Ukraine's Black Raven Drones Destroy russian Grad System Loaded With Ammunition and Several Exotic Targets (Video)
In a newly released combat video, pilots of the Black Raven unit demonstrate how they are systematically degrading the enemy's artillery and armored capabilities. The most dramatic sequence shows a strike on the BM-21 Grad multiple-launch rocket system that was reportedly loaded with a full ammunition complement. The explosion, captured clearly on camera, underlines how FPV drones continue to change the calculus of battlefield survivability for high-value weapons.
EU Could Start Shooting Down UAVs, Missiles Over Ukraine – Here's How Realistic It Really Is
EU defense ministers are now openly discussing whether European forces could begin shooting down russian UAVs and missiles over Ukraine, a strategy fraught with political, technical, and legal hurdles. While operational capability exists in parts of NATO's eastern flank, any such intervention would require unprecedented coordination, tightly defined airspaces, and agreement among EU member‐states before becoming more than a theoretical possibility.
Read more: Defense Express' Weekly Review: Bayraktar TB2 Drone Strikes, RAM-2X Drone Sneak Behind Lines, and Ukraine Targets Crimea's RT-70 Radio Telescope
France Reveals How Many Mirage 2000-5F Fighter Jets Transferred to Ukraine
France has quietly confirmed that at most five of its Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets could have been withdrawn for transfer to Ukraine, although some may still remain in France for training, meaning the actual number sent may be only four. This comes amid earlier speculation that Paris would give Ukraine anywhere from 6 to 20 such aircraft.
F-16 Jets Now Cost More Than F-35 Aircraft, Prompting Peru to Likely Choose Gripen or Rafale Aircraft Instead
Peru's push to modernize its air force has hit an unexpected snag: the U.S. proposal for 12 F-16 Block 70 jets, originally hailed as a cutting-edge 4+ generation choice, now comes with a price tag so high (about $285 million per aircraft) that it exceeds that of some F-35 contracts. With costs ballooning, Lima is increasingly inclined to shift toward alternatives like Sweden's Gripen E/F or France's Rafale aircraft, which promise more value per dollar spent.
Price of American Patriot System for Denmark Plummeted from $8.5B, but the U.S. Still Lost the Deal
Denmark has ultimately turned down the U.S. Patriot offer, even though the system's price for Copenhagen had been reduced from the initially announced $8.5 billion to less than half that amount. Instead, Danish authorities chose European SAMP/T NG air defense system, signaling both financial and strategic priorities in their long-term security planning.
Read more: Defense Express' Weekly Review: russian SKAT-350M UAV Upgrades, Ukraine's FP-5 Flamingo Missile, and the Admiral Amelko Frigate Launch
