Latest news with #Makar
NDTV
6 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Ukrainian Forces Test Next-Gen Drones, Catch US Military's Attention: Report
A frontline Ukrainian unit is reportedly emerging as a leader in drone warfare, testing and improving advanced technologies during active combat. As the war with Russia becomes more focused on aerial tactics, the unit's experience is reshaping modern military operations and offering insights to allies such as the US, according to an exclusive in The New York Post. This unit under the 3rd Assault Brigade is leading the way in drone use, effectively using both aerial and ground drones in combat. Its drone operations are shaping the war's trajectory, the report claimed. "This brigade systematically uses assault drones in its operations," said a commander, identified by his callsign "Makar," from the unit. "They close the distance between Russian and Ukrainian troops because they can go farther than is safe for troops," he said. All drones are domestically made and developed in coordination between Ukrainian engineers and frontline soldiers. This real-time feedback system enables quick improvements, making the drones more effective. One major challenge for foreign developers is the lack of opportunity to gain real battlefield experience for their systems in their home countries, Makar said. "They can have a great idea, but they won't know it won't work in modern warfare until they come here. If they come to Ukraine, they can have close contact directly with troops, so changes can be made overnight instead of wasting time," he added. Ukraine's focus on building its own defence industry has led to a major shift. Now 40 per cent of its military equipment is made domestically, with a target of taking it to 50 per cent by next year. This has given Ukraine an edge over the US in some aspects of drone use and strategy. Makar said that his unit was open to collaborating with international weapons manufacturers. Such partnerships, he said, would benefit both sides. While it would give Ukraine access to new technologies, defence companies would receive real-time feedback to refine and certify their products as "battle-tested." Another Ukrainian soldier, who uses the callsign "Acrobat", highlighted the urgency of sharing this knowledge with global allies. According to The Post, he said, "Even if our country is killed, Russia will not stop. It will take these tactics and battlefield knowledge with them as they invade other countries." Ukraine's industrial leaders recognise the importance of these developments in drone warfare. Oleksandr Biletskyi, vice president of the country's League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, highlighted Ukraine's long-standing defence engineering background, saying, "The tank industries, the rocket industry of the Soviet Union, were always done by Ukrainians." Now, Ukraine is showing how frontline experience and innovation can transform not just its own defences, but global military thinking. In the US, the Pentagon appears to be taking notice. As reported by The Post, the US Army recently conducted its first test of a grenade-dropping drone, a tactic already deployed hundreds of times daily in Ukraine.
New York Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Inside the elite Ukrainian combat unit revolutionizing modern drone warfare
KYIV, Ukraine — An elite Ukrainian combat unit is defining the future of warfare by battle-testing new drone technology in real-time — which will provide invaluable insight and opportunity for the US, according to the unit's commander. As the more than three-year war turns to the skies, The Post visited a Ukrainian assault unit, which falls under the elite 3rd Assault Brigade, pioneering land and air drones to use in battle. From ground units that lay mines and fire assault rifles to flying drones that drop grenades, Ukrainian Armed Forces are constantly deploying new technologies — and making regular tweaks to perfect them — on the battlefield. 6 The Post visited a Ukrainian assault unit using advanced land and air drones that are defining the future of warfare. Caitlin Doornbos/NY Post 'This brigade systematically uses assault drones in its operations,' a UAF drone unit commander who goes by the callsign 'Makar' told The Post. 'They close the distance between Russian and Ukrainian troops because they can go farther than is safe for troops.' All of the drones used by Makar's unit are designed and produced in Ukraine, where developers have instant access to troop feedback on how to perfect their products. 'These are the most modern weapons because we're doing it in close collaboration with the developers,' Makar said. 