Drones, the Air Littoral, and the Looming Irrelevance of the USAF

[HavokFour]

It was only a matter of time. Like Ukraine's long range drones, they too already had the ability to carry unguided bombs. The job of the pilots flying Ukraine's Yak-52s just got significantly more dangerous.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1995492744803057747

 

[Kirkhill]

Apaches as rapidly redeployable LAA-CUAS batteries.
As the original launch vehicles for the 30mm x 113 cannons popular on MSHORAD and EOS Slinger systems among others as well as launching the 70mm APKWS used effectively on the VAMPIRE system and F16s to take down drones over Ukraine and the Red Sea.

U.S. Army AH-64E Apache's Counter-Drone Capability Rapidly Matures

Apaches scored 13 drone kills out of 14 engagements during Operation Flyswatter, reflecting the AH-64’s evolving counter-UAS capabilities. Apaches scored 13 drone kills out of 14 engagements during Operation Flyswatter, reflecting the AH-64’s evolving counter-UAS capabilities.

www.twz.com

 

[HavokFour]

Ukraine's Sting interceptor is now fast enough to catch the jet powered Geran-3, about ~343km/h.

Ukrainians say their cheap interceptor drones are catching Russia's new turbojet Shaheds

Russia's turbojet Geran-3s are much faster than the usual Shaheds, but Ukrainians that their cheap interceptors took several down for the first time.

www.businessinsider.com

Archive

From the non-profit that developed them.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1995417826753180061

 

[Kirkhill]

F16s with APKWS II 70mm Hydras and older AIM-9M Sidewinders = 108 splashed drones in 8 months

108 Enemy Aircraft Downed, $25M Saved How F-16s Beat Houthis With Obsolete Missiles, APKWS | Defense Express

In just eight months of deployment, F-16 squadron under Lt. Col. William Parks shot down 108 aerial targets

en.defence-ua.com

 

[Kirkhill]

Speaks for itself.

France is two years from fielding drone swarms in its armed forces

“Obviously, in a dehumanized combat, there’s a sort of coldness behind it all that somewhat gives you goosebumps," a French Army official predicted.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Kirkhill]

Project Talon? By Northrop? Long and slender design?

Northrop's T-38 Talon trainer, the F-5 by any other name, is a long and slender design?
Is this a simplified F-5?

Project Talon: Northrop unveils new loyal wingman drone design - Breaking Defense

Project Talon is Northrop Grumman's newly revealed loyal wingman drones, designed to fly along fighter jets into combat.

breakingdefense.com

 

[PPCLI Guy]

It was only a matter of time. Like Ukraine's long range drones, they too already had the ability to carry unguided bombs. The job of the pilots flying Ukraine's Yak-52s just got significantly more dangerous.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1995492744803057747

This becoming standard.

The autonomous dogfighting drone that this Canadian company is developing can mount a shotgun, flechette, or missile effector, along with the expected jamming etc capability

Sentinel R&D

www.sentinelrd.com

 

[Kirkhill]

And the US is copying the Shahed...

Iranian drone clone now a US Central Command weapon - Asia Times

The US Central Command, a vital player in Middle East security, is now flying a clone of an Iranian drone. The US drone is a copy of the Shaheed 136, the

asiatimes.com

 

[Kirkhill]

Battlefield factories...

How do you get cheap military drones fast? 3D-print them on the battlefield.

The US is light years behind China in drone production. Firestorm Labs aims to solve that problem with small, mobile factories.

www.businessinsider.com

Firestorm Labs has designed a small, mobile factory that the company says can fabricate virtually any model of drone or drone part. Each factory consists of two 20-foot shipping containers, outfitted with industrial-grade HP printers. Set-up requires just two to four people, and the company estimates that each factory can currently churn out about 17 small-to-mid-sized drones drones per week. The company also has two of its own drone designs.

 

[Kirkhill]

And the US is copying the Shahed...

Iranian drone clone now a US Central Command weapon - Asia Times

The US Central Command, a vital player in Middle East security, is now flying a clone of an Iranian drone. The US drone is a copy of the Shaheed 136, the

asiatimes.com

Further to...

Pentagon deploys first one-way attack squadron using Shahed-136 derivative

US Central Command has activated its first one-way attack squadron, operating strike drones reverse-engineered from Iran's Shahed-136 kamikaze aircraft - marking a major shift toward low-cost offensive drone capabilities.

www.flightglobal.com

 

[Cloud Cover]

Interesting German unit …

https://twitter.com/x/status/1997744649709158798

 

[Kirkhill]

What Is the New Narwhal Cruise Missile for Ukraine That Can Strike Moscow and Engels | Defense Express

The Czech Republic has unveiled its new Narwhal cruise missile, which is expected to be supplied to Ukraine for strikes against russian forces. By all indications, it outperforms the Barracuda 500, prompting questions about its capabilities and which unmanned systems could accompany it

en.defence-ua.com

It seems everyone is building cruise-missiles/long-range-UAVs/loitering-munitions.

