Latest news with #OperationSpidersWeb
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Ukraine says it hits four warplanes in Russia's Volgograd region
June 27 (Reuters) - Ukraine's military said on Friday it had struck four warplanes at an airbase in central Russia's Volgograd Region as part of a drive to hit Russian war assets. In a post on the Telegram messaging app, the military said it had hit four Su-34 aircraft at the Marinovka base outside the city of Volgograd, some 900 km (550 miles) from the Ukrainian border. The post said the operation was conducted by the military's special operations branch, together with the SBU security service and other services of the military. "According to preliminary information, four aircraft were hit, specifically SU-34 planes, as well as technical-operational facilities where different warplanes are serviced and repaired," the statement said. There was no immediate comment from the Russian military. Ukraine has engaged in a number of long-range operations against military targets in recent months -- industrial, energy and other sites. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian military carried out a major strike, dubbed "Operation Spider's Web," in which large numbers of long-range Russian bombers were hit at several Russian airbases far from Ukrainian territory. The latest statement said the damage caused by the strike on Marinovka was being assessed. It described the Su-34 as Russia's main aircraft used in bombing raids on Ukrainian territory, deployed in particular for launching guided bombs, used increasingly in attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Reuters
5 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Moscow mayor says air defence units downed two drones overnight
June 24 (Reuters) - Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said early on Tuesday that Russian air defences had downed two Ukrainian drones heading for the city overnight. Sobyanin, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said specialists were examining the debris of at least one drone downed after midnight. The mayor said a third drone targeting the capital had been repelled earlier in the evening. Russia's defence ministry reported that air defence units had destroyed nine drones in a 90-minute period before midnight, including nine over the border regions of Kursk and Bryansk. Ukraine has launched drone attacks on a wide range of targets in recent months, some a long distance from the Ukrainian border. In one attack this month, dubbed "Operation Spider's Web," Ukrainian drones targeted long-range military aircraft at a number of Russian bases. In recent months, Russia has stepped up mass drone attacks against Ukrainian cities. Waves of Russian drones and missiles swarming in and around Kyiv killed 10 people overnight on Sunday.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US base defense in the era of large-scale drone attacks
Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web wasn't just a brazen attack on Russia; it was a wake-up call for the United States. On June 1st, the Security Service of Ukraine (or SBU) carried out their mission, targeting four Russian airbases housing strategic bombers like the Tu-95 and Tu-22. Using small quadcopter drones that were assembled inside Russia and placed in modified roof compartments of shipping containers, they managed to eliminate at least 13 Russian aircraft, including several nuclear-capable bombers, and damage many others. This amounts to about 34% of their strategic bomber fleet destroyed in an incredibly short amount of time, an insurmountable loss. Ukraine didn't use any advanced technology or weapons. The drones used were small and built with commercially available parts. They were piloted, at least initially, by Ardupilot, an open-source software used by drone hobbyists to navigate drones autonomously. Using Russia's own 4G cellular networks, drone pilots, safe in Ukraine, flew the quadcopters the last meters to their targets. According to Ukrainian officials, everybody involved in the operation was safely out of Russia by the time it took place. The success of the operation and its relative simplicity have brought to the forefront concerns over how the United States would defend itself against a similar attack. While U.S. bases overseas have weapons capable of defending, at least partially, from small drones, many in the homeland do not. In our latest video, we break down how Ukraine pulled off Spider's Web, what that means for the United States, and what military leaders are doing to prepare for similar attacks. A Marine Corps reply-all email apocalypse has an incredible real-life ending Army shuts down its sole active-duty information operations command Army plans to close more than 20 base museums in major reduction Former Green Beret nominated to top Pentagon position to oversee special ops The Navy's new recruiting commercial puts the 'dirt wars' in the past
South China Morning Post
19-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
If Trump has all the cards, why is the US in such a strategic quagmire?
Just four months ago, US President Donald Trump was lecturing a surprised Volodymyr Zelensky on how the Ukrainian leader was 'not winning' because he did not 'have the cards' . As commander-in-chief of a superpower, Trump unabashedly brandished his geopolitical capital – apparently more interested in negotiating agreements with traditional US rivals such as Russia and Iran to bolster his 'art of the deal' credentials. Today, the strategic picture looks dramatically different. Following the spectacular success of Operation Spider's Web , which saw Ukrainian forces launching devastating drone attacks from within the heart of Russia, Kyiv seized the strategic initiative against the Kremlin. Trump, meanwhile, has struggled to translate his geopolitical capital into concrete gains. Despite his promise to swiftly finalise new deals with Russia and Iran, and repeatedly promising a new era of peace to his 'Make America Great Again' (Maga) base, the situation has escalated in traditional theatres of conflict. Having cards is one thing. Playing them skilfully is another. Not unlike his trade policy track record , Trump has gradually found himself in new strategic quagmires, which could ultimately strengthen its chief rivals, namely Russia and China. It's impossible to understand the direction of American politics over the past decade, and the meteoric rise of Trump, without taking into account the overwhelming public dissatisfaction with the ruling elite.
