AUTOWAR25 No. 26A · Morning Edition
The Royal Navy commissions its first autonomous squadron to take drone boats onto front-line operations, and Israel's military forms two reconnaissance-strike battalions built around drones and robotics. Ukraine's F-16 pilots say they have downed 4,700 Russian drones, mostly with cannon fire, Russian units are circulating AI-altered videos to inflate battlefield gains, and Belgium revives a Cold War air defense squadron with anti-drone guns.
1. The Royal Navy commissions its first autonomous squadron, about 180 sailors running Kraken K3 Scout and Rattler drone boats on front-line operations, with counter-drone interceptor launches from the boats to follow
The Royal Navy says its 1st Autonomous Squadron, commissioned Nov. 5 at Portsmouth and announced Nov. 9, will operate uncrewed surface vessels on front-line operations as part of a £1.5 billion, four-year push toward a hybrid navy.
- About 180 personnel, the size of a Type 23 frigate's crew, split into two watches to run operations around the clock; it replaces the Project Beehive trials program.
- It operates Kraken K3 Scout and SYOS Rattler boats, built in Fareham and Whiteley; the Scout has a 600 kg payload bay and a range of about 600 miles, extendable to 1,100.
- Navy Lookout reports trial firings of a UK-built counter-drone interceptor are complete, with launches from the Scouts to follow; each interceptor costs £5,000–£10,000.
- The BBC reports the boats are expected to make their first operational deployment in the coming months.
2. The Israel Defense Forces form two new reconnaissance-strike infantry battalions in the Golani and Nahal brigades built around drones, robotics and precision munitions
The Israeli military announced that the 11th "Alon" Battalion in the Golani Brigade and the 935th "Nofekh" Battalion in the Nahal Brigade will serve as reconnaissance-strike units that locate and destroy enemy targets in real time, as reported by Times of Israel military correspondent Emanuel Fabian.
- The IDF says the battalions will specialize in drones, robotics, surveillance and visual intelligence systems, advanced weaponry and precision-guided munitions.
- The move follows Ground Forces and Personnel Directorate staff work approved by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.
- The military calls the units a "force multiplier" for combat troops and part of an expansion of the Ground Forces.
- Full details, including timelines and size, have not yet been finalized.
Sources: Emanuel Fabian on X · Times of Israel3. Ukraine's F-16 pilots have shot down 4,700 Russian drones, 1,100 in October alone, mostly with their internal cannons, a unit commander says
Defence24's Maciej Szopa reports that a Ukrainian F-16 unit commander, call sign "Phantom," told the International Fighter Conference in Munich that the jets have downed 4,700 Russian drones, 1,100 of them in October.
- Cannon fire is the main weapon, saving scarce air-to-air missiles; one pilot recently set a record of nine drones on a single flight.
- The eight-kill record holder returned with 100 of his 400 rounds left, suggesting ammunition is not the limit.
- Slow piston-engine drones are the risky targets, with stall and blast dangers; Ukraine has lost MiG-29s and F-16s this way.
- For scale, Russia is estimated to have launched about 6,100 long-range one-way attack drones in October.
Sources: Defence244. Russian units and military bloggers circulate dozens of AI-altered videos to inflate battlefield gains in Ukraine, the Financial Times reports, citing ISW research
The Financial Times reported Nov. 9 that the Institute for the Study of War identified at least 35 videos from Russian military units and military bloggers that appear to have been altered with AI, some amplified by Russian state media and the Defense Ministry.
- Many insert soldiers raising flags into geolocated footage of places Russia has not taken, such as Vesele Pole north of Dobropillia, about 12 km past ISW's assessed line.
- ISW says commercial detection software flagged at least 10 videos with high confidence, and the true number is likely higher.
- ISW calls it a grassroots effort by some milbloggers and units, possibly to show commanders they met Kremlin deadlines.
- Carnegie's Dara Massicot told the FT the gap between Russian claims and reality is widening.
5. Belgium revives its Cold War 51st Squadron after 37 years to run new ground-based air defenses, including 20 Skyranger 30 anti-drone guns
Defence Blog's Dylan Malyasov reports Defense Minister Theo Francken said the Belgian Air Force reactivated the 51st Squadron, a former Nike Hercules unit, on Nov. 9 to run the country's ground-based air defense again.
- Under the "Blue Dome" plan it will operate 10 NASAMS, 20 Rheinmetall Skyranger 30 guns, 14 radars and 54 command vehicles in one network.
- Francken said the Skyranger contract, for a 30 mm radar-guided gun built to down drones and swarms, was being signed the same day.
- The first NASAMS is expected at the end of 2027.
- Belgium is buying with the Netherlands, which is helping train the unit.
