Daily digest, 21 September 2026

update Geran-5 — jet engine moved from an external nacelle to an internal bay

Footage of several downed aircraft shows a new modification: the engine is hidden in the fuselage, an air intake has been made in its place, and the fins with rudders have been extended upward and downward (previously they did not protrude beyond the fuselage). The changes are linked to improved aerodynamics and increased range. According to available estimates, the "Geran-5" carries a warhead of about 90 kg, has a range of about 950 km and a speed of 450–600 km/h. source, source

Record raid on Moscow: OSINT assessment — strike on both primary processing units of the Moscow refinery

According to OSINT analysts (KiberBoroshno, Dnipro Osint, ShrikeNews), the ELOU-AVT-6 unit (about 53% of primary capacity) and the KUPN of the "Euro+" complex (about 47%) were hit. Taking out both lines means not a drop but a complete halt of refining. In June, the same result required two waves two days apart; now it was achieved in a single night against a facility 18 km from the Kremlin. After the June strikes, Reuters estimated recovery at a minimum of six months, meaning the strike probably hit recently repaired equipment. source, source

The attack was prepared for about a month. According to OSINT researcher Clément Molin, the Ukrainian side had been depleting Russian air defense stocks since September 17, and the strike itself was the 7th attack on a refinery since the start of the month and the 91st since the start of the year. Sobyanin claimed more than 1600 UAVs shot down (450 on the approach to Moscow); the Russian MoD reported 1951 drones and eight cruise missiles shot down in a day. These figures should be treated with caution: according to a person connected with Ukrainian deep strikes, the real number of drones launched differs from Russian reports many times over. source

First use of missiles against the Moscow region in combination with a swarm — and confusion around the "Pelikan"

Zelensky listed at least ten types of weapons: FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, "Palianytsia", Vendetta, "Liutyi", "Bars", "Sichen", "Flamingo" and "Pelikan". Wreckage of at least one downed FP-5 "Flamingo" was found in the Moscow region. The "Pelikan" was initially classed as the ballistic FP-7, but Ukrainian sources and DeepState directly refuted this: it is not a missile but a drone (ShrikeNews — "some new drone") — the FP-7, with a range of up to 300 km, cannot reach Moscow. source, source

Among the new names is Vendetta: according to the payloadUAV channel, behind the name is OOO "VENDETTA GRUPP" (registered on October 23, 2025), linked by a corporate chain to "AEROTEKH-SKAI" and Sky Composite Engineering; its profile is aircraft manufacturing. There is as yet no direct document linking the legal entity to a specific product. source

update Ariadna — Russia is considering installing ground-based radio beacon navigation on "Gerans", guided glide bombs and missiles

The topic was confirmed and detailed by the system's developer, Aleksei Chadaev: the data found by Ukrainian expert Flash were taken from a presentation six months old, and "some things have changed for the better". The key task now is to make the system as cheap as possible for rapid deployment. source

Flash, in a separate post, warns of something else: once the "Rassvet" satellite constellation is deployed, Russia will be able to control "Shaheds" and missiles online via satellites, which would be a "small catastrophe", and he calls for preparing EW means in advance — "as it was with MESH". source

update "Gerans" against Ukrainian radars — the systematic hunt continues

Over the last night, two ST-68U (36D6/35D6) stations were reportedly hit in the areas of Starokozache (Odesa region) and Andriivka (Dnipropetrovsk region). Since the start of September, the tally of radars hit has reached nine. Voenny Osvedomitel notes the Russian side's shift to systematic action against Ukrainian radars deep behind the front, with the caveat that due to the low quality of the footage and the lack of objective confirmation it is hard to say which radars exactly were hit and whether they were decoys. source, source

Ukrainian Pasika system: one pilot controls a group of drones under jamming

A serviceman of the 12th Special Purpose Center told Defender Media about the combat use of the Pasika uninterrupted navigation and communications system from Sine Engineering. Reportedly, it is one of the world's first working developments that allow a single operator to coordinate a group of drones even when communications and GPS are jammed. source

