The long-awaited opening of Ukraine’s arms exports has begun, though for now only a handful of countries will be able to participate in this carefully controlled framework. The first batch of Ukrainian drones has already headed to the United States.
This and more than 20 other developments in drone warfare in Ukraine and Russia are covered in the latest edition of my digest, Ukraine Drone Brief.
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Aerial Drones
A Russian Molniya UAV attacked a Ukrainian facility without a control antenna, relying only on a camera and onboard computer. This suggests Russia may be expanding autonomous navigation, target detection, and attack capabilities beyond V2-type drones to Molniya UAVs.
Russia is increasingly using the “Geran Seeker” Shahed/Geran variant designed to search for and strike high-value targets. It can be installed on different Geran versions, including the jet-powered one. It has an automatic target-recognition, target-locking, and terminal guidance system based on a Raspberry Pi.
Ukrainian Frontline Robotics deliberately limits automation on its drone assembly lines in favour of manual labour. It allows the company to adapt equipment quickly to the needs of the front line.