Drones and how to kill them?

Army to workshop XM30 CUAS system in the ether | InsideDefense.com

The Army's first "born digital" ground combat vehicle program, the XM30, needs a system to safeguard crews in a drone-saturated battlefield -- which is why Duality AI is supplying a virtual testing ground for the service to fine tune its counter-drone concept, according to an April 10 company...
insidedefense.com insidedefense.com

Army C2 experiment in 2026 will include CUAS, high-altitude EW | InsideDefense.com

An Army command and control exercise scheduled for early 2026 will include a host of technologies such as electromagnetic protection, counter unmanned systems, sensor integration, robotics and high-altitude EW.
insidedefense.com insidedefense.com
 
Sineva said:
This is the 5th MQ-9 shot down by the yemenis in only 3 weeks(!!).

At this rate it looks like they might be aiming to beat the record of 19 TB-2 Bayraktars lost in 6 months by the turks in libya back in 2020
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Out of how many MQ-9s? Isn't the USAF already replacing them?
 
Scott Kenny said:
Oh, look, someone shot down a completely undefended target again.
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You make a valid point.;)
Which should then pose the logical question:
Why-oh-why is the us still continuing to send these drones,which are as you yourself pointed out now effectively little more than "undefended targets", again and again into yemeni airspace?
:confused:
 
Sineva said:
You make a valid point.;)
Which should then pose the logical question:
Why-oh-why is the us still continuing to send these drones,which are as you yourself pointed out now effectively little more than "undefended targets", again and again into yemeni airspace?
:confused:
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Because they're unmanned and cheap.

And the US hasn't bought enough self-defense pods for them yet.
 
6 still costs way less than a single figher even excluding the pilot.

Also weigh it against how many airstrikes can be called in on targets with the intel gathered by each flight.
 
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Also fighter or surveillance airplane don't have the endurance.
Think also that Houti have the advantage of being defensive and have an history doing so against the US, hence it's easier for them to colocate Anti-Air defenses with US point of interest

But we can wonder how the Signal leaks might have impacted this tally.

Well, I guess we will soon see a new program for a Reaper replacement that can offer better overflight resilience.
 
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yasotay said:
There is also an interesting aspect we will likely never have any access to. How much ordnance have the Rebels shot at the UAV? 1 to 1 is bad. 10 to 1 is not so bad.
Without a pilot there is no blood. Without blood it is not news.
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pK against targets of this kind tends to be closer to 1:1...
 
US Army's IFPC-HPM High Power Microwave System #HPM system deployed to. Looks like the Army added an EO sensor to the Leonidas.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1915902829492924771
View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1915902829492924771


Forest Green said:
6 still costs way less than a single figher even excluding the pilot.

Also weigh it against how many airstrikes can be called in on targets with the intel gathered by each flight.
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yasotay said:
There is also an interesting aspect we will likely never have any access to. How much ordnance have the Rebels shot at the UAV? 1 to 1 is bad. 10 to 1 is not so bad.
Without a pilot there is no blood. Without blood it is not news.
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Speaking of which:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1915904618468463062
View: https://x.com/ianellisjones/status/1915904618468463062


1745657879479.png
 
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USN drops a Super Hornet and a tug overboard from a Carrier, supposedly dodging Huthi missiles :eek:

So far Euro navies cut tail and run after finding out most of their weapons don't work , decided it no point in running protection for Israel .

Huthis have proven to be quite resilient , so nowdays US is mostly bombing civilian infrastructure like ports and fuel storage powerstations as they have nothing to show for in degrading the Huthi military.
 
www.defensenews.com

Marines want to add counter-drone weapon to amphibious vehicle

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has propelled counter-UAS weaponry onto a priority list of add-ons for the vehicle, officials said.
www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com

www.twz.com

Marines Get Their First High Power Microwave Weapon For Taking On Drone Swarms

Testing the ExDECS weapon will give the USMC a better idea of how high-power microwave technology can boost its short-range air defenses. Testing ExDECS will evaluate the use of high-power microwave technology to boost short-range air defense.
www.twz.com www.twz.com

www.airandspaceforces.com

Many US Bases Still Lack Sufficient Tech to Track Drone Incursions

Pentagon officials say the military still lacks the capability to comprehensively identify, track, and engage hostile drone incursions.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
 
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It looks like the Phillipines will be getting some of the Leonidas high-power anti-drone systems in the near future, from Defense Updates:


The U.S. Army has made a major move to address the rising threat of drones by deploying its advanced Leonidas high-power microwave system to the Philippines.
Announced by defense officials in early April 2025, this deployment represents a key milestone in the U.S.-Philippines defense partnership and highlights the growing role of directed-energy weapons in countering unmanned aerial threats.
Positioned as part of joint Indo-Pacific exercises, the Leonidas system is intended to bolster regional security amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, where drones are increasingly used for surveillance and provocation.
Beyond showcasing cutting-edge technology, the deployment signals a broader strategic initiative to reinforce deterrence in a region vital to global commerce and stability. Viewers may note that roughly one-third of global maritime trade—valued at over $3 trillion annually—passes through the South China Sea, making it a critical chokepoint for international shipping and energy transport.
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In this video, Defense Updates analyzes how the U.S. made Leonidas high-power microwave anti-drone system could help the Philippines?
#defenseupdates #philippinesvschina #usvschina
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Chapters:
0:00 TITLE
00:11 INTRODUCTION
01:26 SPONSORSHIP - NordVPN
02:00 TAKING ON DRONES
03:40 LEONIDAS
06:26 ANALYSIS
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