Daily digest, 18 September 2026

Priority 1. UAVs, counter-UAV, military AI and space

update "Bars" — the manufacturer disclosed specifications and claimed 2000 units per month

The Ukrainian maker of the "Bars" missile-drone has for the first time publicly disclosed the evolution of the product and production volumes — in an interview at the MSPO 2026 exhibition. This is the first detailed set of figures on the system from the developer itself.

It started with a 22 kg warhead and a range of about 700 km; now they claim a 60 kg warhead, a range of over 1000 km and a speed of up to 700 km/h. Production scaling: from 10 units per month at the start — to about 600, then about 2000 now. According to the representative, the vehicles do not accumulate in warehouses but go straight into use. source

There are at least two modifications: a guided medium-range version with a camera (operating under operator control, used over the waters of the Black and Azov Seas and Crimea) and a long-range version flying to coordinates. Some "Bars" are claimed to have passed through three layers of Russian air defense. The target figure after refinements is at least 75% hits. Export talks are under way with the UK, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, Belgium and the UAE; mass use of "Bars 2.0" is planned for the first quarter of 2027. source

An important caveat. The claims come from an interested manufacturer. Observer Shrike reasonably points out an inconsistency: if 2000 per month are produced of just one type of jet drone, it is strange that "Bars" hardly ever appear on video — only a couple of cases have been documented (the May and June attacks on Moscow Oblast). The production figure and the air defense penetration rate should be treated as marketing, not as confirmed fact.

update RAM-2X declassified — with onboard terminal guidance and autonomous attack on loss of communications

Ukraine's Ukrspecsystems disclosed its involvement in the RAM-2X midstrike drone with an X-shaped wing, which the Defense Forces have been using since 2024, and began publishing a video archive of hits. Over two years — more than 450 targets hit, including S-400 air defense systems and "Iskander" launchers. source

A key detail on capabilities: the current version has a terminal guidance system that locks onto a target at a distance of up to 3 km and strikes it without pilot involvement. If the operator has locked the target and pressed "Attack" and then lost communication, the drone will engage the target autonomously, including a moving one. source

The Su-57E flew to Egypt on internal fuel tanks

The Russian Su-57E flew to an air show in Egypt using fuel tanks inside its internal bays — without external drop tanks. The flight had one intermediate landing, after which, reportedly, a reserve for roughly another 1000 km remained. source

The Odesa channel Zloy Odessit draws attention to another detail: the aircraft at this show is not the exhibition 054 (in its version, lost near Zvenigorod on July 23) but the earlier prototype T-50-8/509. This cannot be verified from open data, so we present it as the channel's version.

update Ukraine showed the 8-channel Orion 8 CRPA antenna — a catch-up solution, in GoDrone's assessment

Ukraine's KORT presented its own 8-channel CRPA antenna (an antenna with a controlled reception pattern that suppresses interference by direction), the Orion 8, to protect UAVs against satellite navigation jamming. The system is currently being tested on fixed-wing drones together with Septentrio receivers. source

Context matters: 16-element CRPAs were recorded on Russian Gerans back in 2025, and later 16-element modules of the "Kometa" family appeared. Against this background, in the assessment of the Russian channel GoDrone, the Orion 8 "looks more like a catch-up solution": the Ukrainian side is only now bringing an 8-channel system to trials, whereas 12- and 16-element solutions have long been seen on the Russian side.

update The Yaroslavl refinery halted refining after the strike — minus 40% of capacity

On the night of September 17, Ukrainian drones struck the Slavneft-YANOS refinery in Yaroslavl (capacity about 15 million tonnes per year) for the ninth time since the start of 2026. According to Reuters, the AVT-3 primary processing unit (17.1 thousand tonnes/day) was damaged — about 40% of the plant's total refining capacity. Meanwhile, the AVT-4 (another 33%) was already under repair after the August 28 strike — so the plant has effectively been halted. source

At the same time, the Rostov-Tsentralny military airfield was hit: according to confirmation from the Ukrainian side — an An-12 aircraft, two An-26s and three helicopters. source In total, 641 drones were claimed shot down over Russian regions during the night source — an indicator of the scale of use.

update Jet-powered Gerans are approaching cruise missiles — Ukrainian air defense can't keep up

