Welcome to a weekly roundup of news from the war in Ukraine you probably did not hear about.
All reports are linked to their sources so you can read the original if you’d like to. If you have any questions, detect errors and omissions, or need more detail, just let me know.
You will have heard of the continuing missile attacks on Ukraine’s cities this week. Possibly you did not hear of much else from this under-reported war, not even the continuing Wildberries attacks.So here are some of the things you probably did not hear about for the week from Sunday 26th July to Saturday 1st August 2026:
By the way, today is Day 1,620 of Putin’s 3-Day Special Military Operation. According to the head of the UN Department of Political Affairs, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, at least 16,141 Ukrainian civilians, including 803 children, have been confirmed killed, while 48,613 people, including 2,960 children, have been injured.
HEADLINES THAT NEVER WERE
(BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN)
As ever, welcome to The Under Reported War.
Putin Wants Half of Ukraine
If you have any doubts about Russia’s true intentions, please pay attention to what Putin says. He really means it.
Vladimir Putin said entire eastern half of Ukraine should belong to Russia
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“He foresees a future in which western Ukraine is also annexed by its neighbours.
In a meeting with sailors in St Petersburg to mark Navy Day today, Putin extensively discussed Russia’s historical rights over Ukraine, highlighting in the process his obsession with Russian and Ukrainian history and his dubious reading of it.”
By the way, after four and a half years of war, Russia still occupies less territory (~19%) than it did in the second month of the invasion in 2022 (~27%). Oh, and take a look at these two maps (below) of the frontline one year apart. Can you tell the difference between the two? You probably need a magnifying glass to pick out where Russia has advanced.
So much for Putin winning the war, let alone occupying all of Ukraine east of Kyiv.
Trump Breaks His Word, Who Knew?
US President Trump said the US has not decided whether to license Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors
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“US President Trump said the US has not decided whether to license Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, calling the weapon extraordinary and saying Washington must be careful about who receives production rights. He added that the US is seeking peace and an end to the war.”
This has to be the least surprising news of the week. It’s a shame that outside Ukraine, almost no news media covered this. They will repeat his lies, but never report them as such.
Frontline Commanders Sacked for Doing Their Jobs Reinstated
There are early signs that newly appointed commander-in-chief of the army, General Drapatyi is moving rapidly to keep in post experienced officers who show initiative rather than firing them.
Drapatyi Halts Dismissal Papers Prepared UnderSyrskyi
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“Ukraine’s 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Brigade commander, Shamil Krutkov, will remain in post, Mykhailo Drapatyi halted dismissal papers prepared under General Syrskyi… Yevhen Lasiychuk may also retain command of the 7th Rapid Response Corps.”…
The formal reason for Krutkov’s suspension was that he did not change the soldiers of the unit subordinate to him in time (according to Syrskyi’s order, fighters should not be on the positions for more than 60 days)…. It is worth noting that almost everywhere there are fighters who have been in positions for more than 60 days, because rotations in good weather are a very bad idea.“
NEWS FROM THE FRONTLINE
MOTORBIKE MADNESS
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In defiance of all evidence to the contrary, Russia has shown a weird faith in the power of motorbikes to defeat the Drone Wall. It is no wonder they experience such a high percentage of deaths. Last week, a retro 2023-style armoured column was defeated on this stretch of the frontline. This week they are going for an old-fashioned 2024 Mad Max motorbike look. I guess next week will be a 2025-style Crutch Battalion.
Russia is massing for Dobropillia again using quad bikes and motorcycles
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“[Ukraine’s Rubizh Brigade] reports the enemy clearing mines and flying drones to move small storming groups toward the town north of the ruins of Pokrovsk.
Those groups [use] quad bikes—four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles—and motorcycles. This kind of transport will likely become one of the main ways the enemy tries to break the defense, the brigade said.”
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BANDWIDTH-AGILE RUSSIN DRONES APPEAR
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Thy are not boomerangs. Seriously. It is just a name. Which is a pity because if they were boomerangs then they would fly right back to hit their pilots.
Russian Boomerang FPV Drones Shifted To Frequencies Unavailable To Most Detectors
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“The Boomerang is a serial quadcopter-type FPV drone primarily designed to strike ground targets. Russia’s Ministry of Defense first publicly demonstrated it in March 2023...
It now has the ability to operate on frequencies of up to 7.2 GHz, which are not covered by most drone detectors.”
