total number of drones, this means we are seeing far more apartment blocks hit by the drones. Ukrainian sources suggest that the increased proportion getting through is due to the drones being used in higher concentrations against smaller areas and flying at higher altitude than before. This week one was tracked flying at 4,300 meters – over 14,000 feet. While some Shaheds are brought down by surface-to-air missiles, or intercepted by jets, nobody including Ukraine has anything like enough missiles to stop hundreds of drones every night. The U.S. only produces about 650 Patriot missiles a year, which would be exhausted in a few days. Interceptor drones look promising but are not yet in large-scale use. A large proportion of Shaheds are brought down by mobile defense units, equipped with automatic cannons or heavy machine guns and thermal imagers, and networked to the air defense system. They are highly effective but have the same limitations as other humans. The Sky Sentinel defense system mounted on a mobile trailer provides the same sort of capability but with the added power of AI. It never needs rest, never gets tired, and reacts instantly and precisely to incoming threats at any tinme day or night. Sky Sentinel uses a standard heavy machine gun, linked to a radar able to spot small targets. 360-degree rotation means it can cope with attacks coming from any direction. And while human gunners struggle to hit fast-moving targets, Sky Sentinel can reportedly hit drones moving at 500 miles an hour, and it has no trouble with the 120 mph Shaheds. The AI system controlling was developed entirely in Ukraine. It copes with multiple variables including wind speed and direction, and can pick out drones from other flying objects such as birds. Hitting an aerial target with bullets requires extreme precision, and according to the makers, this has been one of the biggest challenges. 'One of the biggest engineering hurdles for this kind of weapon is something called 'play'—mechanical slack,' an engineer told UNITED24. They noted that a fraction of an inch of tolerance in the mechanism could result in bullets missing the target by yards. So Sky Sentinel had to be built with effectively zero mechanical play, even after recoil. The pointing accuracy is claimed to be just 17 micro-radians – less than a tenth of an inch at 1,000 yards – far less than inaccuracies caused by other variables. Sky Sentinel ammunition feed Mykyta Shandyba 'We're solving dozens of micro-challenges so that everything works as a single seamless system,' states the engineer. 'No mechanical slack, no software delays, flawless optics, and precision firing. It all has to work in perfect sync.' A prototype Sky Sentinel system is already in operation and has reportedly downed four Shaheds. Sky Sentinels will form the inner layer of a defensive system, with interceptor drones, missiles and other weapons forming the outer layers. Sky Sentinel could be seen as a low-cost version of the computer-controlled, radar-guided Phalanx CIWS system carried by U.S. warships, with its six-barreled 20mm cannon firing 75 rounds a second to bring down cruise missiles. The U.S fielded a ground-based version of this, known as Centurion C-RAM ('Counter Radar, Artillery and Mortars') to defend based in Iraq. The key phrase here is 'low cost' – Centurion costs $10-$15m per unit depending on the configuration. A single two-second burst of fire from the Phalanx costs around $7,000, and it may take several to down a target. Sky Sentinel is only designed to bring down drones, not rockets and artillery shells. But at about a hundredth the cost of earlier systems, the Sky Sentinel is an affordable system which meets Ukraine's needs. The big challenge is likely to be scaling up production. Producing a mechanically perfect prototype is one thing, achieving the same precision in mass produced system is something else, thought the developers say it is 'absolutely doable.' Sky Sentinel is only part of a solution to Russian drone attacks. Int he longer term, Ukraine needs to target Russian drone production, storage and launch facilities to end the threat. But the automated turrets will minimise the effects of the dronbe asssault and save lives. UNITED24 has already raised funds for the first Sky Sentinel and are seeking nine more – donations can be made here.
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Forbes
Flying Aircraft Carriers: Ukraine Refines FPV Mothership Tactics
A fixed wing carrier with six FPV drones recently shown by UNITED24 Ukraine is fielding carrier drones or motherships to transport FPVs to the target area before launching them. Russian forces reported these as far back as November 2023, and last month Russian news agency TASS stated that Ukraine was carrying out FPV attacks 25 miles or more behind the lines in seven regions suggesting that use is becoming widespread. The commander of the Typhoon drone unit of the National Guard of Ukraine, who goes by the callsign 'Michael', told me that carrier operations are very much a matter of ongoing development. 'It's a combination of using existing technologies and continuously refining them based on operational feedback,' says Michael. 'It's about optimizing what we already have while layering in new enhancements where needed.' There are parallels with the learning curve on traditional floating aircraft carriers. The Chinese Navy officially commissioned its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, in 2012. It took four years of trials and training -- and a number of accidents – before it was declared combat ready four years later. The Chinese already had a navy and air force, but flying aircraft from ships required a whole new skill set for both. New military operations take practice to perfect, and learning under field conditions is harder. While a single FPV strike may be simple, a carrier with one or more FPVs is different and expensive. The carrier remains in the area to act as a flying radio relay for the FPV and Michael says they would not fly a reusable carrier drone against a low value target. 'If something goes wrong, we risk losing not just the FPV, but the entire system,' says Michael Ukraine has displayed drone carriers include both fixed wing and multi-rotor types, carrying one, two, four or six FPVs. More might look better, but it brings complications. 'If we're using analog video transmission, for example, each drone must operate on a different frequency to avoid signal interference,' says Michael, 'Managing multiple video feeds, control links, and power systems adds significant complexity, especially under field conditions. It requires precise coordination and a reliable communication infrastructure to ensure everything works smoothly in practice.' FPV drone on fixed wing aircraft type mothership So something like the carrier with a single drone supplied to Birds of Magyar may be preferable to a bigger carrier. The choice between fixed wing or rotary carrier also involves tradeoffs. 