AUTOWAR25 No. 18P · Afternoon Edition
Latvia launched its homegrown BLAZE interceptor drone at an airspace intruder near the Russian border, then self-destructed it when the target slipped back into Russia. The Marine Corps is asking industry for heavy-fuel cargo drones that carry 100 pounds 40 nautical miles out and back, with one operator flying up to four. Russia opened a terrorism case over the Kstovo refinery strike, and the Saudi-led coalition hit Houthi drone and missile resources.
1. Latvia launches its homegrown BLAZE interceptor drone at an airspace intruder near the Russian border, then self-destructs it when the target leaves
Latvia's National Armed Forces (NBS) say they used the Latvian-made BLAZE interceptor drone against an unidentified object that entered Latvian airspace over the Krāslava and Ludza districts on Sunday evening.
- An orange alert was issued for the two districts around 19:00 local time; the object left Latvian airspace toward Russia at about 19:16 without being intercepted, LETA reports.
- At 19:19, near the Latvia–Russia border, NBS activated BLAZE's self-destruct mechanism to avoid any risk of a border violation, and an explosion was heard, the military said.
- Some social posts claimed a shoot-down; the NBS account and LETA do not say the intruder was hit.
- It is the first publicly reported operational use of a Latvian interceptor drone against an airspace intrusion.
2. The Marine Corps wants heavy-fuel cargo drones that carry 100 pounds 40 nautical miles out and back, with one operator flying up to four
The Navy's Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems has invited U.S. companies to a Huntsville, Alabama, demonstration from Jan. 25 to Feb. 5, 2027, for the Marine Corps' Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System (TRUAS) Increment II.
- Requirements include 100 lb out to 40 nm and back, or 150 lb out to 10 nm, heavy-fuel or hybrid power, and cruise of at least 50 knots.
- One operator should control up to four aircraft, with natural-language voice commands and navigation without GPS.
- Applications are due Nov. 30 and participants will be notified by Dec. 18; a prototype Other Transaction award is possible.
- Increment II is meant to replace the TRV-150C used in TRUAS today.
Sources: Defence Blog · SAM.gov notice NAWCAD-SN-26-TRUASII (posted Oct. 30)3. The RAF's Protector RG1 drone flies its first operational missions over the U.K., tracking Russian warships in the English Channel
The unarmed, remotely piloted Protector RG1 spent more than 10 hours monitoring Russian vessels between late September and mid-October, alongside Royal Navy warships and helicopters, the U.K. Ministry of Defence says.
- It is the first time the RAF has used a drone to track Russian warships in the Channel, the Telegraph reports.
- Protector is the RAF's version of General Atomics' MQ-9B SkyGuardian and is based at RAF Waddington.
- The RAF has bought 16 Protectors and 11 have been delivered, Army Recognition reports.
- Wg Cdr Sam Haley of XIII Squadron said the sorties showed Protector can support maritime security while operating across military and civilian airspace.
Sources: The Telegraph · Army Recognition4. NATO wraps its DiBaX experiment in Latvia: agentic AI linked a Maven targeting system to a national system in hours, and a drone launched in Lithuania was engaged across the border in Latvia
Adm. Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, described the results of Digital Backbone Experimentation 2026 (DiBaX, Oct. 19–30) at Ādaži Military Base near Riga, including tests of ordinary 5G cell towers as passive drone sensors.
- Agentic AI connected a Maven targeting system to a national military system within hours, Vandier said, and some tests failed along the way.
- Under NATO's Layered Counter-UAS Initiative, a drone took off in Lithuania, flew into Latvia and was engaged there by a counter-drone system.
- Teams tested a reserved military slice of a host nation's commercial 5G network, automatic switching between jammed links, and 5G towers that detect objects from reflected signals.
- More than 60 companies took part, including Ericsson, Nokia, Thales and TEKEVER, with Latvian telecom LMT as integrator.
5. An upgraded ZIRKA interceptor drone with onboard computer-vision tracking chases down and destroys a jet-powered Geran-5 at about 400 km/h
The interception, announced by the ZRK.tech project behind the drone, was carried out by the Retro crew of the Darknode Battalion of Ukraine's 412th Nemesis Brigade at an altitude of about 3,500 meters, Militarnyi reports.
- ZIRKA, built by Ukrainian company NOCTIS with investment from Vyriy Industries, was first unveiled in June 2026.