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MAP-COLOURING GOES AI
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Russian commander caught using AI to fake flag-sticking events to conceal his territorial losses
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“A Russian commander has reportedly come up with a novel form of ‘flag-sticking’, the practice of planting flags in Ukrainian-held territory to falsely report advances...
“The commander of one of the Southern Military District’s units had long been concealing the loss of square kilometres of territory and reporting to his superiors via videos showing the raising of flags over an ever-increasing number of settlements and territories.
He let his guard down and was caught out by a video where the soldier holding the flag barely had his feet touching the ground.””
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FUEL RATIONING AT FRONTLINE
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Russian soldiers say they are facing a “catastrophic shortage” of fuel at the front lines due to Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries
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“Soldiers interviewed by the independent Russian news site Verska says that a “catastrophic shortage” has made the situation “a complete mess”. Just like civilians, the military is now being rationed to only 20 litres of gasoline per vehicle per day.”
This is catastrophic for Russian units because so many rely for transport upon civilian vehicles bought by donors. The figure is up to 80% in some units. But they do not qualify for fuel rations and so sit idle. If they are transferred to military control, they are usually stolen by senior officers. Which means that donors won’t donate any more because it is now pointless. Lose:lose:lose. Couldn’t happen to a nicer army of war criminals.
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DRONE WALL FORCES RUSSIA’S ROCKET LAUNCHERS OUT OF RANGE
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Why Russian Grad Rocket Launchers Are Disappearing from Front Line
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“Ukrainian drone pressure has forced Russian forces to pull their heavy artillery farther into the rear, leaving long-range Msta-S self-propelled guns as one of the few systems still regularly supporting frontline troops.”
Russia does have some rocket launchers that can fire from much further back. However, it merely puts them in range of Ukraine’s Middle Strike drones.
Azov Scores First Confirmed Strike on Russia’s “New” Sarma MLRS
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“During the repulsion of a large-scale Russian mechanized assault, troops of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine (Azov) successfully struck Russia’s Sarma 300 mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) for the first time. Until now, this system had not been documented operating on the battlefield.”
ROBOT WARS
NEW TWIN GUN ROBOT TURRET
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At first the heaviest possible calibre machine guns were installed on unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), but they are slow-firing and quickly run out of ammunition. It looks like someone has realised that fire suppression by lighter, larger capacity automatic rifles is as important, if not more, than the heavier alternative.
Ukraine’s new UGV turret trades heavy machine gun for twin AK-74s and relies on Starlink when signal drops
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“Ukraine’s Roboneers codified the “ShaBlya K-2,” a remote-controlled turret pairing two AK-74 rifles in one mount to double fire density for covering infantry at close range.”
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THIN-SKINNED M113 FINDS A NEW ROLE
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Early in the invasion, Ukraine was gifted hundreds of obsolete M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) by donor nations. Highly vulnerable to automatic cannon fire, mines, and drones they are a rare sight on the frontline these days. One of Ukraine’s army corps, the 2nd National Guard “Khartiia”, has found a new use for theirs.
Ukraine’s newest mine-clearing robot is a 1960s-design APC
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“Allies have shipped Ukraine more than 1,700 M113s. Khartia’s engineers just showed what one looks like with nobody inside.
The Khartiia Corps took one of its 12-ton M113s, added external cameras, control servos, and a radio-based command system and fitted it with anti-drone armor and a front-mounted mine flail.”
MOBILISATION NEWS
MORE MASS MOBILISATION PREPARATIONS
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Putin Grants Defense Ministry Access to Civil Registry Data for Military Registration
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“Under the pretext of simplifying support for military personnel and their families, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has granted the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Russian National Guard access to civil registry data for military registration purposes.”
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MASS MOBILISATION STIRS FEARS
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A massive new mobilisation in Russia this fall is increasingly being forecast by Russian warbloggers
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“They are, however, cautious about this prospect given the strains on the Russian economy and the chaos that accompanied the 2022 mobilisation.”
With rumours of a new mobilisation in the fall sweeping the Russian blogosphere, one warblogger wonders: what’s the point?
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“He points out that the land that Russia has seized is essentially worthless, having been destroyed, depopulated, and strewn with mines.”
NEWS FROM THE MIDDLE STRIKE
Trucks, road tankers, railway tankers, and bridges continue to be attacked in huge numbers inside the Middle Strike. For news of attacks on shipping, see the ‘SHADOW FLEET NEWS ‘further down.
