The Future of Drone Tech: Russian Scale || June 17, 2026
While Ukraine has dominated drone innovation, Russia's been able to mass-produce proven drone systems at a scale that Ukraine cannot match. The Russians have also been incrementally improving their drone tech.
Russia has been replacing propellers with jet engines and equipping certain drones with air-to-air missiles. So, despite Ukraine's advantage on the innovation side, the Russians aren't getting left in the dust.
Up to this point, both sides of the conflict have been able to draw on their strengths to adapt to the new tactics and tech that hit the battlefield.
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Comments (16)
Perhaps Russia is using jet engines designed for model RC aircraft. Cost around 23 thousand dollars each. For examples see https://www.boomerangrcjets.com/collections/turbines-engines?srsltid=AfmBOor8f8lsIkErRZJDdjBFsOXCuI8FSjkiLa-7fhvTOy0b0ddi4DM6#:~:text=FTL%20Vortex%20M10PRO,%242%2C099.00&text=ENJET%20Power%20E100%20Turbine,%241%2C900.00&text=ENJET%20Power%20E130%20Turbine,%242%2C100.00&text=ENJET%20Power%20E86%20Turbine,%241%2C800.00
On the other hand, jet engines are significantly louder. Acoustic detection should be easier.
I'm looking forward to seeing Ukraine's answer to the Russian semi-cruise missiles
I'm looking forward to seeing Ultrasound
My
"ποιήσει δὲ αὐτήν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἡ ἡμετέρα χρεία" - Plato
The tech has been around for a while. Now it's a matter of application. Russia's problem will continue to be defending the Volga River valley. Their belly is exposed.
What happens everywhere else now? Like who in the world is ahead and who is behind? And eventually where’s the equilibrium?
The answer is in the recent drone based attack on the Whitehouse. It was foiled but only because a mother ratted out her son. Look for new restrictions on drone sales.
Something about this wasn't adding up for me in terms of how Russia is keeping the costs down while sticking a jet engine on these things. Well, I found my answer. Apparently Russia is using child labor and tricking foreign workers into forced labor with false promises of hospitality and scholarships.
Wow that's messed up. Have a link?
What impact will Ukraine's recent outsourcing of parts and manufacturing to other countries have (and timeline)?
So how relevant are complex, expensive to maintain F35's (with 50% able to fly at any time and even less at full "mission capability"), not to mention(like interceptors) a very long manufacturing cycle (years, not weeks/days)
None, the American Military-Industrial-Political Complex is now a dinosaur.
It’s really unbelievable how fast the technology moves when there’s a shooting war on between two relatively equal tech savvy combatants.
Look at WWII. Biplanes were still being used in some instances in until 1941. By 1944, there were jet fighters, cruise missiles (the V1), and ballistic missiles (the V2). By 1945, we'd gone nuclear. It's incredible.