Latest news with #militaryinnovation
News24
a day ago
- Politics
- News24
‘A real coup': NATO must learn from Ukraine strategic strike on Russia
Ukraine resistance to Russia's invasion was providing lessons to NATO. NATO countries are under pressure to increase in their defence spending. Over 70% of battlefield casualties in Ukraine are caused by drones. Ukraine's 'creativity', including its massive 'Spider's web' drone attack deep inside Russia, holds profound lessons for Western militaries, the top NATO commander overseeing battlefield innovation told AFP. 'What the Ukrainians did in Russia was a Trojan horse - and the trojan horse was thousands of years ago,' French Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, said in an interview. 'Today, we see this kind of tactic being reinvented by technical and industrial creativity.' Vandier said the operation showed how crucial innovation and adaptation were for victory, as modern warfare changes at lightning speed. 'It was a real coup.' 'We are entering a dynamic era where armies must rely on both major planning but also adaptive planning,' the navy commander said. 'We will witness continuous innovation where, week by week, month by month or year by year, we will be able to invent things we hadn't anticipated.' Faced with the Russian threat, NATO this week adopted new objectives for its defence capabilities to ensure it will be able to repel Moscow. But Western intelligence agencies have warned that the Kremlin is reconstituting its forces at a pace far outstripping NATO and could be ready to attack the alliance in as little as four years. Time is truly a crucial parameter. We must act quickly. Pierre Vandier The admiral, who previously commanded France's flagship Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier, said NATO needed to amass the forces to dissuade any adversary from trying an attack. 'When you say 'I'm defending myself', you have the weapons to defend. When you say you deter, you have the weapons to deter,' he said. 'That's what should prevent war - making the adversary think: 'Tomorrow morning, I won't win.'' NATO countries under pressure from US President Donald Trump are expected to agree a major increase in their defence spending target at a summit in The Hague this month. That should see a dramatic surge in spending on military hardware. Daniel Carde/Anadolu via Getty Images But if cheap Ukrainian drones can inflict billions of dollars in damage on Russian bombers, is it still worth investing in vastly expensive systems? 'No-one in the military sphere will tell you that we can do without what we'll call traditional equipment,' Vandier said. 'However, we are certain we need new equipment to complement it.' Officials say that over 70% of battlefield casualties in Ukraine are caused by drones. But while drones are indispensable in modern warfare, they are not omnipotent. 'Today, you won't cross the Atlantic with a 10m-long drone. You won't easily locate submarines with such tools,' Vandier said. 'If they accompany your large platforms, you'll be able to achieve much better results at much lower costs.' Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images The admiral, who works out of NATO's US base in Norfolk, Virginia, said the major challenge was 'integrating new technologies and new combat methods, based on what we've witnessed in Ukraine'. NATO and Ukraine have established a centre in Poland designed to help the alliance learn lessons from Russia's invasion of its neighbour. Artificial Intelligence and robotics are also increasingly having an impact and are set to help reshape the battlefield. 'All modern armies will have piloted and non-piloted capabilities,' Vandier said. 'It's much more efficient to deliver ammunition with a ground robot than with a squad of soldiers who could face a 155mm shell.' Viacheslav Madiievskyi/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images This transformation of military capabilities within the alliance, which NATO aims to expand by at least 30% over coming years, will come at a significant cost, estimated in hundreds of billions of euros. Vandier insisted that while the financial effort was 'substantial' it was 'fully realistic'. 'Today, we have all the tools. We have the engineering. We have the expertise. We have the technology. So, we need to get started,' he said.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Ukraine Says It Has Stepped Up Its Drone Game, Again
Ukraine over the past three years has developed a wide range of drones and robotic weapons that have been deployed against Russian forces to deadly effect. The latest addition to this remote-controlled arsenal is the Magura V7, a homemade weapon system that launches antiaircraft missiles from a 24-foot remote-controlled speedboat. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, presented it to reporters on May 14. The system shot down two Russian Su-30 warplanes last month, according to the Ukrainian agency and independent analysts, in what is believed to be the first-ever successful use in combat by a drone boat against a fighter jet. Russia has not acknowledged the hits, but one was reported by Vladislav Shurygin, a Russian military expert. The use of the new systems is part of Ukraine's broader innovation involving drones and their use. Last weekend, Ukraine hit airfields from eastern Siberia to Russia's western border with a swarm of drones that it said it secretly planted on Russian territory. It was one of the war's most audacious strikes by Ukrainian forces. Although drones of that type have been used before, the airfield attack was the first time they had been deployed hidden onboard trucks and transported overland to launch sites deep inside Russia. The new sea drones are a technological as well as a tactical innovation. The new drones that were presented to reporters look like sleek green speedboats, with missiles mounted on the sides and an electronic eye in the center. In December, Ukraine said an earlier version of the new drones shot down two Russian Mi-8 helicopters in the Black Sea. The weapon, one of its operators explained at the presentation on May 14, can linger for days in the open water, tracking Russian fighter jets and then ambushing them. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
How Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web attack on Russia holds important lessons for China
Ukrainian attacks targeting airbases deep inside Russian territory despite lacking long-range missiles or bombers could offer important lessons about modern warfare in the event of any conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Under the operation, code-named Spider's Web , Ukraine smuggled drones into Russian territory undetected and hired unwitting drivers to transport them in modified containers to locations near airbases, some of them thousands of kilometres from Ukraine's border. The drones were then launched remotely to destroy surveillance planes and long-range bombers as they sat on the tarmac. The innovative approach was not just a damaging surprise for Moscow , but also a 'wake-up moment' for militaries around the world, according to US Air Force Chief of Staff David Allvin. He said the attack showed that 'seemingly impenetrable locations' might no longer be so safe in the era of rapidly evolving drone technology and asymmetric warfare, adding that such tactics could 'create dilemmas' for both attackers and defenders. 'The lesson is not just for Russia,' said Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation analyst and former member of the air force. '[Such attacks] could easily be carried out by secret services or in special military operations.' The lesson for China is that it would need 'to guard against enemy forces infiltrating military bases in such a way', Fu said.