Sources: Defence Blog6. Ukrainian drones hit the Kirishi refinery near St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest, as the regional governor claims 113 drones downed
The Kyiv Independent's Lachlan Hyatt reports Leningrad Oblast Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko confirmed a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Kirishi (Kinef) refinery overnight on Nov. 9, starting a fire that was later extinguished.
- Drozdenko claimed 113 drones were shot down over the region; debris killed a woman in Vsevolozhsk.
- The plant refines about 20 million tons a year, more than 6% of Russia's refined output, including military fuel.
- NASA FIRMS satellite data detected multiple hotspots; it is the first strike on the plant since August.
- Euromaidan Press notes the strike follows hits on three of the four refineries supplying Moscow last week.
Sources: Kyiv Independent · Euromaidan Press7. Ukraine says it downed or suppressed 271 of 317 Russian attack drones overnight, 81 of them jet-powered Shaheds, with hits at 31 locations
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 317 strike drones, including 105 jet-powered Shaheds, plus S8000 Banderol/Dan-T missiles, Gerbera and Parodiya decoys overnight on Nov. 8–9.
- As of 8 a.m., 271 were shot down or suppressed, including 81 jet-powered Shaheds and five S8000 Banderol/Dan-T missiles.
- Hits were recorded at 31 locations and debris fell at nine.
- Aircraft, missile units, electronic warfare, unmanned systems units and mobile fire groups repelled the attack.
- A jet-powered drone later killed three people at an infrastructure site in Odesa, local officials said.
8. Ukraine's Defense Ministry says the drone kill zone for Russian logistics now reaches nearly 100 km behind the front line
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence posted video of a National Guard Omega UAV crew striking Russian supply trucks near the abandoned airport outside occupied Luhansk, saying the kill zone for Russian logistics now reaches nearly 100 km.
- The footage comes from the National Guard (@ng_ukraine) Omega unit.
- Third Army Corps commander Gen. Andriy Biletsky told The New York Times his middle-range drones hit up to 50 Russian vehicles a day.
- Biletsky said Russian troops now unload 40 to 50 km from the front and continue on foot.
Sources: Ukraine MoD on X · New York Times9. Ukraine's 7th Air Assault Corps says it added more than 50 drone types and over 40 types of ground robots in 2026, with middle-strike drones delivering the biggest results
Denys Poliachenko, head of the 7th Air Assault Corps' Unmanned Systems Department, told Ukrinform the corps' units added more than 50 types of drones and over 40 types of ground robotic systems in 2026.
- Middle-strike drones gave the most significant results, along with the FP-2, Hornet, Baton, Chaklun and Blyskavka.
- He said they regularly hit Russian rear areas and logistics, disrupting supply lines.
- He spoke for Air Assault Forces Day on Nov. 8.
Sources: Ukrinform10. NBC News: from target-tracking drones to attack-planning software, Ukraine's use of AI on the battlefield previews the future of warfare
NBC News' Jane Lytvynenko reports from Kyiv on how Ukraine uses AI, from drones that track targets to software that helps plan attacks, to gain an edge against Russia, in "The future of AI warfare is playing out on Ukraine's battlefields."
- The story opens in 2023, when a commander spotted a Russian jammer's antenna on a truck a drone pilot had judged harmless, sparking the idea that AI could catch such details.
- It features Ukraine's DELTA combat system, pictured in Defense Ministry imagery.
- NBC frames the technology as likely to shape future wars.
Sources: NBC News11. Ukraine's Defense Ministry says ground robots completed a record 31,398 logistics and evacuation missions in October, more than four times January's count
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said units of its Defence Forces carried out a record 31,398 logistics and evacuation missions with unmanned ground vehicles in October, the first month above 30,000.
- Monthly missions rose from 7,511 in January to 28,491 in September and 31,398 in October, more than fourfold.
- Every mission was recorded in the DELTA combat system and verified by Brave1 specialists.
- Units earn ePoints for verified missions, redeemable on the Brave1 Market.
- Amphibious ground robots now have their own Brave1 Market category, with three products already listed.
Sources: Ukraine MoD · Ukrinform12. Naval Group will build an operational Unmanned Combat Underwater Vehicle demonstrator for the French Navy, with sea trials planned from 2028
Naval News' Florent de Saint Victor reports Naval Group will build an operational UCUV demonstrator for the French Navy under a contract signed at Euronaval 2026 and announced by the DGA, the Defence Innovation Agency and Naval Group.
- The vehicle will be more than 10 meters long and designed for air transport on aircraft such as the A400M.
- It will use Naval Group's Steeris OnBoard autonomy under human supervision.
- Weapons choices remain undecided, and the industrial content is described as French or almost entirely French.
- Naval News understands most of the funding is not yet secured, with a final allocation expected in 2027.
