FIXTURESNo upcoming fixtures — check back soon.
FORUM / MIKES GRIPES /  The Impact of Cheap Drones on Warfare

The Impact of Cheap Drones on Warfare

Started by sharkbok32 REPLIES542 VIEWS· 05 Mar 2026, 13:36
SHAREXFACEBOOKWHATSAPPTELEGRAMREDDITLINKEDIN
sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,261 posts
05 Mar 2026, 13:36
#1
05 Mar 2026, 13:36#1


Iran's initial Shahed-136 drones delivered to Russia starting in late 2022 were basic loitering munitions without AI, relying on pre-programmed GPS/INS guidance to fixed targets. They have since been significantly improved through iterative upgrades with AI, cameras, and anti-jamming tech. Russia upgraded these models with AI, and Iran has also increasingly started using AI


Initial capabilities (2022–early 2024)

  1. Used inertial navigation and GPS for waypoint-following to static targets; no cameras, AI, or live control.
  2. Vulnerable to GPS jamming, leading to inaccuracy or misses, but cheap and mass-produced.
  3. No onboard processing for target recognition—purely pre-planned strikes.

Key improvements over time

  1. 2023–2024: Added 4G modems, cameras for man-in-the-loop (MITL) control via cell networks, and CRPA antennas for jamming resistance.
  2. Mid-2025 onward: Integrated Nvidia Jetson AI processors, thermal cameras, and machine vision for autonomous target ID, heat-signature homing, and navigation in GPS-denied environments.?
  3. These upgrades (e.g., Shahed-136 MS variant) enable dynamic targeting, evasive manoeuvres, and higher strike rates even against moving frontline assets.


AspectOriginal (2022)Upgraded (2025+)

GuidanceGPS/INS onlyAI vision + anti-jam antennasTargetingFixed waypointsAutonomous recognitionControlNone (fire-and-forget)Optional live feed/MITLResilienceLow (jammable)High (cellular backup, AI reroute)


ST
Stavanger1Pro4,532 posts
05 Mar 2026, 14:05
#2
05 Mar 2026, 14:05#2

It's interesting the Times is reporting the US is looking to acquire Ukrainian anti Shahed drones to help help protect itself, Israel and the Gulf states.


It's also interesting to note that Iran has used Russian drones in it's attacks. There is photo's of one of the drones used having Russian language markings on it.


Also another interesting development, did anyone notice Ukraine just took out a Russian Shadow Fleet tanker off the coast of Malta with drones. Mad to think Ukraine has that capability.






ST
Stavanger1Pro4,532 posts
05 Mar 2026, 14:13
#3
05 Mar 2026, 14:13#3

Problem is how cheap and cost effective drones are to produce is not only are the drones cheaper to make than the missiles used to shoot them down you can make so many of them you can simply overwhelm or exhaust any air defence system.


There only downside is that compared to ballistic missiles is they lack punch.

DA
Devil's AdvocatePro7,008 posts
05 Mar 2026, 14:59
#4
05 Mar 2026, 14:59#4

There is a viral video going around of Iran's underground drone stockpile..... it looks bloody impressive

CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
05 Mar 2026, 16:46
#5
05 Mar 2026, 16:46#5

If there are underground storage - the U SA will know where theya res stored and one deep petrate Bomb will wipe it out. This ios another reason why deranged dictators should be eliminatef in the world,


sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,261 posts
05 Mar 2026, 18:04
#6
05 Mar 2026, 18:04#6

Possibly bad planning by the US to go into a war without a strategy to deal with the older drone models, as well as the newer AI models.


If their is MAGA boots on the ground, there are going to be lots of casualties. Ukraine are the best in the world in modern-day warfare. They have the most experience with drones - both on defence and attack.

DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
06 Mar 2026, 02:25
#7
06 Mar 2026, 02:25#7

China has a few drone "facilities" in South Africa... I'm sure it's our effective and productive labor force as well as our impeccable infrastructure luring them to our lovely shores.

BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
06 Mar 2026, 04:14
#8
06 Mar 2026, 04:14#8

Ukraine has pioneered the development of cut-price drone-killing equipment that cost as little as $1,000, rewriting the air defence rulebook and making other countries take notice.


In a post to social media, Zelenskyy said he had received a US request for support to defend against the drones in the Middle East and had given the order for equipment to be provided along with Ukrainian experts, without providing further details.

Ukraine helps partners who help our security and the protection of our people’s lives.


CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
06 Mar 2026, 09:08
#9
06 Mar 2026, 09:08#9

The story is just another angle to get at the demonize the USA. Accprding to report from the UAE - not even 5% of the drones get through the defense system. The other problem Iran has is that nothing in Iran is secret - so drone factories will and is being destroyed


SB is nuts as well - here never will be US troops on the round in Iran


.

sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,261 posts
06 Mar 2026, 13:10
#10
06 Mar 2026, 13:10#10

clevermike

Hall Of Famer

57,104 posts

Mar 06, 2026, 09:08


Accprding to report from the UAE - not even 5%

----


DumbMike, does not understand that 5% is still allot. Sure, many get shot down - but by using expensive weapons. America are already starting to run low on these type of weapons. They now have a back order of about 50 billion to create more of these expensive drone blocking weapons.


The strategy for drones is that it is low cost warfare to deplete the enemies superior expensive weaponry.

The cost of the war for America is over 1 billion dollars per day in military expenses. This will soon increase. Also, the damage to international trade is another factor.


This does not include the costs for all other countries who have to shoot down cheap drones.


Your bumbling idiot hero Trump ridiculed Ukraine at every chance he could - the very people who know more about drone warfare than any country in the world. The US should have involved Ukraine earlier. Ukraine would have been happy to do so - as Iran are the ones who supplied the drones to Russia in the first place.


--


CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
06 Mar 2026, 20:45
#11
06 Mar 2026, 20:45#11

S B


Latest information - the U SA ue electronic rays to destry the drones and mo9st of their production ite ha been destroyed already. S o they go some droes from Russia - but that oi also limited since transport is also a problem and Rusia needs fromes for use in Ukraine,


According to the Go venment of Dubai 13 drones were nt destroed ut of more than 300 used - of the 13 only 5 was not destroyedand hit urban areas,


By arrcking Muslim counties - they showed their real colors, Tha damage the drones caused is limited and attacking Muslim countries and even Cypress - part of which is under Turkish Government i d looking for serious trouble as well.


Al Jazeera stpr about the target in which the Ayatollah was illed had ZERO girls schools and no clinic as claimed, It a the place where the Ayatollahs office was and where the Iran Cabinet met. What is surprising was that the Iran Government was misled and the A yatollah and his dfellow cmurdrers did not fled to the underground bunker on the same site and that had excellent results,


In the mantime A tacks on Azerbaya and the Kurds have rulted in the to countries sending trooops into Iran where the meet vortually zero resistance = whie the people are dancing in the streets and are not ha the support of the vast majority of the Iranians.


Those whom the Gods wishes to estroy they drive mad. They should ahve negotiated to find a peacefu solution to their Nuclear arms obsession and oppressing of their own people through trerrorism and undermining of the Iranan people. At his tahe the atatcks are aimed at the ruling clique, the Revolutionary Guards abd armament production sites,


Read he following too:-


"Actor and producer Sam Asghari told "FOX & Friends" on Friday that the people of Iran stand with America as it carries out Operation Epic Fury.

"It's been 47 years that the Iranian people have been fighting this fight against the regime, and they wanted nothing to do with this government... And the people of Iran are in love with America, and they love America, just like I do, just like we do. And I'm happy that this situation is happening to make it clear to this world that we stand with America, we stand with a free world, and we want nothing to do with what's happening there with the government," Asghari said.

Asghari was 12 years old when his family fled Iran for the U.S. He said that coming to America was a "golden opportunity."