Le Monde and Ukrainian sources note that the new jet-engined versions of the Geran have become faster, fly higher and carry a larger payload, effectively approaching cruise missiles in capability at a fraction of the cost. The drones change altitude and route, bypassing different layers of air defense. source Ukrainian data (via the Victory Drones digest): the use of jet-powered strike UAVs grew from about 450 in June to 2850 in August; the speed of individual systems is 240–500 km/h, and the "Geran-5" reaches up to 600 km/h. source

A separate signal on countermeasures: the AFU command has begun using short-range air defense systems against "Banderols" and "Danyas" — first Soviet "Osa" systems, then French Crotale and Italian SPADA. So far, according to Ukrainian data, there has been no particular success — the new Russian munitions fly complex routes and, according to several reports, perform anti-interception maneuvers. source

update Kalashnikov showed the "Zveroboy" and the "Kalitka-KA" — new specifications

The Kalashnikov Concern publicly showed two counter-UAV systems for the first time at the IV All-Russian Arms Forum in Moscow. The "Zveroboy" includes an automated workstation for the ground control station, an optical target designation system, three launch containers, a digital relay and a radar system. The kill mechanism is "Kraken" interceptors (multirotor FPV drones with a special warhead), three in each container; there is a night version, the "Kraken-N", with a thermal imaging channel, and stationary and mobile (pickup-chassis) variants are available. source

The second system is the automated remotely controlled "Kalitka-KA": a rotating mount for a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, an electro-optical unit with two daytime cameras and a rangefinder, an optional thermal imager, a turret control unit and a remote control console. The system has been field-tested in the SMO zone.

Ka-52 military helicopters are hitting Ukrainian long-range drones — so far isolated episodes

Russian channels are publishing footage of army aviation destroying Ukrainian long-range FP drones — a Ka-52 crew shoots down a vehicle, followed by detonation. source The "Dva Mayora" channel notes that there is no systemic solution yet — these are one-off actions and local initiatives, whereas the Ukrainian side has long been using Mi-8/Mi-24s against Russian propeller-driven drones, and proposes building up helicopter air defense as a cheaper and more mobile alternative to ground-based SAM systems. source

The Gamera heavy strike UAV — claimed range of over 16 700 km

America's Swarm Aero showed the large Gamera drone with a claimed unrefueled range of over 16 700 km and a wingspan of about 22 m; the first flight is planned for 2027. According to the company — seven hardpoints and about 1270 kg of payload; the planned weapons include AGM-158C LRASM anti-ship missiles and JASSM-ER cruise missiles. Group operations are via the Legion system: the architecture is designed for one operator to control up to 35 aircraft. source

update Five combat AI functions in UAVs — an analysis from OVOD

[TECH] An analysis of the applied functions of military AI on drones: recognition (distinguishing equipment from a decoy in mud, smoke or with a damaged silhouette), automatic target tracking in the final phase when the picture is lost, GPS-free navigation (inertial, visual odometry, image-to-map matching), situational analysis (highlighting changes instead of a video stream) and group control (one crew — several vehicles with divided roles: scout, relay, striker, decoy). The key thesis is that the battle is over shortening the "see → recognize → transmit → strike" cycle (the Boyd cycle). source

North Korean workers in drone production in Russia — up to 25 thousand

According to a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, Russia employs up to 25 thousand workers from the DPRK in the production of military UAVs, some of them registered as students. Including at the enterprises in Alabuga in Tatarstan, where drones are assembled. According to MSMT estimates, at the end of 2025 there were 15–30 thousand DPRK citizens working in Russia; in the past year alone, workers abroad may have brought the regime up to $800 million, which helps finance Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. source

Military space and space-based data

CNN: 14 Russian reconnaissance satellites passed over a US base in Saudi Arabia before the Iranian strike

According to a CNN investigation, two days before the Iranian attack, 14 Russian reconnaissance satellites flew over an American military base in Saudi Arabia. The attack wounded 12 American service members and destroyed a Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft, which had been specially moved from its usual parking spot. Experts believe Russia is helping Iran because the US similarly provides Ukraine with intelligence for strikes deep into Russia. source

Russia's CEC is testing voting via a low-orbit satellite constellation

In the State Duma elections, remote voting with data transmission via a low-orbit satellite constellation will be tested in one of the settlements of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The system, according to the head of the CEC, was developed by a Russian company; the name of the constellation is not given. This is dual use — a civilian test of the ground segment and satellite communications in remote areas. source

Space Force has named its program for orbital detection of ground targets — RRS-G from Northrop Grumman