Sources: Naval News13. A Russian design bureau claims its cable-armed barrage balloon brought down a 100 kg fixed-wing drone, the first such kill; the claim is unverified
Defence Blog's Dylan Malyasov reports Polina Albek, founder of Russian design bureau Pervyi Dirizhabl ("First Airship"), said one of its aerostat-lifted cable barriers stopped a fixed-wing drone of about 100 kg with a four-meter wingspan.
- She did not say where, when or whose drone; the claim has not been independently verified.
- The Barrier PAK system lifts nets or cables to about 1,000 m with small aerostats spaced 250–300 m apart, each carrying up to 20 kg.
- It is aimed at slow drones flying preset routes without a camera feed; a drone flying higher or from an unguarded side can avoid it.
Sources: Defence Blog14. Haiti's government-run drone task force is linked to the death of Boston gang leader Mathias Saintil after at least seven kamikaze drones hit gang strongholds around Port-au-Prince
The Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles and DroneXL's Haye Kesteloo report Haiti's prime minister confirmed the death of Boston gang leader Mathias Saintil after Nov. 5 operations in which a rights group says a kamikaze drone struck his vehicle; police say he was shot.
- Haiti's National Human Rights Defense Network counted at least seven kamikaze drones across five communes; it said five of Saintil's men died and about 15 were wounded.
- Haiti National Police say Saintil was hit by multiple gunshots during the operation, so the accounts differ.
- DroneXL says the drones belong to a prime minister's task force supported by Erik Prince's Vectus Global.
- Human Rights Watch counted 141 drone operations that killed at least 1,243 people between March 2025 and January 2026.
Sources: DroneXL · Miami Herald15. As Russian armor grows more resistant to FPV drones, a Ukrainian drone battalion turns $50,000 FP-1 and FP-2 deep-strike drones into anti-tank weapons
Defence24's Damian Ratka, citing Euromaidan Press, reports the 237th Unmanned Systems Battalion has begun using FP-1 and FP-2 heavy strike drones in an anti-tank role because Russian armored vehicles are increasingly resistant to FPV attacks.
- Each such drone costs about $50,000, roughly twice the 2019 export price of a Kornet anti-tank missile.
- The FP-2 carries a warhead of about 158 kg.
- Defence24 argues add-on armor and active protection systems will keep eroding FPV effectiveness.
Sources: Defence2416. Ukraine's National Guard receives a car-sized diesel ground robot that hauls 1.5 tons or evacuates three wounded soldiers with no crew aboard
Euromaidan Press reports the Argos unmanned-systems company of the National Guard's 2nd Shostka Regiment has received a heavy ground robot that carries up to 1.5 tons of ammunition and supplies or pulls out three wounded soldiers at once, according to the National Guard.
- It is built at vehicle scale with a diesel engine and full drive; operator "Odinson" said it looks "more like a full-fledged car."
- Heavy ground robots fielded this fall top out around 500 kilograms a load, so the new machine roughly triples that.
- Casualty evacuation is its main purpose; the National Guard said it will soon show the robot hauling cargo over difficult terrain.
- Ukraine's Defense Ministry says ground robots ran a record 31,398 logistics and evacuation missions in October.
Sources: Euromaidan Press17. Kongsberg Maritime unveils the Arctic Hunter, a large uncrewed anti-submarine vessel adapted from a commercial Arctic design for the Royal Navy's Type 92 requirement
Kongsberg Maritime unveiled the Arctic Hunter USV, a proven Arctic commercial vessel design adapted for the Royal Navy's Type 92 anti-submarine warfare requirement, in a release published by Naval News.
- It carries Thales UK's submarine-hunting sonar and secure military communications.
- Kongsberg's uncrewed vessel technology already has flag-state approval from DNV and the Norwegian Maritime Authority.
- It is designed to be built quickly by commercial yards and to operate from a forward base inside the Arctic Circle.
Sources: Naval News (Kongsberg release)18. Czech government to consider letting critical-infrastructure operators stop and, as a last resort, destroy drones over airports, energy hubs and nuclear plants
ČTK reports a proposal from the Czech interior and transport ministries, due before the government on Monday, would let operators of critical infrastructure apply for protected zones where trained employees could stop drones and, in extreme cases, destroy them.
- Only police and soldiers can now eliminate drones; the ministries say their response time is limited given the number of sites.
- Intelligence services, the Prison Service, the security-forces inspectorate and firefighters during rescue work would also gain powers.
- Operators must warn the drone pilot first where possible, and the draft creates a right, not a duty, to buy detection or elimination gear.
- The agriculture ministry and others object, including to the rule that only an operator's own staff may act.
Sources: ČeskéNoviny (Czech) · Militarnyi19. A suspected drone attack halts output at Iraq's Khor Mor gas field, knocking out about 2.8 gigawatts of power in the Kurdistan region
Reuters reports production stopped Sunday at the Khor Mor gas field after a suspected drone attack, joint operator Dana Gas said, taking out about 2.8 GW of the Kurdistan region's power generation.