'When it comes to rotary-wing carrier drones, the main disadvantage is their relatively low operational altitude — typically around 300–400 meters,' says Michael. 'At this height, they are vulnerable to a wide range of threats including small arms fire, other drones, and electronic warfare such as jamming.' Russia routinely flies interceptor drones against Ukrainian multicopter Baba Yaga night bombers, and a rotary drone carrier would be a prime target. 'Fixed-wing carrier drones, on the other hand, operate at much higher altitudes,' says Michael, which some threats but increases others. 'At these altitudes, they become more visible to enemy radar and are more likely to be targeted by anti-aircraft systems.' Either way, carrier missions must be carefully planned around the locations of Russian air defenses. 'In many combat zones, the airspace is protected by a mix of electronic warfare tools and radar systems,' says Michael. 'Successful use of such systems requires detailed intelligence to identify gaps in enemy air defense coverage.' Michael says his Typhoon unit is starting to focus on one particular attack mode for carriers. Multicopter drone carrier with FPV 'From our perspective, the most promising use case at the moment is integrating a 'lock-on-target' feature, which would allow for more autonomous and precise deployment of FPV drones from the carrier platform,' says Michael. In this approach the carrier become more like a weapons platform, and the FPVs are more like guided missiles than independent aircraft. Michael previously described his units' work with automated target lock systems for FPVs. These bypass short-range jammers and are a limited but useful way of assisting human pilots. 'Implementing this capability requires additional technical development and system integration, so it's still a work in progress,' says Michael. There are real benefits in prospect though. Apart from extending range, carrier drones eliminate problems like radio shadow can shorten the time between detecting a target and engaging it. They also open up the possibility of multiple coordinated strikes against long-range targets. Meanwhile, interceptor operators are reportedly using drone carriers to get FPVs into action rapidly against high-altitude targets. A carrier can patrol at altitude and the FPVs are only launched when needed. These are very much the early days of drone carriers. In future we may motherships carrying a mixed load of reconnaissance and attack drones, carriers delivering drones which land and carry out ambush attacks, and carriers with unjammable fiber-guided FPVs. But while they have potential, Michael remains agnostic about whether carrier drones will become more than a special-purpose tool. 'Whether carrier drones become more common in the future largely depends on the operational environment and mission objectives,' says Michael. But he notes that the extended range is a powerful benefit. A site within range of drone strikes is no longer safe, and the enemy will need to relocate ammunition dumps, fuel storage, repair shops and other facilities several miles further back, not to mention artillery and air defense assets – until longer-range carriers move the red line even further. Simply possessing FPV carriers makes the enemy's life more difficult, even if they are rarely used. 'Even if a mission is not cost-effective in purely tactical terms, the psychological impact of a successful carrier drone strike — especially deep behind enemy lines — can be significant,' says Michael.
Euronews
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
You can now tour the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica in Minecraft
In a world where kids are consistently glued to their screens and Minecraft rules the digital playground, the Vatican is stepping up its game - literally. Vatican officials have unveiled "Peter is Here", a Minecraft-based video game that lets players explore the wonders of St. Peter's Basilica, all while learning about its artwork and history. The game, developed in collaboration with Microsoft's Minecraft Education programme, is part of the Vatican's jubilee year project, aimed at introducing younger generations to the treasures of its cultural heritage. 'Essentially within the video game, it is a 3D representation, or 3D re-building of St. Peter's Basilica, so you have a character in the game and you can walk through the hallways and explore the entire building. You can interact with the art pieces, the statues and the mosaics, and you can learn the history of each of those" explained Allison Matthews, the head of Minecraft Education at a press conference on Tuesday 18 March. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti took a moment to reassure the media that the project had been well underway before Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. "I imagine here, if Pope Francis were here, he would say you did well to think of this. Even the way in which he lives, the way he testifies to his faith right now says that our perspective is eternal and of eternity. So what we do now is proof that through fun we are in a certain sense, transported to another dimension." 'He's getting better,' Gambetti shared with a hopeful grin. 'We pray a lot and wait for him to come back. This is what we want." This is not the first time Minecraft has been used for educational purposes. Last year, UNITED24 recreated the famous Soledar salt mines within the game to spotlight Ukraine's ongoing conflict while raising crucial funds for the reconstruction of the Velyka Kostromka school, devastated by Russian attacks. A similar approach was taken in Fortnite by game designer Luc Bernard, who developed the platform's first educational Holocaust museum. This virtual museum allows players to explore key moments in history, from the efforts of Abdol Hossein Sardari - an Iranian diplomat who issued thousands of passports to Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied France - to the stories of LGBTQ+ Jews and the Black Panther tank battalion that helped liberate Jewish prisoners. Jewellery-making is one of the oldest art forms, passed down through generations. The National Museum of Kazakhstan showcases centuries of jewellery tradition, where pieces were not only decorative but also carried deep cultural and educational significance. Modern artisans have found ways to reimagine these traditions, shaping them to reflect contemporary Kazakh identity. While Berik Alibai is dedicated to preserving the ancient craft and passing it on, Meruert Orynbek creates bold, vibrant pieces that celebrate the national identity of Kazakh women. By striking a balance between heritage and modernity, both have transformed their craftsmanship into a thriving ethno-business.