The US Space Force plans to begin deploying a new satellite constellation capable of tracking ground targets from orbit (GMTI) by 2028. The program has been named Resilient Radar System-Ground (RRS-G), and the prime contractor is Northrop Grumman. source

Priority 2. Military innovation (Ukraine, Europe, NATO)

Rheinmetall will bring production of Skyranger and Skynex air defense systems to ~400 per year by the end of 2027

According to the company's investor presentation (via Defense Express), Rheinmetall wants to bring the combined annual output of mobile Skyranger and stationary Skynex to about 400 systems. This is specifically the total, not 400 Skyrangers alone. Production is being set up at three sites — in Switzerland, Italy and Germany (140, 140 and 100 systems per year, about 380 in total). Both systems are designed to counter short-range air targets, including drones. source

Ukraine received over 1 million units of equipment in a year through the DOT-Chain Defence marketplace

Since the start of 2026, the Defense Forces have received more than a million drones and other equipment worth UAH 71.1 billion (~$1.59 billion) through the DOT-Chain Defence digital marketplace, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense reports. This includes 3608 ground robotic systems worth UAH 2.57 billion and 15 270 EW systems worth 1.4 billion. Units choose the models themselves within the allocated funding, while the Defense Procurement Agency handles contracts, payment and delivery control. The platform lists over 1200 items from about 300 Ukrainian manufacturers, and the average time from order to receipt is eight days. source

update Ukraine's DPA has announced the first tender for FPV drones by specifications, not by models

Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency has begun a competitive procurement of single-use radio-controlled FPV drones with selection based on compliance with tactical and technical specifications rather than specific models. The procurement is divided into 269 lots across six parameters (frame size, terminal guidance, radio link type, camera type, video transmitter and receiver frequencies). For comparison: a similar tender in July 2025 included only 19 lots. A single participant cannot win more than 50% of the volume. source

Ukrainian MFGs have received Australian Slinger RWS and 30 mm modules

Ukrainian mobile fire groups have received Australian 30 mm Slinger remote weapon stations with a Bushmaster M230LF cannon for engaging UAVs at ranges of over 800 m. source

A Ukrainian RWS with two machine guns — in service with the "Pomsta" brigade

The footage shows a Ukrainian remote weapon station in service with the 3rd Border Detachment ("Pomsta" brigade) of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The RWS is armed with two machine guns: a 7.62 mm PKT and a 12.7 mm M2 Browning (the M2's effective range against air targets is 1500 m). source

Latvia chose the Czech Morana self-propelled howitzer instead of the Swedish Archer

Latvia abandoned the purchase of Swedish Archers in favor of Czech 155 mm wheeled Morana self-propelled howitzers (Excalibur Army) — following an assessment of cost, delivery times and operational capabilities. A letter of intent had previously been signed with Sweden for 18 systems; the same number of Czech systems will probably be ordered. The Morana is on a Tatra 815-7 (8×8) chassis, with a fully automated turret, a crew of 3, 45 rounds of ammunition and a range of over 40 km. source

Germany's Vanta-6 integrates Ukrainian interceptor drones

Germany's Stark announced at the BOMA 2026 exercise the integration of Ukrainian interceptor UAVs into the Vanta-6 USV as part of a joint venture with a Ukrainian company. The boat has received an INS (operation under GNSS jamming for up to 15 minutes), a speed of up to 100 km/h, a range of about 1600 km and two launchers for loitering munitions. source

Priority 3. Around Ukraine: trends and signals

Massed strikes on Ukraine continue despite the negotiation backdrop. According to the Russian MoD, on the night of September 17 the following were hit: the "De Novo" data center, UAV production workshops (including RAX-2X), Zaporizhstal, the "Iskra" research and production complex, two road bridges across the Dniester, a bulk carrier in the port of Chornomorsk and the Artsyz substation, which supports the operation of the port of Izmail. source The declared list of targets indicates an emphasis on the port and transport infrastructure of the south.

At the front — the AFU 3rd Corps' Operation "Vivaldi", according to Biletsky, disrupted the Russian plan to envelop Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka, and the "northern pincer" was effectively routed. source At the same time, the AFU is reorganizing command: instead of the "Vostok" group of forces, "Center" (Biletsky) and "Azov" (Prokopenko) have been created. source

A sanctions signal: the US House of Representatives passed the "Graham bill" on secondary sanctions (tariffs of up to 100% for buyers of Russian oil and gas), which now goes to Trump for signature. India and China have already reacted sharply. source

What to watch

1. The "Bars" manufacturer disclosed figures, but they cannot be taken at face value. A 60 kg warhead, 1000+ km range, 2000 units per month — impressive, but the inconsistency with the almost complete absence of footage of its use indicates: this is vendor marketing ahead of export talks, not confirmed reality.