The National
7 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Nano-drones and DragonFire lasers: New tech blazes a trail for UK's modernising military
The science fiction of Star Wars is rapidly becoming a reality as laser weapons and attack drones feature heavily in Britain's evolving armed forces. With the ability to shoot down a £1 coin from 1km away, the DragonFire laser could become a major force in defending against missile and drone attacks, after the UK Ministry of Defence announced a £5 billion ($6.75 billion) investment in an array of new systems. Britain has drawn heavily on the lessons of the Ukraine conflict in its Strategic Defence Review, launched on Monday. The revolution in warfare is producing much more automation, essentially letting robots do the heavy lifting in warfare. Sources have disclosed to The National how the British have developed secret weapons, from nano drones and microwave weapons to autonomous submarines, that are all likely to have operated in Ukraine's defence. Breathing DragonFire The DragonFire system will receive nearly £1 billion in funding to install the laser-directed energy weapons on a Type-45 destroyer by 2027 as the UK seeks to become 'the leading edge of innovation'. Modern missile interceptors can cost more than $1 million per weapon, but the DragonFire will just be £10 a shot – while being invisible and silent. Trials have demonstrated that the laser's beams can within five seconds destroy drones or make mortar bombs explode mid-flight. The lasers travel at the speed of light and destroy incoming threats by turning metal surfaces into 3,000°C plasma at a range understood to be beyond 2km. The system, which has been in development for nearly a decade, could become powerful enough to intercept ballistic missiles. The army will also receive a lorry-mounted DragonFire before the end of the decade with prototypes sent to Ukraine earlier to test their effectiveness. While the DragonFire uses up to 100 kilowatts in energy, US warships are looking at a 300-kilowatt system that could be capable of taking down cruise missiles and aircraft, and will come into service in a decade. Lessons from Ukraine The extraordinary developments made by both Ukraine and Russia in drone warfare have changed the nature of warfare. Military tacticians will be studying closely the massed drone assault authorised by Kyiv in which 41 Russian military aircraft were destroyed, causing $7 billion in damage, according to Ukrainian intelligence. In Sunday's raid, lorries filled with suicide drones were driven into Russia, one as far away as Siberia, then parked before their roofs were remotely opened and the aircraft flew to military bases, slipping past Russia's air defences. Nanos, lasers and swarms A range of highly advanced weapon systems, many of them undergoing trials in Ukraine, will be developed at pace with £4 billion in funding, mostly at what will be called the UK Drone Centre. This, the Strategic Defence Review said, will apply battlefield lessons from Ukraine where drones now kill more people than traditional artillery. It is understood that the British army is developing personal laser weapons to take down small drones but is struggling to 'operationalise' them due to the huge amounts of power required. The Banshee Jet 80 kamikaze drone is likely to be upgraded, with a number of models already used in Ukraine, the defence source disclosed. The Banshee can carry a 7kg warhead an estimated 200km using its twin jet engines to travel at 720km/h. Microwave weapons are being developed against drones and have been deployed to Ukraine for testing. Swarm technology is also advancing, with the Magni X system of six aircraft that can operate autonomously to defeat Russian anti-drone systems. They are thought to be capable of carrying a 2kg payload to use against individuals or vehicles. Nano technology will be carefully studied, building on the success of the finger-sized 18g Black Hornet drones. These can carry three cameras and fly for about 25 minutes, sneaking into buildings or military camps. Scientists will use AI and autonomy to develop battlefield transport, getting ammunition and rations to the front line in driverless vehicles. Another system in advanced development is a quadcopter that can lift wounded soldiers out of combat zones. It is also likely to be in use in Ukraine. Sea and air According to the Strategic Defence Review, Britain and its allies will have to compete harder for control of the air, 'fighting in a way not seen for over 30 years', due to advances by adversaries. The RAF is developing the Tempest sixth-generation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) as its future fighter. It is understood that 216 Squadron is undertaking discrete trials for a system called CCA (collaborative combat aircraft), otherwise known as the 'loyal wingman', in which the mother aircraft operates smaller drone fighters. While the Strategic Defence Review stated that 12 new attack submarines will be built, the development of autonomous boats is already well under way. The Neptune automated submarine is able to carry out covert close reconnaissance and is likely to have been used in the Black Sea to target Russian warships.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
I spent 3 days at the Marines' big modern warfare expo. Here's what the service was buzzing about.
