Russia

Simulated drone strike ‘kills’ 42 paratroopers as Army weighs how to fight in a kill zone

Evidence from Ukraine and from the Army’s own training centers agrees on the drone-swept zone. The officials who redesigned brigades for it are gone.

FeatureOct 10, 2026

Counter-UAS

Army buys 13,000 Merops interceptor drones at about $15,000 each. Radar and crews cost extra

Ukraine’s cheap interceptors and the Army’s Merops buy look like a bargain per round. Cost per kill depends on radar, crews and weather.

ExplainerOct 9, 2026

Air

Pentagon fielded $35,000 LUCAS attack drone in seven months and used it against Iran

The Pentagon fielded its Shahed copy in seven months and used it against Iran. How many it has, and what they hit, remain undisclosed.

FeatureOct 9, 2026

Counter-UAS

Europe’s ‘drone wall’ still a patchwork of national systems a year after Poland incursions

Brussels promised a shield against Russian drones. What exists is national border networks, NATO fighters still doing the shooting, and EU projects that became fundable two weeks ago.

FeatureOct 9, 2026

Maritime

Ukraine’s drone boats pushed Russia’s fleet east. The Pacific poses a harder test

The Black Sea proved remotely piloted explosive boats can deny confined water. It did not prove them against jamming, distance or prepared defenders.

AnalysisSep 29, 2026

Land

Army picks four firms to prototype robotic minefield breaching, with soldier tests in 2027

The Army picked four firms to prototype autonomous breaching. Ukraine’s 2023 failures show what a 2027 soldier assessment must prove before any production decision.

ExplainerSep 28, 2026