2. Jet-powered Gerans are outpacing Ukrainian air defense. Growth in use from ~450 to 2850 per month over the summer, speeds up to 600 km/h and anti-interception maneuvers — existing interceptors and short-range SAM systems are not yet providing a solution. This is a key factor for the coming winter.

3. The Yaroslavl refinery has effectively been halted. Two of the three primary processing units are out of action (AVT-3 and AVT-4) — this is not one-off damage but the cumulative effect of a systematic campaign against Russian oil refining.

4. RAM-2X with autonomous attack on loss of communications — a working example of a midstrike drone's resilience to EW: target lock at 3 km and a strike without a pilot, including against a moving target. Over two years — S-400s and Iskanders to its credit.

5. On navigation protection for long-range drones, the Ukrainian side is catching up. The 8-channel Orion 8 CRPA versus already deployed 12–16-element Russian solutions — a rare case where the technological advantage is not on the Ukrainian side.

What's new in UAVs and counter-UAV

• "Bars" (Ukraine) — 60 kg warhead, 1000+ km range, speed up to 700 km/h, 2000/month claimed (manufacturer's data)

• RAM-2X (Ukraine) — terminal guidance at 3 km, autonomous attack on loss of communications

• Orion 8 CRPA (Ukraine, KORT) — an 8-channel anti-jamming antenna for drones

• "Zveroboy"/"Kraken" (Russia) — 9 FPV interceptors in three containers, night-capable "Kraken-N"

• "Kalitka-KA" (Russia) — 7.62 mm RWS, 200+ UAVs downed in 3 months

• Gamera (USA) — heavy carrier, 16 700 km, LRASM/JASSM-ER, for a Taiwan scenario

• Vanta-6 (Germany+Ukraine) — a USV with a speed of 100 km/h and loitering munitions

• Slinger (Australia→Ukraine) — 30 mm RWS against drones at 800+ m

• Ka-52 (Russia) — episodic hits on long-range FP drones from a helicopter

• "Upyr-K" (Russia, Uraldronzavod) — a new UAV with a payload of up to 12 kg, an alternative to the "Molniya" source

Military space and space-based data

• RRS-G (USA, Northrop Grumman) — a new constellation for detecting ground targets from orbit, deployment by 2028

• 14 Russian reconnaissance satellites over an air base in Saudi Arabia before the Iranian strike (CNN investigation)

• Russia's CEC is testing voting via an unnamed low-orbit constellation in the NAO

• GIS Reports: Europe is technologically advanced in space (Galileo, Copernicus, Ariane 6), but EU/ESA/NATO fragmentation prevents strategic autonomy; dependence on US space assets persists source

Under the radar

GPS-free magnetic navigation tested on an expendable UAV. SandboxAQ and Northrop Grumman conducted flight tests of the Lumberjack drone with the AQNav system, which determines position by the Earth's magnetic field. According to the developer, this is the first known test of MagNav on an expendable platform; the software was integrated in less than an hour, and the system emits nothing. Accuracy and route have not been disclosed, and there is no talk of fully replacing GPS — but the threat of devaluing EW jamming of navigation is significant. source — direct link: source

CAR has analyzed the components of Houthi missiles — a marking system for assembly. [TECH] The Conflict Armament Research report "Powering the Houthis" (22 pages, based on more than 800 missile and UAV components from maritime interdictions in the Red Sea): a color coding of labels was found (blue — surface-to-surface, gold — anti-ship, green — air defense) along with letter codes for components (ACT — actuator, ENG — engine, GPS, INS, W.H — warhead). According to CAR, such markings simplify the assembly in Yemen itself of systems delivered disassembled. At the same time, the report contains almost no full technical analysis of the missiles — the main material is the identification of items by their markings and an analysis of supply chains. source

And what about our Chinese comrades?