- A Raspberry Pi 5 onboard computer runs a vision model that automatically detects Shahed-type targets up to 1 km away.
- Once the operator confirms the target, the drone tracks it on its own and the pilot only adjusts closing speed.
- The first version topped 340 km/h; the upgraded version's specifications haven't been disclosed.
Sources: Militarnyi6. The Saudi-led coalition says it struck Houthi resources used to build up ballistic missiles and drones, then intercepted a Houthi drone and missile
Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said Sunday's operation targeted resources the Houthis use "to bolster their military capabilities, particularly ballistic missiles and drones," and threats to Yemen, Saudi Arabia and southern Red Sea shipping.
- The coalition's Joint Forces Command launched the operation in response to Houthi attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, Al-Maliki said.
- Later Sunday, he said air defenses intercepted a drone and a ballistic missile launched toward the kingdom's southern region.
- The coalition released strike footage and said it would keep taking military measures.
- Target locations and damage were not independently confirmed.
Sources: Arab News · Saudi Press Agency7. Russia opens a terrorism case over the Kstovo drone attack as its Defense Ministry says 235 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight
Russian investigators opened a criminal terrorism case over Sunday's drone attack on an industrial facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region, TASS reports, and Russia's Defense Ministry says it downed 235 Ukrainian drones across Russian regions overnight.
- Regional authorities say they are taking steps to keep fuel at petrol stations; Ukrainian media identify the site as the Kstovo refinery.
- Governor Gleb Nikitin earlier reported "significant damage" and more than 100 drones destroyed, with no casualties.
- Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Friday that Ukraine had resumed strikes, hitting three refineries and a gas-chemical complex.
- Zelensky said Ukraine also hit the Kamensky plant in Rostov region, which he says makes missile components.
8. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian homes lose power after the 433-drone attack; Zelensky says Russia is exploiting a shortage of ballistic-missile interceptors
Zelensky said Sunday that strikes hit power infrastructure in four regions overnight and that "the Russians are seeking to maximally exploit the deficit of ballistic missile interceptors."
- Ukraine's Air Force says it shot down or suppressed 371 of 433 long-range drones launched since Saturday evening, including 47 of 64 jet-powered Shaheds.
- Hits were recorded at 16 locations and debris fell at 14 more.
- The barrage mixed Shahed-type drones, Gerbera drones and Parodiya decoys.
9. A Russian drone strike near a school dormitory housing displaced families in Koziatyn kills a 13-year-old girl and a woman
A Russian drone hit the grounds between a vocational-school dormitory and an educational building in Koziatyn, Vinnytsia Oblast, on Nov. 1, regional authorities said.
- Six other people were injured, including four children; a five-year-old was reported in critical condition.
- The dormitory housed internally displaced people.
Sources: Kyiv Independent · Ukrainska Pravda10. Ukraine's Defense Ministry says drones have destroyed or disabled 1,039 Russian military boats this year
Every hit through Oct. 25 was recorded on video in the DELTA combat system and verified by the Brave1 defense-tech cluster, the ministry says.
- July was the peak month with 236 boats hit, followed by March with 155.
- Another 67 were hit from Oct. 1 to Oct. 25.
- The count covers boats destroyed and boats put out of action.
- Striking these boats "weakens the enemy's ability to control waterways, transport personnel and equipment, and supply its units," the ministry said.
Sources: Ukrinform11. RSF drones hit a power station and oil pumping station at Haya in eastern Sudan, the second strike there in three days
Rapid Support Forces drones targeted the Haya electrical transformer station and a nearby oil pumping station on Oct. 31, setting fires and damaging both, Sudan Tribune reports.
- The pumping station sits on the pipeline carrying crude to the Bashayer port on the Red Sea.
- More than 13 electricity distribution stations in seven states have been badly damaged in the drone campaign, causing wide outages.
- Sudan's government accuses Ethiopia of letting the drones launch from its territory; Ethiopia denies it.
Sources: Sudan Tribune · Arab News12. Taiwan detains the chairman of drone maker Align over Chinese-made chips found in drones sold to the military
Taichung prosecutors detained Align Corp. chairman Tu Ta-sen and deputy general manager Huang Wen-li on suspicion of violating the National Security Act, after army inspectors found chips marked "CN" in Align drones at acceptance.
- Prosecutors say at least two military contracts worth NT$8 million or more involved drones with Chinese-made chips.