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CRIMEA ROUNDUP
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Meanwhile, the pressure on Crimea continues to intensify. Expensive air defences and electronic warfare equipment have been hit hard particularly this week.
Drones struck a Russian S-400 launcher and its 96L6 radar in occupied Crime
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Ukraine Strikes Crimean Fast Boat Base and Multiple Military Logistics Targets
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“One of the primary targets was a base for the Black Sea Fleet high-speed boats and naval drones near the settlement of Mizhvodne in temporarily occupied Crimea. The facility reportedly serves as a maintenance and support hub for naval drones and vessels involved in coastal patrol missions and military logistics.”
Russia parked a 5,000-kilometre range jamming station in Crimea—Ukraine parked a drone on top of it
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“The hit came near Cape Fiolent overnight, another Russian high-value asset lost on a peninsula Ukraine keeps working to cut off.”
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BUK GOES BOOM! …AND MORE
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Ukrainian Lasar’s Group Strike Russian Buk-M3 and S-300 Air Defense Systems Near Kostiantynivka (Video)
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“According to the unit, the operation began with a detailed intelligence effort aimed at identifying where Russian forces might conceal some of their most valuable air defense assets… Reconnaissance drones flew deep behind the line of contact, eventually locating a concealed position where both the Buk-M3 and S-300 systems had been hidden under cover. The discovery confirmed the intelligence assessment and created an opportunity for a precision strike against the high-value targets.
Once the location had been confirmed, strike drone crews were directed onto the targets. Both air defense systems were successfully hit.“
UKRAINE’S LONG-RANGE WAR
WILDBERRIES ROUNDUP
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Drone attacks knocked out over 20% of Wildberries’ logistics capacity in a single week
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“Out of 5.6 million square meters of warehouse space, over 1.15M square meters were damaged or destroyed in targeted drone strikes.”
A Wildberries logistics hub in Ryazan was seriously damaged. It is claimed to be Russia’s fifth-largest logistics facility.
A Wildberries warehouse was destroyed in Volgograd.
Ukraine aimed for a Wildberries outside Kolodino but hit a rival instead.
Fifteen drones struck the Wildberries warehouse in Penza, which covers an area of 90,000m² on Thursday. 62,000m² are on fire.
A Ukrainian drone struck on the Wildberries logistics hub in Sarapul, 1,200 km from the front.
A third Wildberries facility was struck on Thursday, this time in Perm, around 1,500 km from the front.
Satellite imagery shows dense smoke plume above a Wildberries warehouse in Udmurtia after a Ukrainian strike.
Smoke was reported above a Wildberries logistics complex in Zelenodolsk, Tatarstan, following a drone attack on Saturday.
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“UKRAINIANS, HAVE YOU NO SENSE OF EMPATHY?”
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It is grim, but it is hilarious. Most Russians choose to look the other way and pretend there is no war. To pretend that Ukraine was not invaded by an aggressor: Russia. That over one hundred thousand Ukrainian civilians have been killed or injured by Russia.
Russians Cry on Camera as Ukraine Strikes More Wildberries Warehouses
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“[Wildberries] sellers wept on camera and asked Ukrainians whether they had empathy after new drone strikes hit Wildberries logistics centers near St. Petersburg. Ukraine says the retailer’s warehouses support Russia’s military logistics by supplying drone components, navigation equipment, and other gear.
Under international humanitarian law, a civilian facility may become a lawful military target if its use makes an effective contribution to military action and its destruction offers a definite military advantage.”
Wildberries is seeking warehouses in Kazakhstan
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“The company is also searching for new sites inside Russia, but local warehouse owners are reluctant to sign leases because of the strike risk”
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REFINERY ROUNDUP
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The Tyumen Oil Refinery, formerly known as the Antipinsky Oil Refinery, was attacked on Sunday.
The Perm oil refinery was attacked on Wednesday. It processes 13.1 million tonnes of crude annually. The AVT-5 primary oil processing was destroyed (5 million tons/year).
Drone strikes hit the major oil refinery in Ryazan.
On Monday, drones hit an export terminal in Rostov Oblast,
Deep strikes also hit oil facilities in Yaroslavl Oblast and the Udmurt Republic.
Lukoil refinery hit in Volgograd. The Volgograd refinery was operating at around half capacity before today’s attack.