[TECH] Breakdown of Ukrainian UAV warheads

The combat_engineer channel posted a detailed analysis of a warhead from the Hornet drone: mass 1769 g, a copper liner for the explosively formed penetrator, an ersatz explosive smelling of vinegar and soluble in water. Separately — the warhead of the "Liutyi" (An-196): total mass 48 kg, 24.3 kg of explosive (cast TNT plus Semtex-10), 816 preformed fragments. The attached PDF catalogs contain the full range of Ukrainian UAV munitions with specifications (ANEMIKS explosive, guaranteed lethal radius of 5–7 m, carriers from the Mavic to the "Vampir" and "Kazhan"). source, source

update Dan-T — report in Russian media

After being shown at an exhibition in Egypt, the "Dan-T" was shown from different angles in domestic media; a ground launcher was also mentioned. source

update Lis-2 — footage of interceptor drones in use

The Russian MoD published footage of the use of "Lis-2" interceptor drones. source

Attack on Ukrainian data centers as a strike on the drone AI loop

The mil_hub channel analyzes: in September, four data centers in Ukraine were hit ("Bi-Mobail" twice, "InterCars", "Kyivstar", "De Novo"). Their cloud capacity was used to process streaming video from thousands of drones through AI; it is separately noted that the Delta system was deployed and tested on commercial cloud capacity, and similar processes took place during the deployment of Palantir. If the coordinating servers are hit, a drone with onboard AI (for example, Hornet) turns into an ordinary FPV with manual target search. Caveat: a significant part of Ukrainian military data is distributed across foreign clouds (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud). source

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Military space and space-based data

update Rassvet — Bureau 1440 showed a terminal working in the Arctic and the "Rassvet-3" antenna

On September 19, in the village of Nelmin-Nos (Nenets Autonomous Okrug), a Bureau 1440 terminal provided access to remote voting via the low-orbit "Rassvet" constellation. Installation, connection and going online took mere minutes. At the same time, a promo of the "Rassvet-3" antenna was released. Voenny Osvedomitel assesses this as a de facto demonstration of a Russian Starlink analog, bringing closer its use first at rear headquarters, then closer to the line of contact. source, source

An important correction from Militarnyi: the "Rassvet" satellites were deployed at an altitude of about 500 km instead of the planned 800 km — but the test with real users confirmed operability. Flash warns that once the full constellation is deployed, Russia will be able to control "Shaheds" and missiles online via satellites, and this will be a "small catastrophe" without an EW system prepared in advance. source, source

US: "Apollo Maneuvers 2026" exercise with real satellite maneuvering

In the first week of September, US Space Command for the first time held a practical orbital exercise with real maneuvering of spacecraft in low, medium and geostationary orbits. Coordinated maneuvers, the concept of "maneuver warfare in space" and constellation servicing under adversary counteraction were practiced. Allies in Operation "Olympic Defender" and the commercial sector were involved. source

The US Space Force plans to nearly double its personnel in five years

The Department of the Air Force plans to grow the Space Force by about 10 thousand service members over five years, with a significant share of the positions already in fiscal year 2027. The buildup is linked to the expansion of the force's combat capabilities. source

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

update Rheinmetall: details of missile programs and production volumes

The company's CEO Armin Papperger told Euronews that missile stocks in Germany are critically low, and the main constraint is capacity for producing rocket motors and warheads. Rheinmetall is preparing production of ATACMS in Germany with Lockheed Martin, and of long-range cruise missiles with Destinus (the first order is expected at the turn of 2026–2027). Output of artillery ammunition has grown from ~70 thousand to 1.5 million shells a year, medium-caliber ammunition to 4 million, and tank rounds to 240 thousand. The overall investment plan is about 30 billion euros over six years, including satellites, space data processing and army humanoid robots. source

