David Hambling

Ukraine has announced the codification and mass production readiness of its new Firefly guided drone bomb system. This low-cost, add-on kit for 2-20lb munitions dramatically boosts the accuracy of "Baba Yaga" heavy bomber drones, like the Vampire and Kazhan. Firefly enables precision strikes, achieving 2-7 feet accuracy from high altitudes (600-2000+ feet), thereby reducing vulnerability to small arms fire and jamming. Priced at just $240 per unit with a monthly production capacity of 10,000, it's a highly cost-effective weapon. This innovation underscores Ukraine's rapid development of affordable defense tech, with future plans for guided glide bombs to facilitate stand-off attacks.

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Russian Wildberries warehouses, including one in Moscow, have been destroyed by drone strikes, causing billions in economic damage and significant supply chain disruption. These attacks highlight a new military strategy where small drone payloads effectively ignite highly flammable targets. Warehouses are particularly vulnerable due to vast quantities of cardboard, textiles, plastics, aerosols, and batteries, which burn intensely and spread rapidly. Drones often use incendiary warheads to initiate these catastrophic fires. Although Wildberries is a civilian company, it supplied the Russian military, making its infrastructure a strategic target. This tactic demonstrates how centralized, flammable facilities are susceptible to drone warfare, serving as a warning to global logistics.

David Hambling Weather happens in the boundary layer, the atmosphere from ground level to a few thousand metres, but this can be difficult

Ukraine has ushered in a new era of warfare, executing the first known drone-carrying-robot attack using "marsupial" tactics. A heavy-lift drone deployed an ARK-1 UGV with an anti-tank mine behind enemy lines, showcasing long-range, low-risk deployment by teaming uncrewed systems. This innovation overcomes mobility limitations and reduces human risk, a concept the U.S. previously explored but failed to implement. Such robotic heliborne assaults suggest a future where autonomous forces lead maneuver warfare, with human troops consolidating later. Ukraine aims to replace 30% of frontline troops with UGVs, highlighting the rapid integration of advanced robotics into modern combat.

The U.S. and Ukraine both face a critical shortage of Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles. Ukraine is under relentless Russian ballistic missile attacks, with its dwindling Patriot supply unable to counter the high volume of Iskanders. President Zelensky is now prioritizing destroying Russian missile launchers with drones, shifting to an "archer, not arrow" strategy. Meanwhile, the U.S. rapidly depleted its Patriot stocks during a brief conflict with Iran, using expensive interceptors against cheap drones. This "million-dollar answer to a twenty-thousand-dollar question" highlights the unsustainable cost. While the U.S. ramps up production the shortfall poses readiness risks. Both nations seekinnovative solutions to protect against missile threats.

Drones have emerged as the primary cause of battlefield casualties, leading soldiers to adopt new defensive strategies. Shotguns, especially semi-automatic 12-gauge models, are increasingly preferred for their pellet spread, enhancing the chance of hitting fast-moving FPV drones. Ammunition is crucial, with denser materials like tungsten proving more effective than lead against resilient carbon-fiber drones. While specialized shotshells for assault rifles offer higher velocity and range, shotguns remain the most reliable personal weapon for close-range drone interception. Engaging drones is a last resort, with seeking cover always preferred, but anti-drone small arms significantly enhance survival chances in open terrain, though they are not a complete solution.

Russia's new Arena-M Active Protection System (APS) for tanks has debuted in Ukraine, designed to counter FPV drones. Deployed on T-72s during a failed assault, the system reportedly shot down multiple FPVs, making tanks harder to destroy. Analysts are divided; some hail it as a success, potentially signaling a return for maneuver warfare, while others remain skeptical. Arena-M uses radar and interceptor rounds for 360-degree protection, but its limited ammunition capacity and high cost are notable drawbacks. Critics emphasize that FPV drones are cheap, numerous, and rapidly evolving, suggesting any APS advantage will be temporary. This ongoing arms race underscores the challenge of protecting expensive armor against adaptable, mass-produced threats, with drone operators quickly developing new tactics.

The science behind summer storms – and why they have yet to break the hot spell gripping the country

David Hambling “The English summer: three fine days and a thunderstorm,” George II is reputed to have said, although the line has also been attributed to Charles II and others.