Novel navigation systems cropping up.

Kongsberg signs with Advanced Navigation in multimillion-dollar deal

Advanced Navigation and Kongsberg have signed a multimillion-dollar deal that will see the integration of navigation and remote weapons systems.

www.defenceconnect.com.au

A fibre-optic gyroscope for INS navigation.

 

[Kirkhill]

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Has Fired An AIM-120 AMRAAM Missile

Australia has ordered another six Ghost Bat drones, as it progresses toward an operational capability for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Australia has ordered another six Ghost Bat drones, as it progresses toward an operational capability for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

www.twz.com

https://breakingdefense.com/2025/12/aussies-buy-seven-more-mq-28-gho

500 MUSD for 7 CCA
70 MUSD a copy
Bringing the Ghost Bat fleet to 18.
3700 km range

.....

Kratos Set To Deliver 15-20 Valkyrie Aircraft In 2026 | Aviation Week Network

Kratos will be ready to deliver 15-20 XQ-58 Valkyrie aircraft to customers in 2026.

aviationweek.com

Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie to be 1st US Marines CCA

The US Marine Corps has named the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie as its first Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme of record.

aerospaceglobalnews.com

With Air-to-Air Missiles, XQ-58A Valkyrie Could Be the Perfect Wingman for F-16s and Other Fighters | Defense Express

This is not the first flight of the XQ-58A Valkyrie alongside manned fighter aircraft, but the details of these trials remain classified

en.defence-ua.com

150 MUSD for 15 CCA
10 MUSD a copy
Bringing the Valkyrie fleet to 48
5600 km range

 

[Kirkhill]

And Anduril is looking at bulding a Group 5 Vertical Take-Off UAS on the Isle of Wight in England.

Group 5 would likely mean

Payload >300 kg
Altitude > 18,000 ft
Speed > 250 knots
Endurance 14 hours
Range >2000 km

The type of thing that might be compatible with connecting to a Continental Defence Corvette?

Anduril Job Ad Points To New Rotorcraft Development | Aviation Week Network

A job advert posted by Anduril indicates that work is underway on a vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) UAS in the Group 5 size category.

aviationweek.com

Anduril and GKN join forces for British Army combat drone

Anduril UK and GKN Aerospace have signed an exclusive teaming agreement to deliver the airframe for the British Army’s Project NYX.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

 

[GR66]

It was only a matter of time. Like Ukraine's long range drones, they too already had the ability to carry unguided bombs. The job of the pilots flying Ukraine's Yak-52s just got significantly more dangerous.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1995492744803057747

Not only missiles...Russian Shahed/Geran-2's are now dropping AT mines.

Russian Shahed drones seen dropping anti-tank mines

Newly surfaced footage has confirmed for the first time that Russia is operating modified Shahed‑136 one‑way attack drones—produced domestically as Geran‑2—with under‑wing payloads containing PTM‑3 anti‑tank mines. The video, recorded by a Ukrainian interceptor drone during an engagement...

defence-blog.com

 

[HavokFour]

Well this is new, I don't think we've seen a logistical drone variation with twin engines before. 1000km range with a 150kg load to boot.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2001380740379132159

 

[Kirkhill]

So the 70mm rocket started life as an unguided air to air weapon for fighters that became an unguided air to ground weapon for fighters and helicopters and then a ground to ground artillery weapon. It then became a guided missile for use by helicopters in the air to ground role that was adopted for the ground to air anti-drone fight and the put back on fighters as an air to air weapon.

Now the Brits are announcing that they are going back to using it from helicopters in the air to ground role as a cheaper alternative to the Hellfire/Brimstone/JAGM family which is why the APKWS kit was developed in the first place.

APKWS Gains Popularity as a Counter-Drone Weapon Thanks to Ukraine, but the UK Has Other Uses in Mind | Defense Express

Thanks to its successful combat use in Ukraine, the APKWS rocket has proven to be a relatively low-cost and effective counter-UAS solution, attracting growing interest from other countries. However, the UK appears to be considering APKWS for a different role altogether, namely as a precision...

en.defence-ua.com

How Much APKWS II Rockets Cost, Used by Ukraine and the U.S. to Shoot Down Shahed Drones | Defense Express

The Pentagon has ordered another 55,000 APKWS II rockets from BAE Systems for delivery by 2031, as they remain an effective and cost-efficient counter-drone solution

en.defence-ua.com

Meanwhile

U.S. Army AH-64E Apache's Counter-Drone Capability Rapidly Matures

Apaches scored 13 drone kills out of 14 engagements during Operation Flyswatter, reflecting the AH-64’s evolving counter-UAS capabilities. Apaches scored 13 drone kills out of 14 engagements during Operation Flyswatter, reflecting the AH-64’s evolving counter-UAS capabilities.

www.twz.com

Apache Helicopter Proves Advanced Counter-UAS Capabilities in Live Demonstration

The U.S. Army’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopter recently demonstrated its ability to detect, track, and defeat unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) during Op...

www.army.mil

.....