- Ministry sources said a single drone hit an LPG storage tank and started a fire; no staff were hurt.
- No one claimed responsibility; Kurdish officials have blamed past attacks on Iranian-backed militias.
- Kurdish ministries called it a "terrorist attack."
Sources: Reuters via Al-Monitor20. Croatia's armed forces run their first international FPV drone operator course, training Slovenian soldiers
Croatia's Ministry of Defense said Croatian Armed Forces instructors trained Slovenian Armed Forces personnel in the first international FPV drone operator course it has run, Militarnyi reports.
- The ministry called it confirmation of the Croatian forces' skill with modern combat systems.
- Croatian drone teams recently won gold medals at international competitions in London and Ankara.
Sources: Militarnyi21. Russian airports, ports and power companies tender for machine-gun turrets to defend against Ukrainian drones
RBC-Ukraine, citing Siberia.Realities, reports Surgut Airport, the port of Ust-Luga and energy companies have announced tenders or purchases of machine-gun turrets to protect facilities from Ukrainian drones.
- Surgut Airport seeks a twin-machine-gun turret with a thermal sight and remote monitor for 909,000 rubles; the port of Ust-Luga seeks three for 8.9 million rubles.
- Kolymaenergo bought a turret for a Degtyaryov light machine gun for mobile fire groups guarding the Kolyma hydroelectric plant.
- Rosatom's Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Plant announced plans this month to buy a turret mount.
- Russian companies were allowed in May to buy electronic warfare, interceptor drones, turrets and artillery against drones.
Sources: RBC-Ukraine22. Shield AI and Leonardo agree to integrate Hivemind autonomy into the Proteus unmanned helicopter developed for the Royal Navy
Defense Express reports Shield AI announced an agreement with Italy's Leonardo to integrate its Hivemind combat AI into the Proteus unmanned helicopter, which flew for the first time earlier this year.
- Proteus is meant for reconnaissance and logistics missions and potentially anti-submarine warfare, under the Royal Navy's CCD Phase 3B technology demonstrator program.
- Shield AI says Hivemind lets partners develop, integrate and update their own autonomous systems on specific platforms.
- Defense Express notes Hivemind is already on or planned for a wide range of platforms, from drones to F-16s.
- Shield AI is also working with Destinus on Ruta cruise missiles; whether Ukraine has received Hivemind-equipped Ruta missiles is unknown.
Sources: Defense Express23. Taiwan Drones weekly roundup: Taiwan's Navy budget funds 32 Albatross II drones and Marine counter-drone turrets as sea-drone makers vie for 1,320 attack boats
The Taiwan Drones weekly roundup for Nov. 2–8 says Navy budget documents fund 32 of NCSIST's Albatross II drones and two counter-drone gun turrets for the Marines.
- Taiwan's military wants 1,320 one-way attack USVs, more than 1,400 coastal reconnaissance drones and over 200,000 coastal attack drones.
- Makers demonstrated boats at the first MATURE expo in Tainan; the first USV tender could open by year's end, TVBS reported.
- Thunder Tiger qualified in all six categories of the government's NT$1.05 billion joint drone contract.
Sources: Taiwan Drones24. France's Kahe Nautic unveils the K600, a 15 kg, €5,900 semi-submersible drone with a 100 kg payload, at Euronaval
Army Recognition's Jérôme Brahy reports French maker Kahe Nautic unveiled the K600 semi-submersible drone at Euronaval 2026 for surveillance, inspection and coastal infrastructure protection.
- It runs on two electric thrusters, reaches 6 to 8 knots, dives to 10 meters and lasts up to 10 hours at low speed.
- It supports remote control, waypoint navigation, autonomous operation and coordinated multi-drone missions.
- The K600 is at technology readiness level 4, with a 300-unit pre-series and TRL 7 targeted for September 2027.
- No French armed forces contract for the complete drone has been confirmed.
Sources: Army Recognition25. Russian forces set up mannequin decoys of air-defense mobile fire teams along roads in occupied territory, analysts say to counter AI-enabled drones
Militarnyi reports the Exilenova+ Telegram channel published footage of improvised positions on roads in occupied territory where mannequins in military gear simulate Russian air-defense mobile fire teams.
- Exilenova+ analysts say it is likely an attempt to counter drones that independently detect and automatically engage targets.
- Ukraine stepped up drone strikes on Russian rear logistics this spring, and Russia deployed mobile fire teams in response.
- Ukrainian drone units have struck such teams, including in May on routes between Donetsk and Crimea.
- The footage comes from a Telegram channel and the decoy purpose is analysts' assessment.
Sources: Militarnyi
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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 with new information. Repeat stories keep a First reported date and edition instead of a separate label. Claims from warring parties are labeled as claims, and anything we couldn't independently confirm is marked unverified.
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