Michael Korenblit’s Post

Given the intensity and lethality of Russian aerial attacks, Ukraine desperately needs every capability out there to protect its skies. Requests for more sophisticated air defense systems have naturally dominated conversations. But there are cheaper capabilities that can also make a huge difference. Ukrainian military commanders report that GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) jammers are tremendously helpful in jamming and diverting Russian drones and guided missiles and can reduce lethality rates of aerial attacks. Those are cheaper capabilities that -- if provided at scale – can make a huge difference. https://lnkd.in/djcdmBjQ

🔥✈️ Karma works like this: Ukraine confirmed the crash of the Tu-22M3 in the Stavropol Krai. It's reported that the plane crashed after carrying out a combat mission (shelling our peaceful cities) while returning to the base aerodrome. The cause is said to be a supposed technical malfunction. Three crew members were evacuated by the terrorists, and they are still searching for another pilot. 💥 The downing of the Tu-22M3 is attributed to the Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate (HUR), as the plane was successfully attacked 300 km away from Ukraine, according to media reports citing sources. "This is the first aircraft of strategic aviation that Ukraine managed to destroy during the flight. It was striking Ukraine," a source told the media. 💥 Officially! 15 missiles, 14 UAVs, and the bomber Tu-22M3 destroyed, according to the Air Force. In total, the enemy used 36 aerial attack assets – 22 missiles of various types and 14 attack drones. ❗️For the first time, air defense missile units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Intelligence, destroyed a long-range strategic bomber Tu-22M3 – a carrier of Kh-22 cruise missiles, which Russian terrorists use to attack peaceful Ukrainian cities. Two such missiles were destroyed for the first time during today's attack. #armforUkraine

In the decades following the end of the Cold War, most US investment in integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) had been on large, non-mobile systems. Elsewhere, countries that continued to field new ground-based air defence (GBAD), including Russia and Israel, were concerned with defending the homeland against missile or rocket threats. https://lnkd.in/eexe7Z3E

Another terrible morning in Ukraine with the attack on the civil infrastructure. This morning, Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Mykolayiv, and Lviv were bombarded with russian missiles and drones. As of now, only in Kyiv, 4 people have died and 38 have been injured after a rocket attack. The Ukrainian Air Defence Forces shot down 44 airborne targets: 29 missiles and 15 Shahed drones. Amid adversity, we stand steadfast with Ukraine, resolute in our mission to aid those affected. Let our actions denounce these atrocities as we unite to support Ukraine's resilient people. Join us in this journey. #russiaisaterroriststate #standwithukraine

Rheinmetall supplying European customer with further Skynex air defence systems Rheinmetall has been awarded a further contract to supply Skynex air defence systems to a European customer. The systems will enhance the customer’s ability to defend itself against aerial threats. The order has a value in the lower three-digit million euro range. The deliveries will take place over the course of 2025 and, as with the initial contract, will also include the associated Rheinmetall made HX trucks. Relying on automatic cannon-based air defence, Skynex lends itself especially well to very short-range contexts where guided missiles are ineffective. Moreover, the use of programmable 35mm Ahead ammunition, as developed by Rheinmetall for this purpose, is significantly less expensive than comparable guided missile-based systems. Equally important: 35mm ammunition cannot be influenced much less jammed by electronic countermeasures when fired.  The success of the self-propelled “Flakpanzer” Gepard antiaircraft system in Ukraine underscores the effectiveness of 35mm gun-based air defence against aerial targets, especially cruise missiles and drones. #Military #Defence #Europe #AirDefence #Missile #Drone https://lnkd.in/eiVca4pF

