Iran’s Suicide Drones, Russia’s Jamming Resistant Drones, and Human Meaningful Control

Last week, I wrote about North Korea’s suicide drone program. This week, we are looking at Iran’s Shahed bombs, designed for one-time use.

We then continue with Russia’s new fibre-optic drones that are resistant to signal jamming and electronic warfare.

But first, regulations are being put in place to ensure that there is always a human operator for autonomous weapons, securing meaningful human control. However, studies have shown that humans’ sense of moral agency can be diminished when working with computer systems, to the extent that they consider themselves unaccountable for consequences that arise. People even start to attribute a sense of agency to the computer systems themselves. Mark Tsagas comments:

The Big Story

Iran’s Shahed Suicide Drones

In the past year, Iranian Shahed drones have bombed commercial ships in the Red Sea, threatened the lives of US troops in the Middle East, and caused damage in Ukraine.

While traditional drones are designed to be reusable, suicide drones are designed for one-time precision strikes.

Iran’s suicide bombs are cheap, precise, and hard to shoot down, and Iran has a strong willingness to share them with its allies.

Iran’s suicide drones are a family of drones called Shahed. They self-destruct when they reach the target. In the family the 131 is the smallest and lightest, the 238 is the newest one and uses a jet engine, and the 136 is the most commonly used.

The Shahed-136 is 3.5 meters, weighs 200 kilos, and is made out of cheap, commercial parts. The drone can carry over 45 kilos of explosives, and according to Iran, reach pre-programmed targets up to 2,400 kilometers away.

The drone is slow, loud, and flies at low altitudes. The low altitude makes them more difficult to detect by radar.

With a cost of only USD 50,000, they are designed to be launched many at the same time, usually from a truck, overwhelming the enemy systems.

The 136 has become a critical part of proxy warfare; Russia has used them to target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and has since then bought the know-how from Iran. Russia is now pairing this know-how with its manufacturing capabilities and planning to have produced 6,000 units by 2025.

The US and other countries are developing sensors that can detect and track these types of drones, invest in missiles, counter drones, and guns distributed over areas of interest.

Russia’s New Fiber-Optic Drones

Russia has started to use new drones that are guided by fibre-optic cables. The technology makes them immune to signal jamming and electronic warfare and ensures a high-quality video transmission so the pilot can see where they are flying.

Since Ukraine’s invasion of Russia’s Kursk region, reports have kept surfacing highlighting the employment of newly wired unmanned aerial vehicles by Russian forces to target Ukrainian military vehicles like tanks and personnel carriers.

On social media, videos have shown the drones being used in combat. Russian military Telegram channels have shared footage of uses, stating that the drones are controlled via a fibre-optic cable that ensures high accuracy and resistance to electronic warfare.

The first documented use of the fibre-optic drones was in March when Ukraine recovered a Russian prototype.

In the News

Killer Robots: New UN Report Urges Treaty By 2026

A new UN report calls for an international treaty to ban or regulate lethal autonomous weapons systems, commonly known as "killer robots," by 2026. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgency of maintaining human control over weapons systems to prevent automated killing. The report, which gathered input from over 70 countries and civil society groups, reflects growing international support for regulating these technologies. Negotiations are expected to take place under the UN General Assembly, aiming to prevent the proliferation of autonomous weapons systems that pose significant risks to global security and human rights.
Read more at Human Rights Watch.

US Warns Turkey Over Trade Of Military Tech To Russia

The United States has warned Turkey to cease the export of American-origin military technology to Russia, emphasizing the consequences if these transfers continue. Turkey, which has increased its trade with Russia since the Ukraine invasion, has come under scrutiny for providing equipment essential to Russia’s war efforts. Matthew Axelrod, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, stressed the need for immediate action to prevent the illegal flow of sensitive technology. Failure to comply could result in sanctions on Turkish entities involved in the trade, further straining relations between the two NATO allies.
Read more at MSN.

Tuning Into The Future: US Soldiers Master New Radio Technology

US soldiers at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania received training on the latest radio technology, transitioning from older systems to the advanced AN/PRC 14 Delta and AN/PRC 170 radios. This two-day training, led by defence contractors from Sev1Tech, emphasized the importance of seamless communication in modern warfare. Soldiers learned to operate, troubleshoot, and maintain the new radios, which are critical for maintaining tactical superiority. This initiative supports the U.S. Army’s modernization efforts and prepares troops for future missions requiring high-tech communication systems.
Read more at Dvids Hub.

Northrop Grumman Secures Contract For Second DARC Installation

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a contract to build the second Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) site for the U.S. Space Force. This site, located in the UK, is part of a trilateral partnership between the US, the UK, and Australia aimed at enhancing space domain awareness. DARC will track objects and debris in geosynchronous orbit, helping to protect satellites and other space assets. This new radar system addresses the growing challenge of space congestion and the need for advanced monitoring technologies to ensure the security of space-based operations.
Read more at Space War.

Human Conflict And The Impact On The Development Of Aviation Technology

Human conflict has historically driven rapid advancements in aviation technology. From the first use of airplanes in WWI to the modern-day drone warfare in Ukraine, conflict accelerates innovation in payload capacity, flying time, and resilience. In Ukraine, small drones costing a few hundred dollars are destroying tanks worth millions, echoing past conflicts where low-cost aircraft inflicted heavy damage on expensive naval vessels. The ongoing war in Ukraine is expected to further influence developments in uncrewed aviation, with potential benefits for the commercial drone industry.
Read more at Uav News.

UNRWA's Journey Toward Digital Transformation

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is undertaking a comprehensive digital transformation strategy to improve its service delivery. Leveraging partnerships with organizations like KfW Development Bank, Microsoft, and Gartner, UNRWA is integrating digital tools across health, education, and other services to enhance efficiency and data-driven decision-making. Key initiatives include the deployment of electronic medical records and a Digital Learning System. The transformation aims to reduce costs and improve the quality of services provided to Palestine refugees while embracing technological innovation for future challenges.
Read more at UNRWA.