'Today, if we are doing some mission and a problem arises, we can send a note to them and they can start rebuilding instantly to address the problem.' It is a prime example of Albert Einstein's classic adage, 'necessity is the mother of invention,' Makar said. 6 All of the drones used by Makar's unit are designed and produced in Ukraine. Caitlin Doornbos/NY Post The country also had to shift away from foreign weapons as a result of the pipeline of Western military aid drying up. Kyiv is now making roughly 40% of its own weapons, with a goal to boost that to 50% by next year. As a result, Ukraine has outpaced American drone production and know-how — but they are eager to share their knowledge with the US. 'The main thing is that developers abroad have no way to get their systems battle experience on their own shores,' Makar said. 6 Kyiv is now making roughly 40% of its own weapons. Caitlin Doornbos/NY Post 'They can have a great idea, but they won't know it won't work in modern warfare until they come here,' he continued. 'If they come to Ukraine, they can have close contact directly with troops, so changes can be made overnight instead of wasting time.' Makar said his unit is open to partnerships with weapons producers of all nations, calling it a win-win situation. Ukraine could use new technologies in its fight and defense companies could receive regular feedback to improve their weapons, which can then be certified as 'battle-tested.' 6 Makar said his unit is open to partnerships with weapons producers of all nations. Caitlin Doornbos/NY Post Here is the latest on the Russia-Ukraine conflict It comes as the Pentagon has begun stepping its foot into the world of drone warfare. On Tuesday, the US Army posted to X that it had just conducted its first test of a drone that drops grenades. 6 Ukraine has outpaced American drone production so far. Caitlin Doornbos/NY Post Meanwhile, in Ukraine, these same tactics and technologies are used hundreds of times per day. 'We want to share,' said another Ukrainian soldier known as 'Acrobat.' 'Because even if our country is killed, Russia will not stop. It will take these tactics and battlefield knowledge with them as they invade other countries.' 6 Ukraine had to shift away from foreign weapons as a result of the pipeline of Western military aid drying up. Caitlin Doornbos/NY Post Oleksandr Biletskyi, vice president of Ukraine's League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, said Ukraine's drone developments are also key examples of the country's advanced engineering — which has long been native to this region. 'The tank industries, the rocket industry of the Soviet Union, were always done by Ukrainians,' he said. Now, with the conflict becoming the first example of modern warfare, the Ukrainian defense industry is further revolutionizing defense engineering by working hand-in-hand with frontline troops.
NBC Sports
07-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Brent Burns signs with Avalanche for what could be last chance at elusive Stanley Cup
DENVER — Brent Burns has the impressive Ironman streak — 925 straight games and counting — the majestic beard and the individual accolades. All that's missing from his potential Hall of Fame career is a Stanley Cup title. This could be his last chance. The 40-year-old agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche that includes up to $3 million more in performance bonus. He's trying to follow the script of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, who spent most of his career with Boston only to join the Avalanche late in his career and hoist the Cup in 2001 before skating off into retirement. 'There's still something to chase, so I'm still super-motivated for that,' Burns said in a Zoom call. 'There's one big goal still.' He joins a stacked Colorado team that includes fellow Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Cale Makar and one of the league's top scorers in Nathan MacKinnon. Burns figures to add another layer of leadership to a team that just got back captain Gabriel Landeskog after he missed nearly three years in his recovery from a serious knee injury. 'You're around guys that are chasing one goal and there's just something special about it — all the laughs and the working hard together,' Burns said. 'It's really special to try to build something together, and I just enjoy that process.' The 6-foot-5, 228-pound Burns could be partnered on the blue line with Sam Malinski, who was around 5 years old when Burns broke into the league. What number Burns may wear on his jersey remains in the air. The numbers he's donned over his NHL career are taken — No. 8 is worn by Makar and No. 88 by Martin Necas, who was his teammate in Carolina. Burns is leaning toward No. 84, 'but I don't know if it's set in stone yet,' he said. Burns won the league's award for the top defenseman in 2017. He joins another Norris winner in Makar, who was the award's most recent recipient and also won it in 2022, when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. 