- The Interior Ministry says the immigration agency will block delivery of 30 Align drones bought through a reseller.
- It is the third such prosecution of a Taiwanese drone supplier since August.
- Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the military is still checking its inventory.
Sources: Taiwan Drones weekly roundup13. Taiwan's vice president lays out a drone-industry strategy built on non-Chinese supply chains and edge-AI autonomy that works under GPS jamming
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim set out "three pillars" for a national uncrewed-systems industry at the opening of the Global UAV Academy (GUAVA) in Taipei, the Taipei Times reports.
- She said Taiwan's drone exports in the first half of 2026 already exceeded all of last year's.
- The pillars are fully non-Chinese supply chains, edge AI for truly autonomous platforms that can navigate under GPS jamming, and international co-development.
- GUAVA signed agreements with the Polish Chamber of Unmanned Systems and Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology.
Sources: Taipei Times14. Romania's Border Police makes counter-drone equipment a priority in about €200 million of 2026 investments
Inspector General Cornel Laurian Stoica named counter-drone equipment, a bigger drone fleet and new patrol vessels as priorities, AdriaDefense reports from his interview with Aleph News.
- The €200 million covers all of the agency's investments, not a dedicated counter-drone budget.
- Eight patrol vessels are proposed through the EU's SAFE program.
- More than 40 border cameras have been upgraded, some with AI-supported threat identification.
- No counter-drone supplier, contract value or delivery date was named.
Sources: AdriaDefense15. A surveillance drone crashes into the wall of Lahore's counter-terrorism headquarters; police suspect reconnaissance
A drone approaching from Jallo Mor crashed into the outer wall of the Counter Terrorism Department headquarters in Lahore on Nov. 1, Pakistani outlets report.
- Security staff recovered it with its cameras and battery lights still running; the bomb disposal squad cleared it.
- Police suspect it was used to scout the facility and are looking for the operator.
Sources: Geo News · The Nation16. U.S. soldiers and airmen in Germany train on RD-SUADS, a counter-drone system that fits on one cargo pallet
Soldiers and airmen at Grafenwoehr Training Area trained on Trust Automation's RD-SUADS, a self-powered system to detect, track, identify and defeat small drones at bases and forward sites.
- It fits on a single 463L cargo pallet and can run on its own for four days.
- An earlier assessment reported engagements at 2–6 km and a 75–80% defeat rate, according to press coverage.
Sources: Defence Blog · cUAS Hub17. An uncrewed MQ-9B carrying Saab's LoyalEye radar tracks fighters, airliners and ships in airborne early warning tests
GA-ASI and Saab say flight tests at GA-ASI's Desert Horizon facility validated detection, tracking and classification of airborne targets, including instrumented fighter jets and commercial aircraft.
- The system tracked airborne and maritime targets at long range at the same time, the companies say.
- It is part of an evaluation that began with the pod's first flight in May 2026.
- The pitch is uncrewed airborne early warning for distributed battle management.
18. FIU and Brookhaven researchers detect small drones from the magnetic field their motors leak, with no radar
A passive sensor picks up extremely-low-frequency magnetic emissions from drones' brushless motors and uses a neural network to tell drone types apart.
- Outdoor tests reached 98.52% detection accuracy at up to 15 m and 83.5% accuracy across four drone classes.
- The system transmits nothing, so it is hard to detect, and costs a few hundred dollars, DroneXL reports.
- Brookhaven National Laboratory's Soumyajit Mandal worked with the FIU team.
19. AT&T and Ericsson use three ordinary 5G cell sites to detect, locate and track drones outside AT&T Stadium in Texas
The Oct. 30 demonstration in Arlington, Texas, used Ericsson Massive MIMO radios on three cell sites, combined with signal processing and AI, to sense drones from the network's own radio signals.
- The drones flew at 300 to 400 feet outside the stadium.
- Reported tracking range was up to about 6 km.
- Ericsson showed a prototype of the same sensing approach at NATO's DiBaX experiment in 2025, Unmanned Airspace reports.
- The companies pitch it for public-safety drone defense around stadiums and other venues.
20. A remote team 20 km away takes control of Airbus's unmanned UH-72 cargo helicopter and hands it back, in a test for Marine Corps logistics
In the Aerial Logistics Connector program's seventh flight test, in Grand Prairie, Texas, operators more than 20 km from the primary test team used a man-packable tablet to direct the aircraft through autonomous behaviors, then returned control.
