Browsing: Technology & Weapons

Turkish company Aselsan has demonstrated a new testing phase of its GÖKBERK, a counter-UAV directed energy weapon that was combined with the İHTAR electronic warfare system in its updated version. During the tests, the combat laser proved effective against drones of various types, including a commercial quadcopter, a winged reconnaissance UAV, and an FPV drone. The last one was actually the most difficult to defeat because FPV drones are generally made of a different, sturdier plastic; its components and electronic boards are arranged less densely, making them more survivable. This feature was studied in practice by the Swedish small arms…

The IRIS-T surface-to-air missile system, which has been deployed with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has once again demonstrated its effectiveness in combat. On March 12, the West Air Command shared a video on Facebook showing successful interception of russian cruise missile. The footage captures the moment the IRIS-T missile is launched from its platform, streaking toward its target before detonating on impact. The powerful explosion completely destroys russian missile, preventing it from reaching its intended destination. This interception highlights the crucial role of Western-supplied air defense systems in protecting Ukrainian airspace against ongoing russian missile attacks. The IRIS-T system…

It’s no secret that Ukrainian soldiers are developing cutting-edge technologies that are changing the rules of the game on the battlefield. Among these innovations are fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones, which have virtually no analogs in the world. Their uniqueness lies in their resistance to electronic warfare (EW) measures, making them an effective weapon on the front lines. Soldiers from the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodny Yar” shared their experience using fiber-optic drones, discussing their advantages and drawbacks in a video on the brigade’s channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwY2xjawI_o-NleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHc2hYMaLVzKIrrrfF-Hsu55leDL7SitZmf-v4-rFBEluTSEheNry8dYlYw_aem_5A1oLpZs2F_URs2WplNAEA&v=yKXBwZZ-Paw&feature=youtu.be A fighter with the call sign “Omar,” along with his comrade “Shyba,” operates these drones directly…

Since 2019, Poland has been conducting the Drop program, under which it wants to manufacture new medium military transport aircraft at its facilities to replace the existing C-130 Hercules, which were received from the United States in used condition. Until now, the implementation of this program has hardly progressed, but now the Polish aircraft industry can get a new impetus thanks to an offer from Brazilian Embraer for KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. Brazil offers Poland not only to buy these aircraft, but also to launch its own production, with the wide involvement of local contractors. At the same time,…

A recent Wall Street Journal article reported that European SAMP/T air defense systems have been ineffective in Ukraine, citing both a missile shortage and poor performance against ballistic threats. News Hub has already addressed the missile supply issue by analyzing the global stocks of Aster missiles and their production rates. The second concern is more complicated, so we’ll discuss it separately. As claimed by “people familiar with the matter,” SAMP/T’s struggle with ballistic intercepts stems from software issues. This immediately draws historic parallels with the well-documented failure of Patriot systems during the 1991 Gulf War, where the American system missed…

Midnight March 10–11, 2025, the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a long-range kamikaze drone attack on the enemy territory which reportedly became the most massive since russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Media outlets in russia report 337 unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted by air defense, the total number of UAVs launched by Ukraine was not specified. The highlight of this aerial raid was the new Ukrainian long-range drone that made its appearance, possibly for the first time. One of the videos filmed by eyewitnesses during the attack recorded the moment a UAV, visually resembling the iranian Shahed-136, was taken down…

The Ukrainian Defense Forces are armed with the Romanian CA-95 native-made amphibious self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon. Photos of this SAM system operated by the Ukrainian military are circulating on social networks. At the same time, the CA-95 SAM system itself operated in Ukraine has the original Romanian paint scheme. The Romanian CA-95 self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon, is a copy of the Soviet 9K31 Strela-1 system and is currently still in service with the Romanian ground forces. The vehicle can carry four infrared-guided surface to air missiles, and can destroy targets at altitudes from 50 to 3,500 meters and at ranges from 800…

France allocates a new package of defense assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 195 million euros (about $211.25 million), which will be paid for from the profits of frozen assets of the Russian Federation, the package will include, in particular, artillery ammunition and aerial bombs. The allocation of another package of defense assistance to Ukraine was announced by the French head of the Defense Ministry, Sebastien Lecornu, to the publication La Tribune Dimanche. He noted that we are talking, in particular, about the transfer of an unspecified number of 155-mm shells, as well as AASM-type aerial bombs, other details…

The United Arab Emirates military is currently focused on developing the robotic component of its Navy, primarily in order to “plug manpower shortages and capability gaps,” Defense News reports. The outlet notes that the naval branch of UAE forces comprises “roughly 3,000” personnel, while a 2024 estimate by The Military Balance study counts 2,500 people in active service, a comparatively modest number. That is why today, the UAE has become a promising market for many manufacturers of marine robotic platforms worldwide. This became particularly evident from the defense exhibitions IDEX and NAVDEX held in Abu Dhabi in February 2025, where…

In 2023, during the IDEF 2023 defense exhibition in Turkey, Meteksan Defense, together with the shipbuilding company ARES Shipyard, unveiled the ULAQ KAMA kamikaze drone boat and announced that they could produce up to 100 units of these drones per year. Additionally, the Turkish Navy is set to receive new ULAQ 12 ASuW unmanned boats, equipped with an advanced set of weaponry and systems. This information was reported by the Turkish news outlet Anadolu Ajansi. Presentation of the maritime ULAQ KAMA kamikaze drone during IDEF 2023, July 2023 / Foto credit: Naval News The ULAQ KAMA was developed based on…