Latest news with #OperationSpidersWeb
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
US base defense in the era of large-scale drone attacks
Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web wasn't just a brazen attack on Russia; it was a wake-up call for the United States. On June 1st, the Security Service of Ukraine (or SBU) carried out their mission, targeting four Russian airbases housing strategic bombers like the Tu-95 and Tu-22. Using small quadcopter drones that were assembled inside Russia and placed in modified roof compartments of shipping containers, they managed to eliminate at least 13 Russian aircraft, including several nuclear-capable bombers, and damage many others. This amounts to about 34% of their strategic bomber fleet destroyed in an incredibly short amount of time, an insurmountable loss. Ukraine didn't use any advanced technology or weapons. The drones used were small and built with commercially available parts. They were piloted, at least initially, by Ardupilot, an open-source software used by drone hobbyists to navigate drones autonomously. Using Russia's own 4G cellular networks, drone pilots, safe in Ukraine, flew the quadcopters the last meters to their targets. According to Ukrainian officials, everybody involved in the operation was safely out of Russia by the time it took place. The success of the operation and its relative simplicity have brought to the forefront concerns over how the United States would defend itself against a similar attack. While U.S. bases overseas have weapons capable of defending, at least partially, from small drones, many in the homeland do not. In our latest video, we break down how Ukraine pulled off Spider's Web, what that means for the United States, and what military leaders are doing to prepare for similar attacks. A Marine Corps reply-all email apocalypse has an incredible real-life ending Army shuts down its sole active-duty information operations command Army plans to close more than 20 base museums in major reduction Former Green Beret nominated to top Pentagon position to oversee special ops The Navy's new recruiting commercial puts the 'dirt wars' in the past
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
If Trump has all the cards, why is the US in such a strategic quagmire?
Just four months ago, US President Donald Trump was lecturing a surprised Volodymyr Zelensky on how the Ukrainian leader was 'not winning' because he did not 'have the cards' . As commander-in-chief of a superpower, Trump unabashedly brandished his geopolitical capital – apparently more interested in negotiating agreements with traditional US rivals such as Russia and Iran to bolster his 'art of the deal' credentials. Today, the strategic picture looks dramatically different. Following the spectacular success of Operation Spider's Web , which saw Ukrainian forces launching devastating drone attacks from within the heart of Russia, Kyiv seized the strategic initiative against the Kremlin. Trump, meanwhile, has struggled to translate his geopolitical capital into concrete gains. Despite his promise to swiftly finalise new deals with Russia and Iran, and repeatedly promising a new era of peace to his 'Make America Great Again' (Maga) base, the situation has escalated in traditional theatres of conflict. Having cards is one thing. Playing them skilfully is another. Not unlike his trade policy track record , Trump has gradually found himself in new strategic quagmires, which could ultimately strengthen its chief rivals, namely Russia and China. It's impossible to understand the direction of American politics over the past decade, and the meteoric rise of Trump, without taking into account the overwhelming public dissatisfaction with the ruling elite.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Dedrone By Axon Provides Insights On Protecting Against Small Drones
Images posted on social media showing Ukrainian drones packaged in containers for shipping (left) ... More and the video feed from the drones as they attack Russian bombers. Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web, which reportedly destroyed a third of Russia's strategic air assets, shifted the paradigm of where the front line exists. Previously, small drones, with their limited range, were used primarily close to the front lines. Meanwhile, key locations farther in the rear were either considered unlikely targets, out of range, or had air-defense systems to protect them against larger drones and missiles. However, as Ukraine demonstrated, small drone technology, coupled with an innovative mindset, can be used to cripple targets that were previously considered immune. Israel reportedly followed suit last week, smuggling small drones into Iran for strikes on Tehran. As such, many countries have taken notice and have started trying to figure out how to protect these targets. While this issue is complex and difficult to solve, Dedrone by Axon, a company that specializes in counter-drone systems, has been trying to tackle this problem for years. Their platforms are used in more than 30 countries, including six of the G7 nations and 17 federal entities, to protect airports, stadiums, correctional facilities, critical infrastructure, corporate campuses, and major events. Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE, a Vice President at Dedrone by Axon and counter-terrorism expert, provided insight into the challenges and what is necessary to solve these problems. Mr. Alexander-Cooper explained that the challenge in protecting against small drones lies in their commercial availability, which makes them an accessible weapon that can be deployed in large quantities. Further, the technology behind these drones continues to evolve rapidly driven by advances in the commercial sector. In turn, this allows users to develop new tactics leveraging increasing levels of autonomy, navigation, and stealth. Social media post from 2022 of a Ukrainian soldier using a Dedrone by Axon system. This rapid evolution of small drone technology creates persistent challenges for counter-drone systems. These defenses are inherently reactive, designed to exploit the vulnerabilities in the latest drone technology. Once fielded, the effectiveness of these systems quickly diminishes as drones are modified or redesigned to evade them. This cycle gives each new generation of drones a window of operational freedom before the next iteration of countermeasures is developed. Additionally, the dynamic evolution of small drone technology has created a diverse fleet, further complicating counter-drone systems. For example, while radio frequency detection might work well for traditional drones, fiber-optic drones emit no signals and require other methods. Meanwhile, radar works well for many of the larger, slower-moving, high-flying drones, but struggles against smaller, faster, low-flying drones. This variety makes it difficult for counter-drone systems to reliably detect and defeat all threats, especially as new drones are constantly being developed to evade existing defenses. While small drones are useful, they inherently have their weaknesses, especially with their payload capacity. This limited payload capacity restricts the amount of explosives that can be carried on the drone. This limited payload also reduces the size of the battery that can be carried, reducing the flight time of the drone and the power of the transmitter on the drone, substantially limiting the range. However, Mr. Alexander-Cooper pointed out, an 'entrepreneurial mindset coupled with bright people thinking outside the box' can overcome these issues. This was demonstrated in Operation Spider's Web, where Ukraine smuggled small drones deep into Russia and then deployed them with precision to maximize their impact. These small drones are clearly a complex problem. According to Mr. Alexander-Cooper, the answer lies in 'a layered defense with multi-sensor fusion.' Since drones vary widely in size, speed, altitude, and signature, relying on a single detection mechanism is inadequate. Detecting the radio frequency signature of a drone is one of the most common techniques and is effective against the majority of commercial systems. Meanwhile, more advanced or hardened drones may operate with reduced or spoofed emissions or avoid emitting radio signals altogether. These threats require detection through alternative means such as electro optical, infrared, radar, or LIDAR. As drones become more advanced, fusing data from multiple sensor types becomes essential to create a comprehensive picture of the airspace without relying on single source reporting. has the ability to integrate a number of different sensors together and provides ... More end-to-end defeat mechanisms for drones. (© Dedrone Inc.) As more sensors enter the mix, there is a growing need for an open architecture that allows new sensors to be quickly integrated into the detection network. This modular plug-and-play approach enables operators to upgrade individual sensors without overhauling the entire system. It also allows the system to be tailored to different operational environments, where specific sensors may be more effective than others depending on the threat landscape. With this increase in sensor diversity comes a rise in computational demands. Managing the data flow from multiple sources and fusing it into a coherent operational picture requires robust processing capability. The key to enabling this fusion lies in artificial intelligence algorithms that can analyze, learn from, and adapt to new types of drones as they are developed. These algorithms must be continuously refined to ensure that the system remains responsive to emerging threats. Once a drone is identified as adversarial, it must be neutralized. Mr. Alexander-Cooper emphasized the importance of counter-drone systems incorporating the full 'end to end defeat chain,' which includes detection, identification, tracking, decision-making, and ultimately defeat. As small drones become more advanced through improvements in computing and autonomy, the time available for counter-drone systems to respond continues to shrink. Michael Dyballa from the company Dedrone demonstrates how a company's premises can be secured ... More against drones in Langen, Germany, 5 July 2017. The German Air Navigation Service (DFS) hosted an event providing information on the uses and dangers of drones. German Telecom co-hosted the event. Photo: Andreas Arnold/dpa (Photo by Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Images) Just as with detection, tracking and identification, there is no single solution for drone defeat. An effective counter-drone system must offer a range of defeat mechanisms, both kinetic and non-kinetic. This flexibility allows operators to respond in line with mission constraints and rules of engagement. Non-kinetic tools such as radio frequency and GNSS jamming or signal spoofing remain effective against many commercial drones. However, more sophisticated threats are often hardened against jamming and require kinetic solutions such as directed energy weapons, nets, lasers, or mobile interceptors to be neutralized effectively. Over the past decade, there has been an ongoing cat and mouse game between drone and counter-drone technology, which has been accelerated by the Russia-Ukraine War. According to Mr. Alexander-Cooper, the future of counter-drone technology will be shaped by speed. Advances in AI and machine learning are reducing the time systems need to react to the point where counter-drone systems will soon need to operate without humans in the loop. This will become especially important as swarm technology advances, requiring systems to handle multiple simultaneous threats. Mr. Alexander-Cooper also highlighted the paradigm shift following Operation Spider's Web. The number of potential targets has become virtually unlimited, with small drones capable of inflicting significant damage, making it effectively impossible to fully protect all assets. Effective defense will require not only new tools, but integrated systems, rapid data sharing, and a willingness across industry and government to adapt together. The small drone threat is evolving. The response must evolve faster.