Rheinmetall invests in military humanoid robots; details not disclosed

The company is investing significant funds in military anthropomorphic robots but does not disclose details of the developments. source

update Operation "Vivaldi" — second stage declassified; Shandryholove, Derylove, Drobysheve liberated

The commander of the 3rd Army Corps, Andriy Biletsky, confirmed the liberation of the villages as part of the second stage of the operation. For the first time in its history, the corps carried out a flanking maneuver with the landing of ground robotic systems in the rear while simultaneously suppressing Russian drones. Kamikaze UGVs were actively used, including ones airdropped from heavy multicopters. According to Ukrainian military estimates, Russian losses during the stage amounted to 3000 people, including 800 killed. source, source

update US Marine Corps applies the EABO concept in real combat for the first time

During the campaign against Iran, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed a network of temporary forward bases (FARP) in the Middle East — the concept was originally created for a conflict with China in the Pacific. The bases supported more than 1600 hours of combat sorties, the transport of 360 tonnes of cargo and 5000 people, and refueled over 300 aircraft. source

update TYTAN Hyperion — German interceptor drone with a rocket booster

The TI-03 Hyperion is designed to counter faster and higher-flying UAVs, including jet-powered ones. A solid-fuel booster lifts the interceptor to altitude within seconds, then separates and descends by parachute, while the aircraft itself continues the interception on electric propulsion. Guidance is by external radar with a transition to its own optics; a fragmentation warhead with a proximity fuze. Before series production, it is planned to be tested in Ukraine. A mobile version on the THeMIS platform with 10 interceptors was shown. source

update Finland and Germany received their first F-35A

On September 18, the first two F-35As of the Finnish Air Force arrived at Rovaniemi Air Base (full readiness by 2030, parallel operation with the F/A-18). On the same day, Germany received the first F-35A of the 35 ordered (basing at Büchel, infrastructure ready in 2027). source, source

Czech Republic is the first in NATO to adopt Israeli SPYDER SAM systems

At "NATO Days" in Ostrava, four SPYDER (Rafael) batteries replacing Soviet "Kub" systems were presented. Each battery comprises a radar, four launchers, a transporter-loader vehicle and control equipment. source

Palantir received a contract for a unified US Army ammunition accounting system

A $48.1 million contract: the platform will replace nine legacy systems and unify the entire ammunition life cycle — from planning to disposal. Development completion is September 2027, with an extension to 2031. source

update Denmark transfers its 31st military aid package to Ukraine worth $275 million

The funds will go toward strengthening air defense in the autumn-winter period. source

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Priority 3. Around Ukraine: trends and signals

The long-range war has definitively become two-sided and has entered a phase of mutual exhaustion of the rear. Rybar sums up: Ukrainian strikes raise the cost of operating Russian oil refining and the deep rear, while Russian ones raise the cost of Ukrainian logistics and production (steel, ports, railways — 312 damaged facilities since the start of the year). Both sides are hitting each other's economic rear, and the ability to continue the war is being determined ever further from the line of contact.

A signal of Ukraine's resource limit. The operation against Moscow, according to several channels, consumed appropriations for a substantial period at once; in parallel, the EU is pressing international partners for additional funding (Ukraine's 2027 budget deficit is more than $52 billion, with only $20 billion secured). Dombrovskis directly links further funding to political reforms. Zelensky said at a summit in Zakarpattia that "another 40 days are needed to defeat Russia".

An alarming backdrop around NATO's eastern flank. The Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Dragone, spoke of 4000 pages of plans for the full range of situations — "the Alliance is ready". Yigal Levin models a provocation scenario with "lost" Russian soldiers at the border and insists on an "iron wall" of strict protocols. Czech and French intelligence allow for a Russian attack on Europe in a time frame ranging from "a few months" to 2030. Molin, by contrast, assesses that 90% of Russian resources are tied up by the war against Ukraine, and that more realistic than open war are hybrid attacks and pressure aimed at getting Europe to abandon aid to Kyiv.

