defense
WWI-style gunner tactics: Ukraine downs Shahed drones from Yak-52s
Ukraine is reportedly downing Shahed drones over Odesa using Yak-52 prop aircraft with rifle-armed gunners, a low-cost stopgap with lessons for Europe’s counter-UAS planning.
shahed
defense
Drone strike near Kyiv exposes ammo storage risk as Shahed pressure intensifies
A deadly drone strike near Kyiv that triggered apparent ammo detonations underscores the Shahed-driven air threat and the urgent European lesson on storage dispersion and scalable counter-UAS interceptors.
defense
Ukraine trades counter-drone expertise for Gulf fuel routed via Europe
Zelenskyy says Ukraine struck 10-year deals with Saudi, Qatar and UAE trading counter-drone expertise for interceptors, funding and crucial oil/diesel—some refined in Europe.
defense
Ukraine’s counter-drone officers export lessons of “drones vs drones” war
Ukraine is exporting counter-drone expertise as an officer describes “drones fighting drones,” swarms and AI—pressuring NATO to accelerate buying, training and ops.
defense
France rewrites its airpower and drone playbook ahead of a possible Russia test
France is updating procurement to counter cheap Shahed-type drones, expand munitions stocks and bolster air superiority enablers amid warnings Russia could test NATO in 2028–2029.