Below the reader will find recent news about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) currently deployed in conflicts (Ukraine, Africa, etc.), new developments in drone use on the battlefield, and more. Curated articles on the topics below are provided:
- Parrot ANAFI USA Drone
- Drone Killing Grenade Launcher
- Pentagon’s Drone Plans
- U.S. Army’s Long-Range UAS Capability
- ‘Amazon’ for U.S. Military
- Crime Gangs and Operation Spider’s Web
- Shotguns: Defending Against Attack Drones
- Drone Rumors in Mali
- Taiwan’s Drones
- Colombian Black Hawk Taken Down
- India’s UCAV
Parrot ANAFI USA Drone
The Parrot ANAFI USA drone is a compact, light-weight UAV that is part of the U.S. Army’s Short-Range Reconnaissance (SSR) program. Weighing only 500 grams, it has advanced imaging and a thermal camera that provides high-quality visual and thermal imaging for ISR missions. It can fly for over 30 minutes and can be rapidly put into use. The drone is ideal for short-range reconnaissance, scouting, and tactical intelligence missions. A number of foreign nations use this drone as well, to include: Italy, UK, Sweden, Poland, Luxembourg, France, and Norway.
Top Image. A soldier assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 502 Infantry Regiment, 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, retrieves an Anafi USA drone at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, August 7, 2025. Photo by Army Spc. Breanna Bradford.
U.S. and Drones
Drone Killing Grenade Launcher. Colt and Northrop Grumman have unveiled a new prototype grenade launcher that is designed to revolutionize infantry firepower and directly address the threat posed to infantrymen from hostile drones. The 25-mm launcher weighs under 15 pounds, has a five-round magazine, and features advanced optics. “America’s New Precision Grenade Launcher is Built to Kill Drones”, United24 Media, August 20, 2025.
Pentagon’s Drone Plans. Drone makers and technology companies (AI, data, comms, etc.) gathered together at the Technology Readiness Experimentation event (T-REX) at Camp Atterbury, Indiana in August to exchange ideas on how to improve the DoD’s future drone development and production. “The Pentagon plan to Americanize drone warfare”, Defense One, August 21, 2025.
Army Long-Range UAS. The Army recently awarded contracts to AeroVironment and Edge Autonomy to rapidly deliver initial Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR) systems. The AeroVironment P550 and Edge Autonomy Stalker Block 35X are Group 2 UAS designed to provide Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) organic to maneuver battalions. “Army Accelerates Long Range Reconnaissance UAS Capability”, army.mil, August 21, 2025.
‘Amazon’ for U.S. Military. A marketplace that will centralize drone procurement will provide quick access to vetted and mission-ready unmanned systems for combat deployment. “Amazon for the Military: US Army Set to Unveil Online Marketplace for Drones”, NextGenDefense, August 13, 2025.
Drones and the Ukraine – Russia Conflict
Crime Gangs and Operation Spider’s Web. Katharine Petrich examines the possibility of using organized crime networks as an asset in its asymmetric war against Russia. She used the case study of Operation Spider’s Web – and suggests that crime gangs possibly aided in the movement of the drones into and around Russia in preparation for the attack that destroyed or damaged over $7 billion USD. Read more in “Smuggling for the Motherland? Using Ukraine’s Criminal Organizations Against Russia”, Small Wars Journal,, August 22, 2025.
Shotguns: Defending Against Attack Drones. Russian and Ukrainian soldiers are now using shotguns to defend against drones as a last-ditch defense. The use of wire-guided drones have made the electronic warfare defenses ineffective against incoming drone attacks – so shotguns are now being used. A former UK soldier now serving in Ukraine provides some a number of valuable TTPs on how shotguns are employed against attack drones. “Why Shotguns Are Fast Becoming Ukrainian Soldiers’ Last Line of Defense Against Russian Drones”, United24 Media, July 3, 2025.
Drones Around the World
Drone Rumors in Mali. Some social media accounts are reporting a drone strike against Africa Corps and Malian Armed Forces (FAM) positions at the Tessalit military camp (Google Maps) in north Mali carried out by the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). The FLA is a Tuareg-dominated separatist organization in northern Mali formed in 2024 to fight the Malian government and its Russian allies. A lot of speculation exists as how the insurgent group acquired the drones and developed the expertise to use them.
Taiwan’s Drones. In order to shift the strategic balance across the Taiwan Strait the island needs to solve the production delays and training deficiencies that currently exist. The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense plans to have nearly 50,000 UAVs by 2027. “Taiwan’s drone surge aims to offset China’s edge”, Asia Times, August 21, 2025.
Colombian Black Hawk Taken Down. A UH-60 belonging to the Colombian National Police (CNP) was downed by a drone on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The chopper was supporting coca crop eradication efforts. At least 12 people on the helicopter were killed. The attack was likely conducted by a dissident faction of the now-defunct FARC guerrilla group. “Colombian Black Hawk Downed by a Drone is a Glimpse of What’s to Come”, The War Zone, August 22, 2025.
India’s UCAV. The Ghatak is an Indian stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that is in the early development stages that will reduce India’s dependence on foreign military technology and boost domestic technologies. Once fielded, it will be capable of precision strikes and ISR. “The Ghatak: India’s Premier Autonomous Stealth Drone”, by Artem K., Grey Dynamics, August 21, 2025.
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This SOF News “Drone Update” comes out weekly. If a reader has some news on drones worth sharing then send it to staff@sof.news. We invite guest articles about the use of drones on the battlefield.