Ufa’s three refineries are all burning heavily after Saturday’s drone attack. Together, they have a combined annual capacity of more than 23 million tonnes of crude.
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THIS WILL GO WELL
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To Stop More Ukrainian Drones, Russia Wants to Mount Pantsir Systems on Autonomous Trucks
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“As Ukrainian long-range drone strikes become increasingly effective, Russia is exploring new ways to strengthen its counter-drone air defense, including deploying unmanned Pantsir-S systems on autonomous vehicles.”
Manned Pantsirs have already caused damage to refineries and warehouses they are meant to be defending whilst failing to shoot down attacking drones. It is hard to see how autonomous Pantsirs will be more reliable.
PETROL QUEUE NEWS
Here’s a roundup of how the war is finally beginning to bite into the daily lives of ordinary Russians.
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THE QUEUES HAVE NOT GONE AWAY
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Insanely long queue for gas, 1,200km from Ukraine [video]
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“”The situation in Tyumen is very stable after the Ukrainian drone strikes on the [local] refinery.” said the sarcastic description accompanying this video.
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EXCEPT THEY DID IN IRKUTSK… FOR ONE DAY
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Gas prices were lowered, restrictions were lifted, and queues vanished temporarily for Putin visit
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“Russian warbloggers are calling Irkutsk a modern-day Potemkin village, but it appears to show how hard Putin’s underlings try to hide Russia’s problems from him.
During Vladimir Putin’s visit to Irkutsk, a true “economic miracle” occurred. At some gas station signs, AI-95 suddenly “dropped” to 68 rubles 80 kopecks [$0.88], queues seemingly vanished, and restrictions on fuel sales seemingly disappeared.”
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RUSSIAN BANK DEFAULTS LOOM
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VTB bank is restricting clients’ access to their funds
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“VTB, one of Russia’s largest state-owned banks, has started restricting clients’ access to their funds”
Except the Kremlin cannot afford to let this happen. It will be interesting to see how it wriggles out of this. If it can.
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TAXES DOUBLE FOR RUSSIANS
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Russia has doubled the rate of personal income tax to cover the budget deficits
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“As a gloomy Russian commentary notes, it’s likely to have dire effects on the economy and the country’s already declining demographics.”
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MORE CONFIRMATION OF ORWELLIAN NEWS BACKFIRE
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Two weeks ago, I featured a story about how Russians blame government machinations rather than the war for the petrol queues. This week, there’s evidence that the same is happening with the destruction of Wildberries warehouses. Most Russian citizens are kept ignorant of the scale of the war in Ukraine. They are kept ignorant of its progress, only hearing positive stories. And they are kept ignorant of the scale of Russian casualties. They wilfully look the other way too. It is far safer to just keep your head down. So when the war affects them directly they mostly look for a reason unrelated to the invasion.
It is all so retro-1984.
Wildberries sellers are generally blaming the Russian government, rather than Ukraine, for their losses
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“Wildberries sellers are generally blaming the Russian government, rather than Ukraine, for their losses. It’s an interesting and striking dynamic, which Russian warbloggers say the Russian government itself has created through its suppression of bad news.”
RUSSIA’S LONG-RANGE WAR
GLOBAL THREAT TO WHEAT PRICERS LOOMS
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Because of Russian attacks, a lot of grain harvested already cannot be sold or exported. The same is true Russia’s harvest. Prices are rising. This will have a global impact on prices.
Russia’s ship strikes stall Ukraine’s grain corridor. The damage is moving inland
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“Not one ship passed through the [Black Sea grain] corridor on 22 July, at the height of harvest. The choke is now reaching Ukraine’s farmers and its railways.”
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SHAHED DRONE HAS UNUSUAL PASSENGER
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A significant percentage of FPV drones, even the latest interceptors, do not detonate on impact. You never see that on strike videos where only apparently successful attacks are shown (and some of those are clearly near misses too.) Drones are tricky things to fly precisely at high speed.
An interceptor somehow became lodged in the very tip of the Shahed’s wing [video]
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“A scene unlike anything I’ve seen in thousands of Shahed interception videos: one interceptor somehow became lodged in the very tip of the Shahed’s wing, as seen by a second interceptor sent in to finish the target.”