"I often say that the most patriotic Americans are immigrants that come from countries that are oppressed because they understand what it's like to live under tyranny with no opportunities," he added"


Funny how some site members sympathize wirth he Regime in Iran because they hate Trump.



.



BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
06 Mar 2026, 21:28
#12
06 Mar 2026, 21:28#12

Donald Trump dog toys on sale at Crufts

sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,261 posts
07 Mar 2026, 00:19
#13
07 Mar 2026, 00:19#13

It seems the Middle East countries are considering walking away from about 3 trillion dollars worth of deals with America. The economic damage that is predicted from a long war will wreck their economies.

CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
07 Mar 2026, 08:13
#14
07 Mar 2026, 08:13#14

Shit spreading galore by; two amazing idiots who is not basing any info on facts, As much negative BS about the u SA is spread by them s possibl. "It seems" is plain BS to start wth and BB is just a racialist BS spreader. What long war are you speaking about sheister?


Both of you are hoping for Iran to destroy the ME and the USA. What a spreader of shit are you preaching ?

BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
07 Mar 2026, 09:10
#15
07 Mar 2026, 09:10#15

thetruth

BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
07 Mar 2026, 09:42
#16
07 Mar 2026, 09:42#16

He'd my head nodding so frequently I'd a pleasant headache

BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
07 Mar 2026, 10:03
#17
07 Mar 2026, 10:03#17

& sadly its not only Putin that plays him like a fiddle, Netanyahu's taken the mantle

RO
RooinekCaptain18,117 posts
07 Mar 2026, 12:11
#18
07 Mar 2026, 12:11#18

Thanks bob.


I know the Trumpanzees will be ridiculing us for even listening to Adam Schiff but I wonder how many of those same Trumpanzees can watch that clip and actually answer the question he's asking, why is the US at war?

TH
TheTraditionalistPro4,003 posts
07 Mar 2026, 12:23
#19
07 Mar 2026, 12:23#19

It seems the Middle East countries are considering walking away from about 3 trillion dollars worth of deals with America. The economic damage that is predicted from a long war will wreck their economies.



It can not happen. The deals never existed in the first place, they were vague promises and more than anything, many countries in that part of the word are full passengers in the USD con. If the USD falls a reserve currency, they will lose all of it. And they are caught in a debt trap as they can not spend the US debt they have. It is just posturing for the Muslim street and its long lasting resentment toward their governing elite.


Additional note: Countries like Japan, the UK or France are up in the USD mess. They have lost much autonomy (beware, Germany by the way, one of the few countries in Europe that may reclaim autonomy from the US con) Trump has damaged severely the relationship to the UK: forces in the UK through the very weak Stamer are now signalling that the US have crossed boundaries and this despite, the UK being up to the eyes in the USD con.

TH
TheTraditionalistPro4,003 posts
07 Mar 2026, 12:27
#20
07 Mar 2026, 12:27#20

I know the Trumpanzees will be ridiculing us for even listening to Adam Schiff but I wonder how many of those same Trumpanzees can watch that clip and actually answer the question he's asking, why is the US at war?



Liberals in general can not answer that question as it exposes them and their objectives. Liberals can not declare their objectives: they keep hiding their motivations.


Iran is an nth repeat of the same episode: all benevolent liberals who are sacrificing their blood and money to ensure peace, freedom and prosperity to a mysterious entity they can not even define (here the Iranian People) Liberals have no direct nor vested interests in the doing.


Of course, the war in Iran has all to do with liberals' best interests: liberals can merely not confess them.

