Below the reader will find recent news about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are used in conflicts (Ukraine, Africa, etc.), new developments in drone use, and training by military units for using drones during combat operations.
“Ukraine’s drone revolution is forcing Europe to confront an uncomfortable truth: you can’t defend a continent with million-dollar missiles against $20k drones”, David Kirichenko, Twitter, 17 Nov 2025.
Curated articles on the topics below are provided:
- Featured Topic: A-29 Super Tucano Drone Fighter
- SOCOM Solicitation for Drone Training
- U.S. Army and 1 Million Drones?
- Evolution of the MQ-9 Drone
- Multi-Dimensional Drone Swarm
- Chinese AI Drones and Threat to US
- Ukraine: Training is Everything
- Kyiv Needs Funding for Drone Production
- Ukraine: Mass Production of Interceptor Drones
- Assessing Drones on the Future Battlefield
- Russia’s ‘Unmanned Systems Forces’
- U.S.-Japan counter Drone Training
- Drones in Sudan
- Switzerland Anti-Drone Camouflage
- Drones and Drug Cartels
- Greece Trains on Domestically Built Drones
Featured Topic
A-29 Super Tucano – A New Drone Fighter. Aircraft manufacturer Embraer has announced that its A-29 Super Tucano aircraft will be adding counter-drone missions to its combat capability. New sensors, data links, and precision weapons will upgrade current and future A-29 operators to detect, track, and destroy unmanned aerial systems (UAVs). The aircraft will be fitted with specific data links for receiving initial target coordinates and queuing, a sensor for laser tracking and designation, as well as laser guided rockets and wing-mounted .50 machine guns.
Ukrainian forces have introduced the use of small propeller-driven fixed-wing aircraft for close-range intercepts of Russian drones. This tactic began in April 2024 and has increased as time has gone on. One of the aircraft used by the Ukrainians is the Soviet-era Yakovlev Yak-52 – a two-seat trainer with a speed ideal for engaging Russian drones. Another is the Aeroprakt A-22, a light sport plane that is also very agile and can engage the drones as well. Most of these missions take place during the day with the aircraft crews using hand-held assault rifles or machine guns at close range. In time, as 2025 progressed, these light aircraft have been fitted with sensors for drone detection, fixed gun mounts, and electronic warfare jammers to disrupt drone signals.
The current Ukrainian method of employment of these light fixed-wing aircraft drone killers is quite simple. Ground sensors and air defense systems detect Russian drones and the prop-aircraft is notified to intercept. The aircraft crew maneuver into a position that allows it to employ automatic weapons or shotguns to destroy or disable the drone. This is a low-cost method to destroy drones when compared to the high cost use of surface to air missiles or fighter jets.
The counterdrone mission is added to the traditional missions performed by the Super Tucano which include close air support, air patrol, air interdiction, armed ISR, and air escort. The A-29 is currently employed by 22 air forces around the world. The United States selected the A-29 as the counterinsurgency aircraft for the Afghan Air Force (AAF). Afghan pilots were trained in the United States and then flew as many as 20 Tucanos for the AAF. Read more in “Embraer to Expand A-29 Super Tucano Capabilities to Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems”, Embraer, November 11, 2025.
U.S. and Drones
SOCOM Solicitation for Drone Training. United States Special Operations Command has issued a call for a contractor to train its forces to build and fly first person view (FPV) drones. The contract would provide training to FPV operators in the fabrication and flying of the small drones at the entry level. The 10-day course would cover fundamental training and flight instruction. Read the solicitation on www.sam.gov as well as two PDFs (RFQ and PWS) found at the bottom of the web page. Read more on this topic in “Navy SEALs want to start a 10-day school to learn drone warfare”, Task & Purpose, November 17, 2025.
U.S. Army and 1 Million Drones? China’s industrial base can build at least 8 million drones a year. The US might be able to build a lot less – certainly not enough. The US Army plans to step up procurement but there are some bumps in the road that will need to be leveled out. “The US Army Wants to Build 1 Million Drones. Can it Deliver?”, National Interest, November 15, 2025.
Evolution of the MQ-9 Drone. The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper was introduced in 2007 with more than 300 built since then. It carries a variety of sensors and weapons and can send feeds to ground stations thousands of miles away. Remotely operated, it can function as an ISR platform or conduct armed interdiction missions against ground targets. Persistent surveillance (time in air following a target) combined with a strike package makes it a very effective counterterrorist weapon. Use of the drone expanded during the Obama administration. “What’s so Great about the MQ-0 Reaper Drone?”, by Harrison Kass, National Interest, October 26, 2025.
Multi-Dimensional Drone Swarm. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly altering the use of drones on the battlefield. The U.S. is attempting to keep pace with Ukraine, Russia, China, and other nations. A recent attempt at this ‘keeping pace’ effort is a contract awarded to XTEND Reality Inc. which calls for multiple types of drones flown by AI pilots working together under the control of a single human operator. “Pentagon Acquires Combat Proven “Multi-Dimensional Drone Swarm”, Forbes, November 13, 2025.
Chinese AI Drones and Threat to US. China is building millions of drones that can operate in swarms using advanced artificial intelligence technology. The use of AI-controlled drones offers China a way of countering traditional US advantages in manned aircraft, naval forces, and global basing. China recognizes, with insight from the Ukraine conflict and Yemeni Houthi harassment of US and other nations military and commercial vessels, that drones can use inexpensive autonomous systems to provide balance against superior forces. “China’s AI Drone Swarms Should Terrify the United States”, National Interest, November 16, 2025.