SHADOW FLEET NEWS
Lots of action on the high seas this week, with large (but, again, not supertanker sized) vessels sinking after maritime drones holed them at the water line. Middle Strike drones continued to target vessels’ bridges. And ‘EU law enforcement’ (looks like Italian Carabinieri) seized a shadow fleet tanker in the Mediterranean. Shadow fleet sanctions have been extended to a crewing agency. The EU has authorised the sale of confiscated fuel aboard detained Shadow Fleet tankers.
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SUNK AND BURNED
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[Drones] Struck Four [Shadow Fleet] Tankers in the Black and Azov Seas
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“The strikes may be linked to the relaunch of Sheshkharis, Russia’s largest oil terminal in the Black Sea, which had suspended its operations due to intensified Ukrainian strikes against Russian vessels in the Black and Azov Seas.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) reported that the NISSOS SIFNOS tanker, flying the Marshall Islands flag, had been struck. The attack caused a fire on the cargo deck, which, according to the CPC’s statement, halted oil loading operations.
Additionally, 11 km from the CPC’s marine terminal, the MARATHI tanker, flying the Isle of Man flag, was struck as it was heading to the terminal to load oil.”
Russian ships burning in the Azov/Black Sea [video]
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“A Russian ship burning in the Azov/Black Sea, as well as the evacuation of another damaged vessel by tugboats, were filmed by foreign sailors…
[Another vessel], the ‘Yanina’ cargo ship, operated by a sanctioned Russian transport and logistics company FESCO, which is controlled by state nuclear corporation Rosatom, sank in the Black Sea after a Ukrainian naval drone attack.”
Rosatom is the Russian nuclear power agency. There maybe a larger, as yet unreported story, here.
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EU SEIZES RUSSIAN SHADOW TANKER
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EU Seizes Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker MV South Star
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“EU law enforcement authorities have seized the Russian shadow fleet vessel ‘MV South Star’ on suspicion that it was sailing under a false Cameroonian flag…. The tanker was last seen off the coast of Tunisia, although it may have been detained elsewhere.”
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EU SANCTIONS SHADOW FLEET SUPPORT NETWORK
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EU includes support ships and crewing agency on “shadow fleet” sanctions list for the first time
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“The European Union has added 41 more vessels to its Russia sanctions list, bringing the total number of listed ships to 673. The sanctions also targeted Aquamarine Ship Management LLC, a crewing agency based in Novorossiysk that specializes in the recruitment of seafarers, including for work on oil tankers. As noted by the EU, it is the first time a crewing agency has been sanctioned by the bloc.”
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GEORGIAN REFINERY SANCTIONED
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EU sanctions Georgia’s only oil refinery over processing Russian crude oil
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“Brussels has imposed sanctions on Georgia’s Kulevi oil refinery for processing Russian crude, expanding efforts to curb Moscow’s energy revenues while giving the company six months before the restrictions take effect... Company says it will switch suppliers”
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CONFISCATED OIL CAN BE SOLD FOR UKRAINE
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EU to Permit Sale of Russian Oil Seized from”Shadow Fleet” Tankers
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“Once the sanctions package is formally approved, EU member states will be authorized to confiscate cargo carried by ships transporting Russian oil in violation of EU sanctions and the G7 price cap. The authorities may then sell the seized oil and other cargo.”
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NAVAL DRONE EXECUTES ATTACK ON TANKER
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Footage shows sanctioned Russian oil tanker being struck by a naval kamikaze drone [video]
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“The ‘BOURDA’ was struck by a Ukrainian naval kamikaze drone while heading to Russia’s port of Taman.”
FOREIGN AID & INVESTMENT IN UKRAINE
LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THUNDERBIRDS
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Ukraine’s Emergency Service receives huge airport fire truck from tiny Luxembourg
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“Ukraine’s State Emergency Service [SES] received a Rosenbauer Panther 8×8 airport firefighting vehicle, donated with support from Luxembourg’s Defense Ministry and, the charity Ukrainian Firefighters”, and North Defence….
SES crews are the ones who arrive at the sites of Russian missile and drone strikes, pulling people from collapsed buildings and fighting the fires that follow, often under the threat of a second strike aimed at the responders.
A heavy firefighting vehicle built for airport-scale fires adds capacity for exactly the large blazes that strike fuel depots, warehouses, and infrastructure.”
And this gives me an excuse to post once again a photo of some of the more than two hundred emergency vehicles donated by a Taiwanese mil owner, Mr.Tsan-jung.
