Ukraine Deploys World's First Drone-Based Air Defense: the Nemesis Regiment Downs 60 Shahed and Geran Drones in Two Months
According to a recent report, the Darknode unit intercepted a total of 60 russian kamikaze drones – 24 in March and 36 in April 2025. The downed UAVs included Iranian-made Shahed-136 and other variants frequently deployed to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses.
What sets the Ukrainian solution apart is its cost-efficiency and adaptability. While a single interceptor missile from a traditional system like the NASAMS or Patriot can cost upwards of $1 million, Ukrainian-made interceptor drones reportedly cost around $5,000 each.
Read more: Defense Express' Weekly Review: Underappreciated Tank Experiments, Finland's Secret Arms Exports to Ukraine, Strike on the Alabuga Drone Plant, russia's Strange Armored Train
Expert Opinion: Ukraine Delivers Largest Drone Strike on Crimea in 2025, Targeting russian Military Infrastructure
In a significant escalation of its drone warfare capabilities, Ukraine launched its largest drone strike on Crimea in 2025, targeting multiple russian military sites across the temporarily occupied peninsula. The coordinated attack struck airfields in Saky, Kacha, Hvardiiske, and Dzhankoi, as well as radar and air defense systems, including the S-300V launchers. Military expert Serhii Zghurets noted that the operation aimed to degrade russia's operational and strategic infrastructure in Crimea. Despite russian claims of intercepting 120 drones, satellite imagery and video evidence confirm significant damage to key military assets.
Turkey Exports 155 mm Shell Production Technology – First to Pakistan, Now to Iraq
Turkey is expanding its defense industry influence by exporting 155 mm artillery shell production technology, first to Pakistan and now to Iraq, marking a strategic move to deepen military-industrial ties in the region and boost its role as a global arms supplier.
India Not Only Orders Carrier-Based French Rafale Fighters but Also Integrates Its NASM-MR Missile into russian MiG-29K Aircraft
India is advancing its naval aviation capabilities through a dual strategy: acquiring 26 French Rafale M carrier-based fighter jets and integrating its domestically developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Medium Range (NASM-MR) into existing russian-made MiG-29K aircraft. The $7.4 billion Rafale M deal, finalized in April 2025, aims to modernize the Indian Navy's fleet, with deliveries expected by 2030.
France Revealed the CAESAR Losses in Ukraine and Its Performance Compared to the PzH2000 and Archer System
France has disclosed that out of 67 CAESAR 155 mm self-propelled howitzers supplied to Ukraine, only five have been destroyed and two damaged, underscoring the system's resilience and effectiveness on the battlefield. Despite some Ukrainian commanders noting the CAESAR system's sensitivity to harsh conditions, its mobility and precision have made it a formidable asset against russian forces. Compared to other Western artillery systems like Germany's PzH 2000 and Sweden's Archer, the CAESAR system boasts higher operational availability and lower attrition rates, partly due to its semi-automatic loading mechanism, which reduces maintenance downtime.
The U.S. is Blocking Australian Tanks for Ukraine but Also Pressures Greece to Hand Over Its Patriot Systems – What's the Logic?
The U.S. is reportedly blocking Australia's plan to supply Ukraine with 41 decommissioned M1A1 Abrams tanks, even as it pressures Greece to transfer its Patriot air defense systems, highlighting what some view as a contradictory approach to arming Kyiv amid urgent battlefield needs.
Read more: Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Chemical Warheads on the Shahed Drones, Ukrainian Alligator-9 System, Ukraine’s Strategic Air Defense, and russia’s Failing Defenses