Drones and the Ukraine – Russia Conflict
Ukraine: Training is Everything. Ukraine is currently the world leader in drone warfare and Europe is looking for lessons learned for its own defense against possible Russian aggression. Thus far Europe is concentrating on the technological aspects of drone warfare; but it is equally important to recognize the training aspects associated with successful drone employment. “Ukraine’s drone war lesson for Europe: Technology is nothing without training”, by David Kirichenko, Atlantic Council, November 10, 2025.
Kyiv Needs Funding for Drone Production. Ukraine says that with enough funding it can produce up to 20 million drones next year to use against Russian forces that have invaded. The war in Ukraine is now about who can ramp up the production of cheap drones faster. “Ukraine: Kyiv urges allies to help fund its drone production”, Deutsche Welle, November 16, 2025.
Ukraine: Mass Production of Interceptor Drones. Three interceptor drone manufacturers have started production and eleven more are preparing their production lines. The new drones are based on a domestically developed technology called ‘Octopus” that has been tested in intercepting Russian Shahed drones. The goal is to manufacture 1,000 of these interceptor drones each day. Each Octopus interceptor costs about 10% of what a Russian Shahed drone costs. The United Kingdom is collaborating in the Octopus drone production with UK facilities producing thousands monthly. “Ukraine begins mass production of interceptor drones to bolster air defense”, Reuters, November 14, 2025.
Ukraine FPV Drones Reach out to 40 Miles. Using small drones with upgraded hardware and a relay system Ukrainian FPV operators have been able to deploy first person view quadcopter drones out to 37 miles to strike targets. The relay system entails a drone bouncing its signal off another drone to extend its range to the pilot. The drones range in cost from $500 to $700 depending on whether it has a thermal camera. Business Insider, November 13, 2025.
Assessing Drones on the Future Battlefield. Tsiporah Fried provides an essay on how the Russia-Ukraine war is a tactical and technological inflection point on the battlefield. When the war first started it was a war of maneuver, that transitioned to a war of artillery, and then on to a war of drones. Drones are now a profound disruption of operational art – much like the German blitzkrieg concept of World War II. However, as nations develop counter-drone technologies the importance of drones could diminish. “The challenge is to transform their tactical disruption into lasting operational and strategic effect”. Read more in “The Impact of Drones on the Battlefield: Lessons of the Russia-Ukraine War”, Eurasia Review, November 15, 2025.
Russia’s ‘Unmanned Systems Forces’. A new command has been created to oversee Russia’s drone operations, development, testing, and training. This new organization mirrors one created by Ukraine last year, even using the same name. Each nation is attempting to stay ahead of the other in drone technology and fielding. “Russia Creates New Military Branch Dedicated to Drone Warfare”, The War Zone, November 13, 2025.
Drones Around the World
U.S.-Japan Counterdrone Training. Japan Ground Self Defense Force units and roughly a battalion-sized U.S. Army contingent wrapped up Exercise Rising Thunder 25 at Yakima Training Center after two weeks of live fire and counter-drone training built around small UAS threats. “U.S. and Japanese Ground Forces Reforge Their Alliance for the Counter Drone Fight”, Army Recognition, November 14, 2025.
Drones in Sudan. Both sides of the Sudan conflict, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), are using drones in the two-year long conflict. The use of drones has contributed to the war’s growing death toll and has caused extensive damage to vital infrastructure such as hospitals, airports, military bases, and seaports. The drones are supplied by regional powers: Turkey, UAE, Iran, Russia, and others; each with their own set of ambitions and interests in the Sudan conflict. “Good Enough Drones Have Become Geopolitical Chips”, by Steven Feldstein, Foreign Policy, November 17, 2025. (subscription)
Switzerland Anti-Drone Camouflage. Switzerland has awarded contracts to three different firms for systems that will reduce optical, infrared, and radar signatures. These multispectral systems will protect against the growing use of drones and sensor-based reconnaissance that today’s battlefields present. The systems reduce exposure to human observers but also has advanced materials that absorb or disrupt electromagnetic waves. “Switzerland invests in advanced camouflage against drones”, Defence-Blog, November 12, 2025.
Drones and Drug Cartels. First person view (FPV) drones are now being used by Mexican drug cartels to target members of the government, police, and military of Mexico. Drone attacks in Mexico now number in the hundreds each year. Drug cartels are adopting military-style tactics to control territory and undermine the rule of law; drones are just one aspect of that evolution. Read more in an article by Zita Ballinger Fletcher: “How cartels are adopting drone tactics from Ukraine”, Defense News, November 14, 2025.
Greece Trains on Domestically Built Drones. In Exercise Aisios Oionos 25 private Greek companies provided new and innovated drone systems for the Greek military to test and train on. “Greece Conducts First Military Drill Using Domestically Built Combat Drones”, Greek Reporter, November 15, 2025. See also “As NATO pushes for faster innovation, drones flood a test battlefield in Greece”, Associated Press, November 14, 2025.
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Image. An A-29 Super Tucano flies over Kabul, Afghanistan n April 2016. (Photo by Sgt Larry E. Reid, USAF)