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UK GIFTS UKRAINE LICENCE FOR ADVANCED ELECTRONIC WARFARE SOFTWARE
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Stone Cloak Transfer Moves British Support for Ukraine from Supply to Sovereign Production
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“Britain’s decision to transfer the intellectual property behind Stone Cloak gives Ukraine more than another electronic-warfare device: it creates the basis for domestic manufacture, faster battlefield adaptation and a more reciprocal defence-industrial partnership.
The system enables Ukrainian forces to generate electronic jamming against enemy detection systems, reducing the effectiveness of hostile sensors and making it significantly more difficult for Russian forces to detect and track Ukrainian drones….
Stone Cloak electronic warfare system has already proven its effectiveness in combat, with Ukraine receiving thousands of units.
Based on the limited information currently available, Stone Cloak appears to operate more like an aircraft self-protection electronic warfare suite than a traditional ground-based jammer. Such systems detect hostile radar emissions, analyze them, and generate electronic countermeasures. However, Stone Cloak reportedly achieves this in a package small enough to fit inside a drone, with low power requirements and, judging by the number delivered, a relatively low production cost.”
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THE FIRST (INDIRECT) SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY AID?
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South Korea will not sell military equipment to Ukraine, even though it has agreed massive deals with other eastern European nations. Czechia appears to have found a workaround.
South Korea Appears to Have Begun Supplying Ukraine with 105 mm Howitzers
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“According to the Czech Republic’s 2025 annual report, the country imported 100 105 mm howitzers from South Korea. The Czech Army does not operate 105 mm artillery systems, suggesting that the Czech Republic may eventually transfer these howitzers to the Ukrainian Armed Forces after any necessary repairs and/or modernization.”
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ARTILLERY SHELL DROUGHT OVER?
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In the space of two years, Ukraine and Europe has gone from an acute shortage of 155mm artillery shells and a reliance on US stockpiles, to a manufacturing base that outstrips America’s output. It is even forging new replacement gun barrels for Ukraine’s existing artillery.
Germany Plans to Reduce Ammunition Purchases in 2027
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“According to Bloomberg, a draft federal budget for 2027, which is still subject to government revisions, allocates approximately €9.6 billion for ammunition procurement, down from €11 billion in 2026.
Rheinmetall recently began supplying artillery ammunition to Ukraine from its new plant in Unterlüß.. The first shipment from Unterlüsse includes a five-digit number of shells, as well as propellant charges from other facilities. The Ukrainian military has already received more than half of this order, and the manufacturer plans to deliver the remaining shells and charges by the end of 2026.”
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AMERICAN AID NOW IN SAME LEAGUE AS IRISH REPUBLIC
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Here’s some news you probably won’t have heard but also won’t be surprised by: Trump and his allies slow walk mandated US aid to Ukraine… again.
US Plans to Disburse $400 Million in Aid to Ukraine Through 2029
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“The administration of US President Donald Trump has informed Congress that it plans to spend the remaining $400 million allocated for military aid to Ukraine by the end of the fiscal year 2029.
Mitch McConnell stated that the US aid package approved several months ago had been “gathering dust” at the Pentagon. According to him, the committee’s attempts to obtain an explanation from Elbridge Colby, the US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, were met with what he described as “a brush-off.””
If you amortise this aid package over the years until 2029, it averages out at about the same per annum as Ireland’s recently announced annual aid. One package is generous from a small nation, the other is pitiful from the wealthiest nation on the planet.
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CO-PRODUCTION NEWS
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Ukraine and Latvia Sign Memorandums on Joint UAV Development
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“The goal of the cooperation is to attract investment for UAV production, transfer Ukrainian technologies, and create modern dual-use infrastructure for testing them in Latvia.”
EUROPE & CANADA REARM
CCA - COLLABORATIVE COMBAT AIRCRAFT NEWS
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The designs for next generation unmanned fighters often outstrip the pace of engine design, testing, and manufacture. The first prototypes of several designs have flown with older engines instead of their intended power plants.
If GCAP Fighter Demonstrator Will Fly With Legacy Engines, How Is Development of New Power plant Progressing?
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“Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy are working against a tight schedule to field their sixth-generation GCAP fighter by 2035. While the first demonstrator is expected to fly with modified Eurofighter engines, development of an all-new power plant is steadily advancing.”