The Wire
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Drones Pose Tremendous Danger to Military and Other Targets
On June 1, Ukraine executed one of the most shocking military operations of the strategic air assets in one coordinated strike. The drones weren't hypersonic or guided by AI – they were small, cheap, quadro-copters made from commercially available parts, piloted by open-source software and deployed from inside Russia using civilian trucks. Drones provide precision and deniability, enabling both state and non-state actors to conduct operations with reduced logistical costs and risks to human infiltrators. FPV or 'first person view' drones, where the operators get a cockpit view of the terrain and target, can carry small explosives like an RPG warhead capable of taking out a tank. Operation Spiders Web marks the second time in recent years when an operation at this scale has featured an 'attack from within.' The first was the Israeli operation that rigged communications pagers used by Hezbollah with explosives and caused mayhem in the organisation prior to the outbreak of open Israel-Hezbollah hostilities. Such attacks have changed the calculus of security raising vulnerabilities in areas hitherto considered safe. Now there are worries that a range of military facilities could be targeted in similar attacks. There have been worries expressed as to how US ports could be vulnerable to Chinese ships carrying similar drones. In a similar manner, some 60 Indian air bases, and many hundreds Indian Army stations and facilities could similarly be vulnerable. The situation calls for a redesigning of the defences of many of these places. Recall in 2021, the first ever drone attack on a military facility in India was carried out when two drones dropped explosives on the Jammu air force station damaging a building. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. The Pakistan border is less than 20 kms from the station. The Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan borders are already 'active' where hundreds of drones come across to drop drugs, and often weapons and explosives. Protection begins with the periphery. In 2002, the US inaugurated the Container Security Initiative to enhance maritime security by preventing the use of cargo containers for terrorist activities such as smuggling weapons of mass destruction. The first line of defence for this were foreign ports which loaded cargo for the US where high risk containers were screened prior to departure using X-Ray, gamma ray machines and radiation detectors. As of now CSI is operational in 58 foreign ports covering 85% of the traffic to the US India is not a member of the CSI though it has had discussions with the US on the issue. New Delhi is concerned about its own security since posting of US officials in Indian ports could provide the US a means of tracking India 's sensitive imports . There are also issues with costs associated with the specialised equipment that would have to be set up. In 2004, 10 workers were killed in a private steel company near Delhi when they were handling scrap iron which was mixed with live shells and rockets from an unspecified foreign war zone. In 2005, the authorities in Mumbai found a container shipment containing some 34 revolvers, 1,000 live cartridges, 3 pistols and a silencer in a container which was imported from Bangkok and was supposed to have 27 drums of grease. The shipment was attributed to local gang members in the city. India of course has its own system of port security which does use scanners on a risk-based screening for cargo at JNPT, Mumbai and Chennai. But these are not deployed universally across India 's dozen or so major ports. New Delhi has also proposed this year to create a new state-backed Bharat Container Line to reduce reliance on foreign operators, This is of course a commercial initiatives, but it will also integrate security protocols. After the security of the periphery, India will have to think of protecting its inland sensitive areas. Little is known as yet about the manner in which the Ukrainian drones were guided. In all likelihood some were piloted remotely, others used AI to go along pre-programmed paths. In any case, they penetrated the perimeter defences to reach their targets. In India , some, though not all the bases are walled up along with a layer of barbed wire. They are policed by watch-towers and active patrols. Now it will be important to incorporate a drone-response team to the guard system. This will not be just a guard who will sound the alarm, but given the short time in which the threat is activated, it will require teams aided by sensors and anti-drone guns capable of immediate reaction to neutralise drones. Defences will have to be layered. While at the first level radar provides air bases with the ability to track some drones, smaller ones can still get through. Radio-Frequency (RF) detectors that track autonomous drones may not be sufficient. What will be needed at the second level is integrated over-lapping sensors – optical, thermal, auditory, along with radars to cover threats at all altitudes and paths. Third level counter-drone systems will again have to be a mix of kinetic guns and pellet firing systems, directed energy weapons, as well as electronic jamming and spoofing equipment. In addition there can be drone interceptors that can be launched quickly to fight attacking drones. In Ukraine drone vs drone has become an important means of defence. A final layer of action is to shut down 5G and 4G networks adjacent to the bases which the drones can be riding on to execute their attacks. Given the threat India faces from non-state as well as state actors, the number of vulnerable areas is even greater if you count the various government offices, economic targets, railway stations, power grids and so on. All this requires a changed way in looking at security given the rise of the FPV threat. Manoj Joshi is a distinguished fellow with the Observer Research Foundation in Delhi. This piece was first published on The India Cable – a premium newsletter from The Wire & Galileo Ideas – and has been updated and republished here. To subscribe to The India Cable, click here. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Russia moves its $500million planes to a remote base as far away from Ukraine as possible after drone attacks destroyed fleets across different airfields