A test flight of the 6th-generation J-50 fighter. Footage of another flight of the Chinese Jian-50 has been published. source

An analysis of the onboard systems of a prospective stealth fighter from the Shenyang institute. [TECH] In the journal Aircraft Design, specialists linked to the developer (indirectly — the J-50) described the concept of the onboard systems: redistribution of functions from the pilot to automation if the pilot is incapacitated, autonomous continuation of the mission, alternative navigation (including quantum) under satellite jamming, and control of a group of unmanned wingmen as an airborne command node. source

Japan is preparing the largest five-year military plan in its history — 52 000 unmanned platforms. Under the 2027–2031 plan, military spending could grow from 43 to 70–80 trillion yen. The emphasis is on preparing for a protracted war: 10 thousand long-range strike drones, 1300 anti-ship, 7500 reconnaissance, 200 underwater vehicles, 30 USVs, 1200 UGVs, plus an orbital constellation of 100 small satellites. source

Taiwan has tested "transparent armor" — an AR view through a tank's hull. The Chung-Shan Institute tested an augmented reality system: cameras around the perimeter transmit images to a helmet-mounted display, and the direction of gaze automatically aims the turret. The tests were on an upgraded M60A3. The PSD-250 turbojet engine for UAVs was also presented. source

External analysis

AI targeting is outpacing humans' ability to verify. At US Congressional hearings, experts warned: formal "human approval" loses meaning when AI compresses the targeting cycle to minutes. The catalyst was the strike on a school in Minab, Iran (February 28, 168+ dead, 100+ children); more than 120 members of Congress demand to find out whether the Maven system was used. Meanwhile, funding for the civilian casualty tracking platform has been terminated. This adds an important dimension to the Russian-Ukrainian loop: the problem is not the autonomy of weapons but the reality of human control. source

Aircraft-to-aircraft infrared data sharing on the F-16 — targeting without radar. Lockheed Martin tested the HiveLink link (L3Harris) on two F-16s with Legion pods: sharing passive IR search data without active radar, which is critical under EW. Joint processing from two platforms solves the main weakness of passive sensors — ranging. source

Lidar detects "radio-silent" drones at almost 1.5 km. AEye and Swiftstrike AI are integrating the STRATOS lidar into counter-drone systems: detection of small UAVs at up to 1.5 km without relying on a radio signature — critical against fiber-optic drones and those in autonomous flight, where RF means are powerless. The C-UAS market is forecast to reach ~$55 billion by 2034. source

The lesson of repairing damaged KC-135s — directly applicable to a war with China. The War Zone describes the restoration of five KC-135 tankers damaged by Iranian fragments at Prince Sultan Air Base; one required a 48-hour draining of 200 000 pounds of fuel before on-site repair. The conclusion: dispersing repair capacity closer to the area of operations is critical for a protracted conflict. source

Meller Optics: sapphire optics for seekers at 1600°C Meller Optics has developed lenses and windows made of single-crystal sapphire for the range of −200…+1600°C — for missile seekers and surveillance systems where conventional optics degrade under thermal loads. Hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, resistance to abrasion and aggressive environments. source

Top military-tech signals of the day

1. ↗23 · 👁454 · @theaterVD — ⚔️🇬🇧🇩🇪🇮🇹🇳🇱🇺🇸 Multinational air force exercise "Cobra Warrior 26-2" Air Force Command…
2. ↗16 · 👁381 · @aiobor — Military AI of South Korea and Japan: two approaches FEFU has published a report by a Candidate of Historical Sciences, asso…
3. ↗20 · 👁483 · @theaterVD — 📡🇫🇷 France's Thales unveiled the new HexaForce command and control system…
4. ↗21 · 👁560 · @theaterVD — 🇪🇪 🇰🇷 🇺🇦 Estonia offers South Korea cooperation in the field of unmanned syste…
5. ↗15 · 👁489 · @theaterVD — ✈️🇬🇧 The UK MoD ordered AR5 reconnaissance UAVs and small UAVs 🔷The Minist…
6. ↗59 · 👁2408 · @china3army — ❗️Japan is preparing for a protracted war 🔻 Japan is preparing a new five-year Develop…
7. ↗8 · 👁330 · @theaterVD — ✈️🇺🇸 An F-16 fighter crashed in the US during a routine training flight The fight…
8. ↗53 · 👁2204 · @china3army — Open day at Zhejiang University: warming up a jetpack, star…
9. ↗41 · 👁1796 · @poisk_mil — 🇺🇸🇪🇺🇺🇦 Organization of the system for supplying weapons and military equipment to Ukraine. Progr…
10. ↗33 · 👁1555 · @payloadUAV — The enemy has disclosed new data on the "Bars" missile-drone The manufacturer of the enemy "…