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What's new in UAVs and counter-UAV

• Geran-5 (Russia) — engine moved inside the body, an air intake and extended fins for range.

• Vendetta (Ukraine) — a new long-range product, claimed for the first time to have been used against the Moscow region.

• "Pelikan" (Ukraine) — a new fixed-wing drone, mistaken for the ballistic FP-7.

• TYTAN Hyperion (Germany) — interceptor with a detachable rocket booster; tests are planned in Ukraine.

• Lis-2 (Russia) — footage of ramming intercepts of AFU drones by the "North" group of forces.

• Pasika/Sine Engineering (Ukraine) — one operator controls a group of drones under GPS and communications jamming.

• Perseus Mk-III / Harpe (USA) — kinetic interceptor ~$2500, range 2 km, against autopilot and fiber-optic drones.

• DRC-Aid (Purdue, USA) — AI agent for automatic correction of chip layouts with Siemens Calibre verification, ~92.5% DRC-clean.

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Under the radar

🔴 The "Ariadna" system — direct confirmation from the developer and a correction of the data. Aleksei Chadaev's post provides an insider view rarely available on Russian developments: Flash's data are six months out of date, the system has been improved, and the key task now is reducing cost for rapid deployment. With 86 views and high substance, this is an underrated signal. source

🟠 RAM-2X range record — more than the declared 180 km. Ukrspecsystems deputy director Andriy Rymaruk told Defender Media in an interview about a range record of the RAM-2X loitering munition operated by a crew of the 429th "Achilles" Brigade; the declared middle strike range is 180 km. The crew waited for favorable weather and caught a tailwind, which allowed it to cover a longer distance. source

🔴 A short EAM on the US HFGCS network. On the HFGCS long-range military communications network, an anomalously short message (17 characters) was recorded under the call sign MAJORITY — the minimum documented length. In the OSINT community, such short EAMs are associated with already prepared operations; all six such cases were recorded in 2026. source

🔴 Strikes on Ukrainian data centers as a strike on the drone AI loop. A detailed mil_hub breakdown of how hitting cloud capacity breaks the automation chain of onboard drone AI (Hornet, Delta, Palantir) — with 773 views, the topic has gone almost unnoticed. source

🟠 SkyFall Shrike 10-FCV — 4th place in Deep Strike of the US Drone Dominance program. The only Ukrainian company to win in both stages of the program; the strike FPV with hybrid communications (fiber optic + radio) hit a target at 15 km. The top five will receive Pentagon contracts. source

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And what about our Chinese comrades?

Lop Nur range: mockups of the F-35, F-16, Patriot and the Japanese E-767 for strike practice. Satellite images (coordinates 40.916, 89.714) revealed a site with full-size mockups of American and Japanese systems, including the E-767 AEW&C aircraft, which is operated only by Japan (4 aircraft in total). The choice of targets shows the PLA's priorities in a conflict around Taiwan: to suppress allied aviation, air defense and AEW&C in the first hours. source

Group launch of nine satellites by a "Lijian-1" rocket. On September 20, satellites of the "Qinling", "Pujiang", "Pengcheng" and "Diting" series, as well as satellites for high-performance computing and atmospheric sounding, were launched from the Dongfeng spaceport. The growing pace of China's commercial space industry. source

Construction of a mothership for underwater drones (~205 m). The vessel is designed to launch, recover and service large underwater drones (up to four XXLUUV-class vehicles 35–45 m long). This extends the operating radius of naval drones without being tied to shore infrastructure. source

Beijing has banned drone ownership: buyback, resale prices down by about 40%. Owners must get rid of their aircraft by November 15; the state subsidizes 30% of the resale value (up to 3000 yuan) for those who sell before October 31, after which the subsidy drops to 15%. According to one owner, due to the glut of supply, resale prices have fallen by about 40%. The measure is presented as "protecting the security of the capital" after a June incident with a light aircraft. source