The US and EU are strengthening their military support for Ukraine, providing various air defense systems. US President Joe Biden decided to transfer another Patriot missile complex to Ukraine, the second system Washington has transferred. The system will be deployed on the front line in just a few days. Meanwhile, Estonia announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, which includes Mistral short-range anti-aircraft missile systems and ammunition for them. The Netherlands will allocate €60M to purchase and produce drones for Ukraine. In particular, €20M will be allocated to purchasing FPV UAVs through the international drone coalition and €17.5M to purchasing marine drones, including drones made in Ukraine. In addition, the Netherlands is transferring a radar and three launchers for the Patriot system. Also, Norway has provided €240M to purchase air defense equipment and will contribute €125M to the initiative to supply Patriot missiles. The initiative will provide Ukraine with 100 Patriot interceptor missiles from Germany and its allies. https://lnkd.in/dNu2rUHb

In a military context, cyber attacks, electronic warfare, information operations and influence operations are sometimes collectively called "non-kinetic effects." What is the value of non-kinetic effects in a hot war? Well, for one, if you can take over, seduce, or distract adversary sensors, you might be able to pick your adversary's pocket. Several sources are reporting that Ukrainian forces used electronic warfare to land a Shahed drone. These Iranian drones have been used as precision guided munitions and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms by Russian forces in their invasion of Ukraine. I'm sure that intelligence agencies will appreciate capturing one of these largely in tact to see how their evolution is progressing. #ukraine #russia #drone #shahed #electronicwarfare #ew https://lnkd.in/ea_7DYFj

It’s not “if” but “when.” I never read about the below types of attacks without applying some theory to them. For example, in my American Military University dissertation research, pursuing the automation of AI context, I’ve reduced the work and writing of Susan Gelman, Tamim Ansary, and Neil Postman to a theory of decision-making called Environment, Tools, and Communication, roughly following the essentialism pattern of biology, physics (to include technology), and psychology. Called ETC, I argue it informs every aspect of every choice a person makes. In essence, people will do what what they can do (or “feel they can” or “…must” do). I read books by Peter W. Singer (especially “Burn In”), articles like the below from Travis Hord (or often Robert du Mont or Prescott Paulin), or receive input from my many other tech-forward academia and professional connections, and I wonder when this type of fight will become commonplace on Western streets. The democratization of the defense industry won’t stop at GPS and the Internet. Low tech drone warfare is already here in North America. For instance, when will a small drone conduct bank fraud, an armed robbery, or a retaliatory gang strike. For those unaware, drones have been used quite a bit by gangs/cartels in Mexico. This link (https://lnkd.in/eewbvdXs) is just one example. I address some of this work in my courses at Georgetown CCT. Are the National Defense University or National Intelligence University talking about this? Are the services universities? Who else is addressing this? How do we stop this from being a commonplace threat our children and their children face? My work seeks to understand the black box of AI and match drone to drone. Is there a better way? What are your thoughts? #InformationLiteracy #AmericaTogether #Drones #Warfare #Psychology #Technology #DefenseIndustry #AcademicTheory #DefenseApplication U.S. Department of Homeland Security United States Department of Defense United States Marine Corps United States Air Force US Navy U.S. Coast Guard US Army United States Space Force US Border Patrol

Building a resilient defense industry adapted to modern battlefield needs is crucial. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between #Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 and #Armenia 🇦🇲 marked the first significant instance of modern technology's wide-scale adoption in warfare. Relatively inexpensive reconnaissance systems and precision munitions, launched from drones or precision missiles, successfully targeted and destroyed expensive air defense systems like Pantsir and S-400. Azerbaijan's strategic use of drones, such as the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and Israeli loitering munitions like Harop, demonstrated the effectiveness of these technologies in gaining battlefield superiority. In Ukraine, this trend has evolved significantly. Ukrainian forces have used drones to destroy Russian assets, including the Black Sea Fleet, showing the need for adapting military for the newly shaping reality. While on the surface it seems NATO has been slow on adaptation, but in reality it is adapting quickly from these developments, integrating these lessons into its strategies and signaling the need for innovation and adaptation within the defense industrial base filling up the gaps that were identified. As General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) states in his book Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine🇺🇦 : "The modern battlefield requires not only resilience and adaptability but also a relentless drive for innovation and integration of cutting-edge technologies.". The world is changing, and I’m glad the alliance is adapting to it. #natopublicforum #nato