Forbes
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Dedrone By Axon Provides Insights On Protecting Against Small Drones
Images posted on social media showing Ukrainian drones packaged in containers for shipping (left) ... More and the video feed from the drones as they attack Russian bombers. Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web, which reportedly destroyed a third of Russia's strategic air assets, shifted the paradigm of where the front line exists. Previously, small drones, with their limited range, were used primarily close to the front lines. Meanwhile, key locations farther in the rear were either considered unlikely targets, out of range, or had air-defense systems to protect them against larger drones and missiles. However, as Ukraine demonstrated, small drone technology, coupled with an innovative mindset, can be used to cripple targets that were previously considered immune. Israel reportedly followed suit last week, smuggling small drones into Iran for strikes on Tehran. As such, many countries have taken notice and have started trying to figure out how to protect these targets. While this issue is complex and difficult to solve, Dedrone by Axon, a company that specializes in counter-drone systems, has been trying to tackle this problem for years. Their platforms are used in more than 30 countries, including six of the G7 nations and 17 federal entities, to protect airports, stadiums, correctional facilities, critical infrastructure, corporate campuses, and major events. Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE, a Vice President at Dedrone by Axon and counter-terrorism expert, provided insight into the challenges and what is necessary to solve these problems. Mr. Alexander-Cooper explained that the challenge in protecting against small drones lies in their commercial availability, which makes them an accessible weapon that can be deployed in large quantities. Further, the technology behind these drones continues to evolve rapidly driven by advances in the commercial sector. In turn, this allows users to develop new tactics leveraging increasing levels of autonomy, navigation, and stealth. Social media post from 2022 of a Ukrainian soldier using a Dedrone by Axon system. This rapid evolution of small drone technology creates persistent challenges for counter-drone systems. These defenses are inherently reactive, designed to exploit the vulnerabilities in the latest drone technology. Once fielded, the effectiveness of these systems quickly diminishes as drones are modified or redesigned to evade them. This cycle gives each new generation of drones a window of operational freedom before the next iteration of countermeasures is developed. Additionally, the dynamic evolution of small drone technology has created a diverse fleet, further complicating counter-drone systems. For example, while radio frequency detection might work well for traditional drones, fiber-optic drones emit no signals and require other methods. Meanwhile, radar works well for many of the larger, slower-moving, high-flying drones, but struggles against smaller, faster, low-flying drones. This variety makes it difficult for counter-drone systems to reliably detect and defeat all threats, especially as new drones are constantly being developed to evade existing defenses. While small drones are useful, they inherently have their weaknesses, especially with their payload capacity. This limited payload capacity restricts the amount of explosives that can be carried on the drone. This limited payload also reduces the size of the battery that can be carried, reducing the flight time of the drone and the power of the transmitter on the drone, substantially limiting the range. However, Mr. Alexander-Cooper pointed out, an 'entrepreneurial mindset coupled with bright people thinking outside the box' can overcome these issues. This was demonstrated in Operation Spider's Web, where Ukraine smuggled small drones deep into Russia and then deployed them with precision to maximize their impact. These small drones are clearly a complex problem. According to Mr. Alexander-Cooper, the answer lies in 'a layered defense with multi-sensor fusion.' Since drones vary widely in size, speed, altitude, and signature, relying on a single detection mechanism is inadequate. Detecting the radio frequency signature of a drone is one of the most common techniques and is effective against the majority of commercial systems. Meanwhile, more advanced or hardened drones may operate with reduced or spoofed emissions or avoid emitting radio signals altogether. These threats require detection through alternative means such as electro optical, infrared, radar, or LIDAR. As drones become more advanced, fusing data from multiple sensor types becomes essential to create a comprehensive picture of the airspace without relying on single source reporting. has the ability to integrate a number of different sensors together and provides ... More end-to-end defeat mechanisms for drones. (© Dedrone Inc.) As more sensors enter the mix, there is a growing need for an open architecture that allows new sensors to be quickly integrated into the detection network. This modular plug-and-play approach enables operators to upgrade individual sensors without overhauling the entire system. It also allows the system to be tailored to different operational environments, where specific sensors may be more effective than others depending on the threat landscape. With this increase in sensor diversity comes a rise in computational demands. Managing the data flow from multiple sources and fusing it into a coherent operational picture requires robust processing capability. The key to enabling this fusion lies in artificial intelligence algorithms that can analyze, learn from, and adapt to new types of drones as they are developed. These algorithms must be continuously refined to ensure that the system remains responsive to emerging threats. Once a drone is identified as adversarial, it must be neutralized. Mr. Alexander-Cooper emphasized the importance of counter-drone systems incorporating the full 'end to end defeat chain,' which includes detection, identification, tracking, decision-making, and ultimately defeat. As small drones become more advanced through improvements in computing and autonomy, the time available for counter-drone systems to respond continues to shrink. Michael Dyballa from the company Dedrone demonstrates how a company's premises can be secured ... More against drones in Langen, Germany, 5 July 2017. The German Air Navigation Service (DFS) hosted an event providing information on the uses and dangers of drones. German Telecom co-hosted the event. Photo: Andreas Arnold/dpa (Photo by Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Images) Just as with detection, tracking and identification, there is no single solution for drone defeat. An effective counter-drone system must offer a range of defeat mechanisms, both kinetic and non-kinetic. This flexibility allows operators to respond in line with mission constraints and rules of engagement. Non-kinetic tools such as radio frequency and GNSS jamming or signal spoofing remain effective against many commercial drones. However, more sophisticated threats are often hardened against jamming and require kinetic solutions such as directed energy weapons, nets, lasers, or mobile interceptors to be neutralized effectively. Over the past decade, there has been an ongoing cat and mouse game between drone and counter-drone technology, which has been accelerated by the Russia-Ukraine War. According to Mr. Alexander-Cooper, the future of counter-drone technology will be shaped by speed. Advances in AI and machine learning are reducing the time systems need to react to the point where counter-drone systems will soon need to operate without humans in the loop. This will become especially important as swarm technology advances, requiring systems to handle multiple simultaneous threats. Mr. Alexander-Cooper also highlighted the paradigm shift following Operation Spider's Web. The number of potential targets has become virtually unlimited, with small drones capable of inflicting significant damage, making it effectively impossible to fully protect all assets. Effective defense will require not only new tools, but integrated systems, rapid data sharing, and a willingness across industry and government to adapt together. The small drone threat is evolving. The response must evolve faster.