PLA: drones as a model of "tangible innovation". The military press cites swarm attacks, reconnaissance and inter-service UAV interaction as an example of applied innovation as opposed to R&D "for the sake of awards", calling for removing barriers between science and line units. source

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External analysis

The UK has concluded the first Recce Strike contracts — more than 1000 small reconnaissance drones. At DVD 2026, three contracts worth 16 million pounds were announced (Evolve Dynamics — 245 FOXE-NATO under 250 g, Marlborough — 670 drones with deployment in under 40 seconds, Brigantes/Harmattan AI — 110 training drones). The goal of Rapstone is a path from industrial production to the front line in 24 months. This adds a European track of scaling cheap reconnaissance drones to the Russian-Ukrainian circuit. source

Perseus Mk-III / Harpe — a cheap kinetic interceptor against fiber-optic drones. Tested at Falcon Peak 26.2 with NORAD participation: it destroys drones by physical impact without radio interference, which is critical against aircraft on autopilot and fiber-optic control. Cost ~$2500, range up to 2 km, an 8-missile launcher weighs less than 36 kg. This is exactly the answer to the shortage of affordable C-UAS that both the Russian and Ukrainian circuits talk about. source

The US has officially acknowledged orbital weapons — Chinese analysts speak of a broken taboo. Air Force Secretary Meink and Space Force chief Schiess confirmed the deployment of combat "space control systems"; specifics were not disclosed (probably EW/spoofing rather than kinetic). At the Xiangshan Forum, the Chinese side warned of the risk of a new arms race. This clarifies Russian-language reports about "American orbital weapons": it is about acknowledging capabilities, not about "rods from God". source

Attalon has begun exporting Valaris laser subsystems. The family ranges in power from 5 to 400+ kW; an agreement has been concluded with AeroVironment for subsystems for the LOCUST X3 (30 kW), for which the US Army awarded a ~$465 million counter-drone defense contract (the Enduring-HEL program). The company is investing $15 million in serial expansion. It shows that the Western circuit is betting on serial C-UAS lasers. source

British military sites record drone incidents almost daily. According to NATO's assessment, these actions aim to undermine public trust and the unity of the alliance — that is, drone incidents near infrastructure are turning from isolated ones into a systematic tool of hybrid destabilization of Europe. source

Europe is looking for alternatives due to US missile delivery delays of up to five years. Buyer countries pay more for systems they will receive later, which forces them to develop their own production. This highlights the dependence of European defense capability on the US defense industry — the same trend seen in Rheinmetall's buildup. source

Top military-tech signals of the day

1. ↗14 · 👁221 · @theaterVD — ✈️🇫🇮 🇺🇸 The first two F-35A tactical fighters have arrived in Finland At the air bas…
2. ↗9 · 👁229 · @theaterVD — ✈️🇩🇪 🇺🇸 Germany has received its first F-35A tactical fighter At the aircraft manufactu…
3. ↗17 · 👁451 · @theaterVD — ⚔️🛰🇺🇸 The US Armed Forces command in space has for the first time held an exercise with real maneuver…
4. ↗16 · 👁476 · @zloy_dron — With fully automatic target guidance, the possibility of salvo launch opens up op…
5. ↗33 · 👁998 · @payloadUAV — One of the varieties of a high-explosive fragmentation warhead with an explosively formed penetrator from Ukrain…
6. ↗12 · 👁397 · @theaterVD — 🇺🇸The US Army has concluded a contract with Palantir for a unified system for accounting of am…
7. ↗47 · 👁1558 · @payloadUAV — We present to your attention another useful tool created by our broth…
8. ↗26 · 👁864 · @mil_hub — This is a real semi-truck among copters😅 CopterTime / we are on MAX…
9. ↗13 · 👁443 · @theaterVD — 🇺🇸 The US plans to nearly double the size of the Space Force within five…
10. ↗6 · 👁208 · @theaterVD — 🇺🇸 The US is creating artificial intelligence forces within the armed forces US President D.Trum…