'He's obviously just insanely talented,' Burns said of Makar. 'The things he can do — there's not many, if any, people in the world that can do it. So I'm really excited to get to see it in person every day and see how he ticks, and how he thinks about the game.' Burns is still getting major ice time even as he's about to enter his 22nd NHL season. He averaged nearly 21 minutes a game for the Hurricanes last season. He had six goals and 23 assists. What's more, he's played in 925 straight games, which is the fourth-longest 'Iron Man' streak in NHL history and longest currently going. A first-round pick by Minnesota in 2003, Burns played seven seasons with the Wild before being dealt to San Jose in 2011. He spent the past three seasons in Carolina. Over 1,497 regular-season games, he's scored 261 goals and dished out 649 assists. He's led all NHL defensemen in points (2016-17, 18-19), assists (18-19) and goals (15-16, 16-17) for a season over his career. Burns is set to become the 23rd player in NHL history to skate in at least 22 seasons. 'That's a big part for me. It's something I really want to do. It's definitely not easy,' Burns said. 'I think it's a special group here. ... Whatever they ask of me, that's what I want to do. That's all that I'm really looking at right now is that's what I want to do.' The one piece missing from his lengthy career is that Stanley Cup. He reached the final with the Sharks in 2016, where they lost to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. In 135 postseason games, Burns has 24 goals and 56 assists while averaging just over 24 minutes on the ice. 'I just want to come in and join the group, fit in,' Burns said. 'I want to bring some energy, bring some fun, some experience.'
Hamilton Spectator
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Veteran defenseman Brent Burns signs with Avs for what could be last chance at elusive Stanley Cup
DENVER (AP) — Brent Burns has the impressive Ironman streak — 925 straight games and counting — the majestic beard and the individual accolades. All that's missing from his potential Hall of Fame career is that Stanley Cup title. This could be his last chance. The 40-year-old agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche that includes up to $3 million more in performance bonus. He's trying to follow the script of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, who spent most of his career with Boston only to join the Avalanche late in his career and hoist the Cup in 2001 before skating off into retirement. 'There's still something to chase, so I'm still super-motivated for that,' Burns said Thursday in a Zoom call. 'There's one big goal still.' He joins a stacked Colorado team that includes fellow Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Cale Makar and one of the league's top scorers in Nathan MacKinnon. Burns figures to add another layer of leadership to a team that just got back captain Gabriel Landeskog after he missed nearly three years in his recovery from a serious knee injury. 'You're around guys that are chasing one goal and there's just something special about it — all the laughs and the working hard together,' Burns said. 'It's really special to try to build something together, and I just enjoy that process.' The 6-foot-5, 228-pound Burns could be partnered on the blue line with Sam Malinski, who was around 5 years old when Burns broke into the league. What number Burns may wear on his jersey remains in the air. The numbers he's donned over his NHL career are taken — No. 8 is worn by Makar and No. 88 by Martin Necas, who was his teammate in Carolina. Burns is leaning toward No. 84, 'but I don't know if it's set in stone yet,' he said. Burns won the league's award for the top defenseman in 2017. He joins another Norris winner in Makar, who was the award's most recent recipient and also won it in 2022, when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. 'He's obviously just insanely talented,' Burns said of Makar. 'The things he can do — there's not many, if any, people in the world that can do it. So I'm really excited to get to see it in person every day and see how he ticks, and how he thinks about the game.' Burns is still getting major ice time even as he's about to enter his 22nd NHL season. He averaged nearly 21 minutes a game for the Hurricanes last season. He had six goals and 23 assists. What's more, he's played in 925 straight games, which is the fourth-longest 'Iron Man' streak in NHL history and longest currently going. A first-round pick by Minnesota in 2003, Burns played seven seasons with the Wild before being dealt to San Jose in 2011. He spent the past three seasons in Carolina. Over 1,497 regular-season games, he's scored 261 goals and dished out 649 assists. He's led all NHL defensemen in points (2016-17, 18-19), assists (18-19) and goals (15-16, 16-17) for a season over his career. Burns is set to become the 23rd player in NHL history to skate in at least 22 seasons. 