Report: US Army Orders More FD-1 Drone Interceptors for Counter-UAS Operations

Report: US Army Orders More FD-1 Drone Interceptors for Counter-UAS Operations

Army has placed a second order for the FD-1 drone interceptor, a system a single soldier can deploy in under two minutes. Defence Blog reports that this order comes less than a year after the system first garnered the service’s attention. The FD-1 is designed to destroy Group One to Group Three drones, ranging from small quadcopters to aircraft weighing several hundred kilograms, and can also engage ground targets. One operator controls the system, which can function as a strike element within an existing radar network or as a standalone unit, with a human authorizing every shot. This rapid acquisition pathway, enabled by an Other Transaction Agreement, aims to address the cost imbalance of using expensive interceptors against cheap drones. This second order underscores the Army’s commitment to quickly fielding effective counter-UAS technologies and adapting to evolving battlefield threats.

Ukraine Uses Heavy Drone for First Battlefield Casualty Evacuation

Ukrainian troops have successfully evacuated a wounded soldier from the front line using a heavy multirotor drone, marking what the unit involved calls the world’s first aerial casualty evacuation from a battlefield. Defence Blog reports that the operation was conducted by the unmanned ground systems company of Ukraine’s Ninety-Second Separate Assault Brigade, in collaboration with other units and drone maker Gurzuf Defence. The wounded infantryman, from the Thirtieth Separate Mechanized Brigade, survived and is now receiving treatment and rehabilitation, and his life is no longer in danger. The mission was necessary because the soldier’s position was unreachable by uncrewed ground vehicles due to highly active Russian drones and extensive mining. The team instead used a heavy hexacopter from Gurzuf Defence, a type normally used as a bomber drone, which was modified to carry a person while staying stable in the air.

Russian FPV Drone Strikes Ukrainian Protector Ground Vehicle

Russian forces have released video footage showing an FPV drone striking one of Ukraine’s large uncrewed ground vehicles, a Protector, near Orikhiv in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. Defence Blog reports that the drone hit the Protector’s cargo bed while it was transporting logs, typically used for building fortifications. The front of the Protector, which houses its control and communications equipment, was protected by a mesh cage, and the strike landed behind it. The Protector, built by Ukrainian Armor, is a diesel-powered ground drone roughly the size of a Humvee, capable of carrying significant cargo. Ukrainian units are increasingly relying on these ground drones for last-mile logistics, making them high-value targets for Russian FPV drones and other anti-armor assets. This incident underscores the ongoing drone-on-drone warfare and the critical role of ground robotics in the conflict.

Rostec Promotes Upgraded T-80BVM as ‘Assassin’ Tank

Russian state defense conglomerate Rostec has described its upgraded T-80BVM main battle tank as an “assassin,” highlighting its purported stealth and mobility. Defence Blog reports that Rostec claims the gas turbine-powered vehicle is quiet and well-camouflaged, enabling fast, unnoticed flanking maneuvers. The modernized tank is also promoted for roles as a “steel battering ram” and a “sniper” working with spotter drones to engage targets at ten kilometers. The T-80BVM is an upgrade of the Soviet-era T-80BV, featuring a one thousand two hundred fifty horsepower gas turbine engine, a one hundred twenty-five millimeter smoothbore gun, and modernized fire control. While Rostec touts its quietness, gas turbine engines are known for high fuel consumption. This marketing push comes as the T-80 series has suffered significant losses in Ukraine, with over one thousand three hundred documented by open-source monitors.

Zelensky Rejects Trump’s Claims, Blames Russia for Prolonging War

President Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed back against former US President Donald Trump’s assertion that Kyiv does not want to end the war, stating that Russia is the one rejecting peace efforts. This attack involved sixteen ballistic missiles and over two hundred drones, including jet-powered Shahed drones, which damaged energy infrastructure across Ukraine and left at least five hundred fifty thousand families without electricity. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has consistently supported every partner initiative and ceasefire proposal, but Russia continues to respond with “ballistic missiles, Shaheds, and killings.” He argued that easing pressure on Moscow while restricting Ukraine’s air defenses ignores the reality of the conflict, and that Ukraine’s partners had personally encountered Russian refusals to de-escalate. This exchange highlights the ongoing diplomatic tensions and differing perspectives on the path to ending the war in Ukraine.

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