After an initial scare at the start of the Ukraine mess it appears that helicopters in general, and armed helicopters in particular, are finding their legs.

In the Canadian continental context we are looking at a platform that can be based anywhere, that can be operated from temporary bases and refuelled anywhere, that can rapidly relocate to react to the threat, that can conduct reconnaissance to maintain situational awareness, that can supply armed support to troops on the ground in permissive environments, that can provide anti-air defences with its radar-30mm-APKWS-Stinger-Sidewinder weapons and can also launch stand off weapons.

The USMC is looking at the 375 km Red Wolf LRPF missile as a loadout for its AH-1Z Viper.

U.S. Marines Conduct Low-Altitude Long-Range Strike Trial of Red Wolf Missile from AH-1Z Helicopter

US Marine Corps tests L3Harris Red Wolf from an AH-1Z Viper, highlighting affordable long-range helicopter strike concepts.

armyrecognition.com

U.S. Marine Corps completes low-altitude live-fire demonstration of L3Harris Red Wolf vehicle

The U.S. Marine Corps has carried out a successful low-altitude live-fire test of the L3Harris Technologies Red Wolf vehicle over the Atlantic Test Range in September.

defence-industry.eu

And they are also potential command ships / FACs for swarms of drones and loitering munitions.

And they can land on ships.

If we don't see the value in these aircraft now I find myself agreeing with those that doubt our commitment to our own defence.

Subs, boats and ships; pedestals, trains, trucks and tanks; fighters, armed trainers and helicopters.

All layers to be peeled back. You can't have too many options.

And the helicopter is the natural companion piece to the light infantry. Especially for dispersed operations.

 

[Kirkhill]

Pilotless eVTOL climbs toward benchmark never achieved before

Boeing subsidiary Wisk Aero's Generation 6 eVTOL aircraft has completed its historic maiden flight. On December 16, 2025 at 12:26 pm PST, the autonomous passenger carrier lifted off from the Wisk flight test facility at Hollister, California.

newatlas.com

Back to the discussion about back country drone transport.

"Enjoying a cruise speed of 120 knots (138 mph, 222 km/h) and an operating altitude of up to 4,000 ft (1,220 m), it can carry up to four passengers plus luggage and transition from vertical to horizontal wing-borne flight in about 30 seconds thanks to its six dedicated lift rotors and six convertible lift/horizontal thrust rotors in front of the wing. Spanning 50 ft (15 m), the wing has a high configuration for greater stability and passenger visibility."

"Flight control is autonomous, though not true AI, so it is not capable of real-time problem solving. Instead, the avionics uses logic-driven, procedural-based algorithms combined with a full suite of Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) sensors and navigation systems to meet a one-in-a-billion failure probability comparable to commercial airline safety standards."

"As for performance, cruising speed is said to be 120 knots (138 mph/222 km/h) at 2,500 to 4,000 ft (762 - 1,220 m) above ground level, and the eVTOL has a per-charge flying range of 90 miles (144 km), with reserves. Top-ups are expected to take just 15 minutes. And Wisk also says it's targeting a target price of US$3 per passenger, per mile."

Wisk Aero reveals 6th-gen autonomous four-seat eVTOL air taxi

Air mobility startup Wisk Aero has bumped up the passenger-carrying capacity of its upcoming air taxi from two to four, and none of those will be a pilot. The company intends to take its 6th-gen autonomous electric city hopper to market, and will now be seeking FAA type certification.

newatlas.com

.....

Getting closer to the elevator operator as pilot.

 

[Kirkhill]

https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/cables-connectors/russia-has-reportedly-improved-the-range-of-its-jam-proof-optical-drones-to-over-40-miles-purported-chinese-russian-collaborative-production-imagery-reveals-dramatically-increased-tethered-drone-range

65 km tethered drones.

But judging from some of the imagery coming out of Ukraine I have to start wondering when all those fibres strung over trees, power and telephone wires as well as rooftops end up weaving their own C-UAS net.

 

[HavokFour]

Pretty big milestone.

Ukraine on track to receive total of 3 million FPV drones in 2025, defense minister says​

Ukraine's Armed Forces are expected to receive a total of three million first-person-view (FPV) drones by the end of 2025, nearly 2.5 times more than last year, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Dec. 24.

UGV's too.

He said Ukraine has also expanded its use of ground-based robotic systems. Nearly 15,000 such platforms were delivered to the Armed Forces in 2025, three times more than the previous year.