'That's a big part for me. It's something I really want to do. It's definitely not easy,' Burns said. 'I think it's a special group here. ... Whatever they ask of me, that's what I want to do. That's all that I'm really looking at right now is that's what I want to do.' The one piece missing from his lengthy career is that Stanley Cup. He reached the final with the Sharks in 2016, where they lost to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. In 135 postseason games, Burns has 24 goals and 56 assists while averaging just over 24 minutes on the ice. 'I just want to come in and join the group, fit in,' Burns said. 'I want to bring some energy, bring some fun, some experience.' ___ AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report. ___ AP NHL:
Winnipeg Free Press
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Veteran defenseman Brent Burns signs with Avs for what could be last chance at elusive Stanley Cup
DENVER (AP) — Brent Burns has the impressive Ironman streak — 925 straight games and counting — the majestic beard and the individual accolades. All that's missing from his potential Hall of Fame career is that Stanley Cup title. This could be his last chance. The 40-year-old agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche that includes up to $3 million more in performance bonus. He's trying to follow the script of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, who spent most of his career with Boston only to join the Avalanche late in his career and hoist the Cup in 2001 before skating off into retirement. 'There's still something to chase, so I'm still super-motivated for that,' Burns said Thursday in a Zoom call. 'There's one big goal still.' He joins a stacked Colorado team that includes fellow Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Cale Makar and one of the league's top scorers in Nathan MacKinnon. Burns figures to add another layer of leadership to a team that just got back captain Gabriel Landeskog after he missed nearly three years in his recovery from a serious knee injury. 'You're around guys that are chasing one goal and there's just something special about it — all the laughs and the working hard together,' Burns said. 'It's really special to try to build something together, and I just enjoy that process.' The 6-foot-5, 228-pound Burns could be partnered on the blue line with Sam Malinski, who was around 5 years old when Burns broke into the league. What number Burns may wear on his jersey remains in the air. The numbers he's donned over his NHL career are taken — No. 8 is worn by Makar and No. 88 by Martin Necas, who was his teammate in Carolina. Burns is leaning toward No. 84, 'but I don't know if it's set in stone yet,' he said. Burns won the league's award for the top defenseman in 2017. He joins another Norris winner in Makar, who was the award's most recent recipient and also won it in 2022, when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. 'He's obviously just insanely talented,' Burns said of Makar. 'The things he can do — there's not many, if any, people in the world that can do it. So I'm really excited to get to see it in person every day and see how he ticks, and how he thinks about the game.' Burns is still getting major ice time even as he's about to enter his 22nd NHL season. He averaged nearly 21 minutes a game for the Hurricanes last season. He had six goals and 23 assists. What's more, he's played in 925 straight games, which is the fourth-longest 'Iron Man' streak in NHL history and longest currently going. A first-round pick by Minnesota in 2003, Burns played seven seasons with the Wild before being dealt to San Jose in 2011. He spent the past three seasons in Carolina. Over 1,497 regular-season games, he's scored 261 goals and dished out 649 assists. He's led all NHL defensemen in points (2016-17, 18-19), assists (18-19) and goals (15-16, 16-17) for a season over his career. Burns is set to become the 23rd player in NHL history to skate in at least 22 seasons. 'That's a big part for me. It's something I really want to do. It's definitely not easy,' Burns said. 'I think it's a special group here. … Whatever they ask of me, that's what I want to do. That's all that I'm really looking at right now is that's what I want to do.' The one piece missing from his lengthy career is that Stanley Cup. He reached the final with the Sharks in 2016, where they lost to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. In 135 postseason games, Burns has 24 goals and 56 assists while averaging just over 24 minutes on the ice. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'I just want to come in and join the group, fit in,' Burns said. 'I want to bring some energy, bring some fun, some experience.' ___ AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report. ___ AP NHL:
