Global Scans · Drones · Weekly Summary

• [New] Predictive Analysis: By 2027-2028, expect Chinese integration of satellite-independent navigation into operational drone swarms and autonomous maritime systems deployed in South China Sea operations, with hybrid sensor fusion becoming standard across PLA precision strike platforms. Drone Warfare
• [New] The U.S. Marines' full-rate production of MADIS represents a critical shift toward mobile, integrated counter-UAS capabilities that can engage threats on-the-move, directly addressing the drone proliferation challenge in contested Indo-Pacific environments. Drone Warfare
• [New] The PERCH system transforms legacy armored platforms into hybrid drone-launching nodes, extending tank lethality beyond line-of-sight while addressing the drone vulnerability crisis exposed in Ukraine. Drone Warfare
• [New] Predictive Analysis: Expect rapid proliferation of similar interceptor drone programs across NATO and Middle Eastern states facing drone threats, with production rates becoming a key metric of air defence capacity. Drone Warfare
• [New] Predictive Analysis: Expect 2026 to see Ukraine operationalize distributed drone manufacturing networks immune to centralized strikes, while Western partners institutionalize multi-year funding commitments through mechanisms like PURL. Drone Warfare
• [New] The Sentinel A4's 75% detection range increase and AESA radar technology represents a critical capability leap for defending high-value targets against the proliferating cruise missile and drone threats that have exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. homeland defence architecture. Drone Warfare
• [New] Regional Black Sea states will likely establish coordinated drone detection networks and protocols as spillover incidents increase, while both Ukraine and Russia face growing pressure to implement geofencing and fail-safe mechanisms on their UAV fleets to prevent third-party escalation. Drone Warfare
• [New] The real threat is Poland acquiring and potentially mass-producing Ukrainian drone innovations that have proven effective against Russian forces, creating a replicable model for other NATO members to access combat-tested asymmetric capabilities. Drone Warfare
• [New] Expect formalized technology transfer agreements and joint production facilities for Ukrainian drone systems in Poland by mid-2026, creating a new defence industrial corridor that bypasses traditional Western manufacturers. Drone Warfare
• [New] Ukraine's domestic production of 400 km/h interceptor drone motors represents a critical step toward technological independence in counter-UAS warfare, directly challenging Russia's upgraded Shahed fleet while reducing strategic vulnerability to Chinese supply chain disruption. Drone Warfare
• [New] Ukraine's maritime drone campaign is operationally enforcing Western sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet more effectively than European legal mechanisms, creating a de facto naval blockade that threatens $28 billion in Russian oil export revenue. Drone Warfare
• [New] Ukrainian defenders will likely enhance automated target recognition and increase drone loiter capacity to maintain 24/7 coverage, potentially integrating AI-assisted target prioritization to manage operator fatigue across extended frontages. Drone Warfare
• [New] Predictive Analysis: Expect Russian forces to shift toward night operations with thermal camouflage, increased electronic warfare to disrupt drone command links, and potentially massed artillery preparation to suppress drone operator positions before mechanized pushes. Drone Warfare
• [New] Simultaneously, other nations will accelerate indigenous underwater drone programs, with Iran, China, and non-state actors likely to field similar systems within 18-24 months, targeting commercial shipping and naval vessels in contested waters. Drone Warfare
• [New] Iran will likely field indigenous variants within 12-18 months, while Russia tests multi-drone coordination where Geran-3s provide air cover for strike packages, fundamentally altering Ukrainian air defence calculus and forcing distributed, lower-altitude operations. Drone Warfare
• [New] Rheinmetall's modular Skyspotter system demonstrates NATO's accelerating shift toward integrated, mobile counter-drone architectures capable of protecting critical infrastructure against evolving small UAS threats in contested European environments. Drone Warfare
• [New] Amprius' NDAA-compliant 2+ GWh silicon anode battery manufacturing network in South Korea establishes a secure, allied supply chain for high-energy-density drone power systems, directly addressing defence procurement vulnerabilities while enabling extended-range UAV operations. Drone Warfare
• [New] South Korea's modular 'LEGO drone' architecture threatens to commoditize advanced UAV capabilities, enabling rapid mass production and field reconfiguration that could fundamentally shift Indo-Pacific power projection economics. Drone Warfare
• From 2025 onward, operators are expected to increasingly adopt fully automated workflows, including drone-in-a-box systems, remote fleet management, and AI cloud analytics. Idtechex
• Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division is developing a stealthy drone called Vectis with a planned first flight in 2027. Interesting Engineering
• Military units will start using drone swarms within the next two years as the underlying technology matures, as well as the Thales executive in charge of drone warfare. Defense News

Last updated: 28 December 2025