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ANOTHER US WEAPONS FIRM WANTS TO SET UP CCA EUROPEAN PRODUCTION
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Following hard on the heels of Sikorsky, Boeing wants to start building its Ghost Bat ‘loyal wingman’ fighter drones in Europe. With stupendous amounts of low cost loans available to rearm the EU and UK, Boeing wants a piece of the action. but those loans stipulate no American-made weapons or components. It is hard to see how Boeing thinks such a transparent move qualifies them. Time will tell.
Boeing Proposes Distributing MQ-28 Ghost Bat Production Across Multiple Countries
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“Instead of one big USA plant, citing Europe’s shift toward independence, [and] supply chain instability”
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UK REPLACES OUT-OF-DATE RECONNAISSANCE DRONES
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The Watchkeeper drone was difficult to fly, had limited surveillance functions, and is vulnerable to Russian air defences. The combat-tested AR5 is none of these.
UK Buys Ukraine-Tested AR5 Reconnaissance Drones From Tekever
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“The British Army will receive new AR5 reconnaissance drones to replace its aging Watchkeeper systems.
The AR5 is a Portuguese-British medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial system developed by Tekever for maritime and ground surveillance missions, search-and-rescue operations and patrol missions.”
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POLISH ARMY TRADES IN ARMOUR FOR DRONES
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After two years of tests, trials, and learning from Ukraine’s experience, Poland has joined the other Baltic nations and the UK in integrating drones into its military units.
Poland Integrates Drones into Mechanised Battalions
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“[The restructuring] cuts 14 armoured vehicles [from each battalion] but triples its target-killing range to 30km using drones and loitering munitions.
Two battalions from two mechanized brigades of Polish Army — 12th (12 Brygada Zmechanizowana) and 17th (17 Wielkopolska Brygada Zmechanizowana) — have for over two years been participating in interesting pilot tests under Model 44 program, created both based on analyses and modeling conducted by Polish armed forces general staff and on Ukraine war experience, and aims to adapt existing Polish army units in accordance with modern battlefield needs.”
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ANOTHER DRONE CHALLENGE ANNOUNCED
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Europe Runs €2M Strike Challenge for Best Loitering Munition
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“The five fFinalists Include Ukraine-Tested Helsing, Destinus, and C-Astral. Conducted by the EDA defense agency through European defense innovation center HEDI, multirole drones under 25kg with 40km range compete for [the €2 million] prize fund.
HEDI [has] selected 5 finalists from 140+ entries [to go through to] autumn range trials in Portugal.”
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HYPERSONIC TARGET PRACTICE
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To Train Against Kinzhal, Zircon, Iskander-M Missiles, UK Is Restarting Production of Hypersonic Target Missiles
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“After relying on allies for more than a decade to provide hypersonic targets for missile-defense training, the United Kingdom has now contracted Lockheed Martin to restore domestic production.”
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LATVIA GIFTS RADARS TO LITHUANIA
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Lithuania has been gifted two expensive radars that integrate with its NASAMS medium-range air defence missile systems.
Lithuania Receives Sentinel Radars From Latvia Free of Charge
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“Latvia is using alternative systems to provide its air defense capabilities and decided to transfer the radars following a proposal from the United States.
he Raytheon MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar is a highly mobile, multifunctional X-band 3D pulse-Doppler radar system that provides 360-degree surveillance and can track and identify targets at ranges of up to 120 km.”
That’s all for now. See you next week.
Excellent reporting, thank you!
Regarding the ‘Putin wants half of Ukraine” story, absolutely agree. This has been evident for a decade if you look closely
Check out “the Mariupol plan” which is the crux of Russian election interference in the 2016 US presidential campaign. Unfortunately it is under reported and under appreciated. But the Russians got Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign manager, to agree to a plan whereby a President Trump would allow Russia to break off the DNR and LNR from Ukraine without the US interfering. This plan could not be executed due to the Mueller investigation bearing down, but demonstrates Russia’s strategic priorities - mostly to break off those provinces.
Don’t ever believe anything from this White House. When Felon’s mouth is moving, he’s lying. Don’t count on any munitions, etc., until you can touch them! But another absolutely outstanding report, Martin. So many things to remark about, but those Czech Howitzers are a lovely addition for Ukraine. And super excellent creativity by Ukraine’s heroes about the “newest mine-clearing robot“. You have much to be proud of in this awful war. 👏👏👏