Russia has hidden two of its most valuable warplanes in a remote airbase just days after a stunning Ukrainian drone strike wreaked havoc on its elite bomber fleet. Satellite images have revealed that the pair of supersonic Tu-160 strategic bombers - each carrying a $500million price tag - have been relocated more than 4,000 miles from the warfront to Anadyr, an isolated Cold War-era airfield nestled on the desolate Chukotka Peninsula. The dramatic retreat comes after Ukraine's spy agency, the SBU, pulled off what has been dubbed Operation Spider's Web on June 1. It was a meticulously choreographed drone blitz that reportedly damaged several of Moscow 's rare strategic bombers - aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons and critical to Russia's long-range strike capability. In a slickly produced video released by the SBU, the daring mission was laid bare. Cheap drones were smuggled into Russia in modified wooden cabins strapped to the backs of lorries, driven by unsuspecting civilians. The drones were reportedly piloted by Ukrainian operatives housed in a building close to an office of Russia's FSB security service and successfully evaded detection in a scathing indictment of Russia's intelligence apparatus. The drones were released near their targets and struck military airfields in a synchronised assault across three time zones, involving a staggering 117 drones. Pictured: Russian Tu-160 strategic bomber takes off for patrol flight over the Arctic Sea at unidentified location in an image taken from video released January 17, 2023 The plan, which had been 18 months in the making and overseen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, targeted five airfields, but only four were hit. One drone convoy reportedly suffered a premature explosion en route to a site in Russia's Far East. Despite Kremlin denials, military experts believe the damage is severe. Sources inside Ukraine's SBU security service claimed the operation crippled 34 per cent of Russia's long-range strategic bombers, including the nuclear-capable Tu-95s and Tu-22M3s, often used to launch cruise missiles into Ukraine. These planes, however, are no longer manufactured, and so cannot be replaced. Footage showed decimated enemy planes in flames on the runway and Ukrainian security sources claimed to have taken out 41 aircraft worth some £1.5billion. In drone footage, several Russian planes were seen erupting in a blaze as they soared over the Russian aircrafts. As they continued their journey, the drones blasted the planes stationed ahead, sending them into a ball of fire. Separate images revealed the destruction as plumes of black clouds billowed into the sky behind buildings as the attack was carried out. Footage appeared to show black smoke at the scene on the Kola Peninsula following explosions at the secret base. Analysts have said the relocation of the Tu-160s is a clear sign that Moscow fears further precision strikes. Professor Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow for air power at the Royal United Services Institute, told the i newspaper that imagery from the Anadyr base could suggest Moscow was trying to reduce the risk of more drone attacks. But while the American B-52 Stratofortress costs around $94million, the Russian Tu-160 dwarfs that figure at over five times the price. Only 16 Tu-160s are believed to be operational, and the Kremlin has managed to assemble just two new ones since 2022, despite promises of more. Western officials were quick to praise Ukraine's bold strike on June 1. Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, compared the raid to a 'reinvention of the Trojan Horse', with new 'technical and industrial creativity'. Still, Russia is trying to project calm. Deputy Foreign Miister Sergei Ryabkov insisted on Wednesday that the country's nuclear deterrence remains intact and that all damaged bombers 'can and will be restored'. Experts, however, say repairs could take years - if not longer - raising serious questions about Russia's ability to project air power in the coming months. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials claim that Moscow's decision to launch a recent cruise missile attack using a Tu-160, which are normally reserved for only the most strategic missions, signals a potential shortfall in available Tu-95s and Tu-22s. Operation Spiderweb was 18 months in the making and under the control of Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the Ukrainian security service, the SBU. Zelensky also noted its symbolic timing as the operation came exactly 29 years after Ukraine handed over its own strategic bombers to Russia as part of the ill-fated Budapest Memorandum, under which Moscow promised never to attack its neighbour. 'We can say with confidence that this is an absolutely unique operation,' he said in statement on social media, revealing that 117 drones were used to target bombers 'used to fire at our cities.' 'What's most interesting, is that the 'office' of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions,' he added. 'In total, 117 drones were used in the operation, with a corresponding number of drone operators involved, and 34 per cent of the strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at air bases were hit. We will continue this work.'