- Airbus U.S. ran the test with Shield AI, L3Harris and Parry Labs.
- The team also showed more precise autonomous takeoffs and landings and better beyond-line-of-sight links.
- The aircraft is meant to move supplies for Marines at dispersed sites.
- Airbus is in the third year of the program; NAVAIR awarded its prototype agreement in April 2024.
Sources: Defence Industry Europe21. Allen Control Systems and CX2 team up to pair the Bullfrog autonomous gun station with RF sensing and electronic warfare against drones
The partnership links CX2's RF detection, geolocation and jamming with ACS's computer-vision-guided Bullfrog weapon station for mobile, fixed-site and maritime counter-drone defense, DroneNR reports.
- ACS says Bullfrog is deployed with the U.S. Army and Navy and has contracts through JIATF-401.
- Both companies' products are on JIATF-401's counter-UAS marketplace.
- The pitch is cheaper layered defense that doesn't rely only on costly interceptors.
- No contract, customer or price has been announced for the combined offering.
Sources: DroneNR22. "Autonomous fixed-wing interception using reinforcement learning": a new arXiv paper shows a vision-guided interceptor drone catching maneuvering fixed-wing targets in real flight
Researchers Daan van Hamersveld, Ewoud Smeur and Iurii Kriachko trained a neural network that maps camera observations directly to actuator commands, aiming at cheap, automated interceptors for Shahed-type drones (submitted Oct. 27).
- The policy was trained with reinforcement learning and outperformed two classical guidance controllers under most simulated conditions.
- In real flight tests at Valkenburg in the Netherlands it intercepted maneuvering fixed-wing targets, succeeding in three of six engagements.
- The interceptor runs on off-the-shelf parts, including a Raspberry Pi 5 with a Hailo AI accelerator.
- The authors argue fixed-wing interceptors can reach higher, longer-range targets than quadcopters, which are still flown manually today.
Sources: arXiv23. Taiwan's AerosoarX signs with Rajant and SiMa.ai to build an AI-enabled FPV drone and argues for production spread across countries
AerosoarX, founded in April by Taiwan National Drone Industry Association chair Max Lo, signed memorandums with Rajant for mesh networking and SiMa.ai for onboard AI processing.
- Lo said SiMa.ai's Modalix was the only processor that met his 50 TOPS target within the drone's power budget.
- The company aims for production readiness of a 15-inch AI-enabled FPV drone in November.
- Lo named Phase III of the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program as a 2027 target.
- He argued for assembly in several countries so a blockade can't stop production.
Sources: Taiwan Drones weekly roundup24. AURA M will show its ENBATA long-endurance maritime surveillance drone at Euronaval, which opens Nov. 3
AURA AERO's defense arm says ENBATA is a sovereign long-endurance drone for maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue.
- Its open architecture takes maritime radars, electro-optical sensors, AIS receivers and sonobuoys.
- It is the company's first Euronaval, held Nov. 3–6 at Paris Nord Villepinte.
Sources: Commando Magazine25. India's HoverIt launches a Divyastra deep-strike loitering munition from a Mahindra Thar on a dirt track
Lucknow-based HoverIt has passed 55 flight trials across its Divyastra family of loitering munitions, including launches from a pickup on a dirt track with no runway or rocket boosters, according to a post with video.
- Divyastra Mk1 completed Indian Army field demonstrations at Jodhpur in June 2026, the post says.
- The jet-powered Mk3 made its first flight on Aug. 11 with a DG Propulsion engine, the Times of India reported, with an indicative range of 300–400 km.
Sources: @DefenseNewsIN on X · Times of India
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How AUTOWAR25 ranks
Every edition, we scan official channels, news, industry, research, and social posts for the 25 most important developments in autonomous warfare: drones, counter-drone systems, uncrewed vessels and vehicles, and military AI.
Stories rank by source first:
- Official means governments, militaries, and their leaders speaking on the record.
- Premium/Press means established news outlets.
- Industry/Research means companies, think tanks, and published research.
- Social means notable posts from analysts, reporters, and practitioners.
Within each group, newer stories rank higher and engagement breaks ties. A company press release stays out of the top 10 until someone else reports on it. Ongoing marks a developing story, and Carryover marks one from a previous edition that's still moving. Claims from warring parties are labeled as claims, and anything we couldn't independently confirm is marked unverified.
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