“For the first time since the Korean War, we are operating without complete air superiority.”

The US is sounding the alarm on Iran's drones, again. Years after the Abqaiq attack the head of US Central Command is warning about drones. Marine Corps General Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of CENTCOM, has repeatedly warned about the threat drones pose. An Iranian drone overflew a US carrier and Iran posted photos of it. …

Continue reading “For the first time since the Korean War, we are operating without complete air superiority.”

Iran has masses of small drones, but do they work?

Iran showcased masses of small drones during an event on April 25. The event got some attention on social media among drone experts and those who follow technology. https://twitter.com/FeWoessner/status/1386277242255384579 But do they work? Iran has rapidly increased its drone arm in recent years, building on the legacy of Mohajer and Ababil and Shahed lines of …

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Drone news January-February 2021

An Aeronautics Orbiter 4 will be displayed at IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi. (Courtesy Aeronautics) Israeli defense companies are preparing for IDEX in Abu Dhabi, where some will demonstrate UAVs and counter-UAS solutions. Aeronautics, which is part owned by Rafael, will bring its Orbiter 4. IMCO will also demonstrate UAV technology and IAI has recently …

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Drone news Oct 28-Nov 3: Iran’s latest, a sighting of a secretive RQ-180?

November 3 Video: Azerbaijani loitering munition strike "against the Armenian 2K12 Kub air defense system TEL." Iran claims it made 'Arash kamikaze drones' with range of 100km, see story here and here. It may be a Kian drone. Iran claims it used drones with bombs also for the "first time," included the Karrar with a …

Continue reading Drone news Oct 28-Nov 3: Iran’s latest, a sighting of a secretive RQ-180?

Drone News Oct 8-20

Iran arms embargo ends as Tehran says it eyes exports, Iran has had major advances in drones in recent years. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in Israel shows off new technology at Euronaval 2020: "The NRWS C-UAS capitalizes on Rafael's world-renowned, long-standing Typhoon family of combat-proven naval defence solutions. The NRWS C-UAS incorporates a diverse mix …

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Drone news Oct 4-7: Armenia-Azerbaijan fighting, drone sales,

News about the use of UAVs in conflict continues, especially with the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict. Article at RUSI: Despite the heavy Armenian armoured losses, the key lessons from the videos Azerbaijan has published online are not about armour. Rather, they reflect how the density of sensors on the modern battlefield is changing the balance in combined arms warfare. …

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Drone news Sept 26-Oct 1: Azerbaijan drones, new Iran footage

Aeronautics releases new video of Orbiter 4 Drone news over the last week has been pronounced as Azerbaijan and Armenia clashed. Armenia says 55 drones have been shot down, including 6 on October 1. There is little evidence of this. However evidence is emerging of the effective use of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones and also …

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A look at Houthi ‘Rased’ drone and its links to others

A photo of a crashed Houthi drone raises some questions about the role of the Houthi drone program and also Iran's role in providing technology for UAVs to the Houthis and Hezbollah. The drone is often called "Rased (راصد)." There are some details about it. It is one of several recon drones the Houthis use …

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