I went to the three-day Modern Day Marine expo in Washington, DC. The expo, which draws military leaders and defense companies, focuses on the innovations needed to fight future wars. Marines spoke candidly about challenges trying to field and integrate new tech throughout units. I spent three days at the Marines' big annual modern warfare expo in Washington, DC. Drone tech stole the show. Marines, Pentagon officials, and defense industry executives spoke extensively on panels and in private discussions about the uphill battle of preparing for future warfare, and drones were a hot topic. Marine leaders discussed the difficulties of getting many more drones into the hands of troops and the challenges of adapting to war with these systems. The Modern Day Marine expo is focused on the innovations Marines need to fight future wars, so it's no surprise that everyone was buzzing about drones this year. These highly versatile machines which can surveil enemies, carry out precision strikes, and more have been redefining contemporary warfare. Their uses were on display at the "Drone Zone," a section of the expo featuring demos from the Marines' Attack Drone Team. There was also a section devoted to wargaming, another focused on warfighting, and countless booths where companies pitched ideas on what tech Marines might need for future fights. In what was basically a UAS mini-symposium, held in a cluster of quiet rooms in the convention center, about two dozen Marines — from generals to senior enlisted —hashed out what's working and what's not when it comes to drones. Some expressed concerns about fielding and implementing uncrewed aerial systems within the Corps. Leaders cited the difficulty of getting drones into the hands of troops due to the slow and complex military acquisition process, as well as tricky procedural and regulatory issues, like deconflicting flight space with the FAA, negotiating on-base training flights for logistics drones, and mitigating risks for civilians on the ground. I was a little surprised by just how open to reporters like me these intimate panels were and was struck by just how frank Marines were in speaking with me and helping me better understand their challenges. "We've got to field drones at scale in order to be able to pressurize our training really, to work through some of the real hard problems," said Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson, who oversees the service's Training and Education Command, during a media event. He added that he expects the service to receive more drones and loitering munitions, or one-way attack drones, over the next year. The newly established Attack Drone Team is an important part of the Corps' drive to learn from the war in Ukraine and bring small uncrewed systems into missions. The team demonstrated drone capabilities every few hours at MDM; it will serve as a foundation for competitive teams across bases. Other technology attendees buzzed about at the expo were electronic warfare, virtual training simulators, and the need for quantum communications. Drones are invaluable tools, but they won't be much help if the service can't physically get to conflict zones. That's why an initiative called "3.0 MEU," another timely topic at MDM, is a consistent strategic concern for the Marines' top general. A MEU, or Marine Expeditionary Unit, is a response force of around 2,200 Marines and sailors who carry out combat missions like amphibious assaults or respond to crises like embassy evacuations. The Marine Corps term "3.0 MEU" refers to having three groups deployed simultaneously, one from the East Coast, one from the West Coast, and one from a US base in Japan, plus enough ships to have some preparing for deployments, with plans for others to be undergoing intense maintenance cycles. Long-standing concerns about Navy ship readiness mean that having three groups of three ships deployed with embarked MEUs, with others in training pipelines and maintenance, is really still just a goal for now. "This is about more than ships, it's about deterrence and denial," Marine Corps Commandant Eric Smith said. "That is why the 3.0 ARG MEU matters; it gives our leaders options." (ARG refers to the naval warship groups known as Amphibious Ready Groups). The Navy operates and maintains the ships that Marines deploy on. But its fleet has been forced to contend with overwhelming maintenance and repair backlogs. The bedrock of American naval power, the US shipbuilding industry, has been plagued with troubles, too. With the state of the fleet, there are concerns that it isn't sufficiently prepared for emergencies. "There's a saying that wars are a come-as-you-are game," said Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, told last year on the impact of dismal ship readiness for Marines. "Well, this is where we are. And there is simply no immediate fix." Maintaining a mission-ready force requires upkeep of the facilities that troops live in to ensure a certain quality of life. Renovating barracks, the military equivalent of dormitories, was another important topic at the MDM expo. Barracks across the DoD have deteriorated due to insufficient maintenance, sometimes resulting in mold, water issues, and poor ventilation. The issue has been exacerbated by decades of war in the Middle East and is one that the lowest, unmarried enlisted ranks deal with regularly. Now, Marine leaders are trying to boost barracks renovations, which they also hope can help increase force retention. "Barracks 2030" is the Corps' refurbishment answer. But it comes with a steep price tag, nearly $11 billion through 2037. "The idea is not to fix it and forget it," Lt. Gen. James Adams, Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, said of the initiative during a panel on the topic. He added that the service "got ourselves into the position we're in now" by neglecting maintenance. But funding for Barracks 2030 hinges on Congress, and if lawmakers don't elect to fund the overhaul, it's likely to face painful delays. So it is getting more attention. Read the original article on Business Insider