RO
RooinekCaptain18,117 posts
07 Mar 2026, 14:34
#21
07 Mar 2026, 14:34#21

Just to keep it simple for the Trumpanzees, I'll list the options to make it a simple multiple choice question:


Why is the US at war?


a) Iran's nuclear capability (which was previously "obliterated" by Bozo) has miraculously recovered to the extent that they could have a nuclear weapon in two weeks time.


b) Regime change (because it's worked so well in the past)


c) Netanyahu has the unredacted Epstein files (so Bozo does what he's told)


d) Bozo's own version . . . "he was going to hit me so I hit him first".


e) Something else. (Specify please)

sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,261 posts
07 Mar 2026, 15:00
#22
07 Mar 2026, 15:00#22

e) Epstein files distraction


f) Steal Iran's oil


g) A sociopath, with no clear motive

RO
RooinekCaptain18,117 posts
07 Mar 2026, 15:20
#23
07 Mar 2026, 15:20#23

sharkbok, all your suggestions are valid (especially oil) but we know that's not how the Trumpanzees will spin this.


I'm keen to see the official reason some time in the future . . . maybe the distant future.


All we hear is "I'm so wonderful, we're doing great, tariffs work, windmills bad" . . . the usual garbage.

DE
DennyCaptain12,893 posts
08 Mar 2026, 05:50
#24
08 Mar 2026, 05:50#24

As a child I grew up believing in America, there was so much to like, they were a shining light, they offered hope, motivated the way forward, won us a world war a leader to admire, they were the good guys.

until Trump came along, Obama put it like this’….he’s not presidential.”

A layman like me would have said’Trump is just a piece of shit.

But on a more serious note if that’s remotely possible….how does it go from “We’ve obliterated their nuclear capability to Iran was two weeks away from making a nuclear bomb?

Yes we know he said he could stand in the middle of the main drag in NY city, shoot someone and yet still have the support of his supporters so I won’t be surprised by the ones on here defending the indefensible.

Go on prove me wrong.


CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
08 Mar 2026, 22:13
#25
08 Mar 2026, 22:13#25

Rooinek


Where do you got that Epstein file story from? Have you see any real proof of your allegation or must we just accept it wa B S fro the word go.


Regime change nutcase? The fact is you lost tract of reality, In 1977 the west supported the first Ayatollah regime. The first thing they did was tpo occyuoy the USA embassy and held the workers hostage, The Iran embassy workers were murdered, They held the workers hostage for near to four years, Carter was a weak President - not a crooked as Biden and the Autopen - but totally out of depth as Presidnt. Reagan was about to start as US President and onme of his first statmeentss was that the USA will attack Iran and free the hostages. The Regome panicked and released the hiostages In January 1981.


Since then the situation develops sfollows:-


Oppression


Immediately after the Regime took over they murdered approxumaately 300 000 citiens.


Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, Iran has experienced dozens of major nationwide protests and hundreds of smaller, sectoral, or local demonstrations. The frequency of these protests has significantly increased in recent years, driven by economic downturns, political repression, and social issues.


During protests and through oppression hundreds of thousands of people died .


When the latest protests started - Trump warned Iran not top kill people during and after the protests, They promised they would not kill the participants - but then got fanatics from Afghanistan and Pakistan to do the killing for them. So dar the death toll is estimated at more than 30 000 people.


The people of Iran wants regime change - they have shown it through the demonstrations mentioned compared to the civiliands accidentally killed in the present bommb ardment of Iran? It probably ios less than 500 - a tragedy partly due to the Iran army as well. They put the army basis in civiian areas and in the cse mentioned built a school and clinic in the same streetblack as the arrmy camp. Normal people will regard that as usage as human shoelds against possible attacks,


Terrorism


A book can be written about this topic alone. Under the late Ayatollah Regime Iran started a program to undermine other countries, They armed and financed


Let me give you some examples:=


Libya


Gadaffi was as bad a sh it as the Ayatollah regimes are, IN the case of one flight in scotland they causedd a majo aircrash killing all the paaasengrs and staff, In 1973 I was on a six month holiday in Europe. I was getting irritated about the wetaher and decided to come home to SA in Occotber 1973. Whike wautung at Rome airport for a connecting flight back to SA I was bloody lucky. A day after my return flight a group of Libyan terrorists got out of a Lobun Airways flight and stomed the aiting lounge where i was sitting waiting for the connecting flight nd murdered 350 passengerm If the attack took place a day earlier I would have been dead myself.


In 2011 there were unrest in a number of Mus;im countries - also in Lbuy. In hsi wsdom the Obama-led NATO decided to bomb th Gadaffi regime out of existence, Rhere was no replacement government and a ciivil war broke out in Libya. Iran saw an opportunity to get in power and organized and finded the terror groups in Livya - especially in Eastern Libya,


The siuation remained totally unstable In 2014 Clinton as Secretary of State decided to open an embassy - not in Tripoli - but in Bengjazi. despite a warning that the situation was dangerou and that a strong guard would habve been sent to protect the staff, When the embassy was attacked in 2014 all the American staff members Z th embassy was mirdered, The way the snakeshot brain Clinton tried to get away woth it in the House and S enate as unbelievable,


However what was equally bad was a message the Ayatollah sent to the proxi firce in Libya congratulating them wih theior victory over the USA

Libya is to this day still unstable,


Somalia


In a civil war in Somalia was funding a terrorist group called Al; Shaahab in Somalia, Iran funded and armed terrorists wjo got the upper hand = but civil wars still ogoong


Over 300 000 peole fled from S omalia and the generous Obama got th em settled in Minnesota and Michigan and got US sitizenship In Minnesota a scandal erupted when itt came out that the US Taxpayers through the Somali refugees is funding Al Shaahab and so did USAID,


Somalia became the feeder country of terrorists sent to Mozambiqye where 15 South Africans working for the gas development infrastructure in Mozambiquee qa killed by Al Shabaah terrorists and the result was South Africa sent troops int Northern Mozambiqye to protect th orkers - but the civil war in norther Mozambiqye is continuing,


Yemen rhe Houthis


he civil wa in Yemen was continuing, The Houthi's are funded by Iran and armed by Iran/ One of the raegets of the Houties was toa ttack cargo ships in the ed Sea and NATO pleaded with the Autopen to stop attaclks on ships in the Red Sea - since they did not have the equipment to effectively stopped th terrorist attacks As to be expected being tied to Iran through corruption the Autopen-Biden adminsitration did not hing .

In 2025 Trump ordered that the Houthi bases be bp,bed out of existennce and the Red Sea attacks stopped.


Syria


In Sria the Iran regime used 2 organiozations to support the Ashad Regi,e - namely Hezbollah and ISIS, Both were directly armed by Iran, The death toll is more than 2 million people.


Syria possesses one of the world's oldest Christian communities, with roots in the apostolic age. Major denominations include the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, Syriac Orthodox Church, and Melkite Greek Catholic Church, with significant populations in Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs. The population has declined significantly from 1.5 million (pre-2011) to an estimated 300,000–700,000 today.


About 300 000 Christians fled from Syria - the rest were murdered by Iran controlled organizations, In the end the Turks organized an attack on Damascus, On the request of the Turkish President Trump met with the ineterim Presient and it was agreed to open embassies to ensure close co-operation between the two countries,


Hamas


Hmas was un der total control of the Ayatollah Regime. Based on an agreement engotiated by the Trump Admi nistration a new interim government has been appointed to Govern in Gaza untill a new Government has been elected,


Other Reasons


The USA is a target of the Iran Gopvernment, In the case of the USA:-


* The slogan of he Iran Goernment is "Death to America". Have been the case since1977;


  1. encourgement to kill US Politicians a recent caiurt case refes\


  1. polotial interference in U Elections,


Before you jum to BS and realize that hate-spreding of conspiracy theories. Taking into account the above it is clear why the USA should bomb the present regime out of existence,



CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
09 Mar 2026, 06:48
#26
09 Mar 2026, 06:48#26

For the site member facts ddo not count, They support giving the Ayatollah Regime a few hand to use terrorism worldwide. They support Iran nuclear arms development, Th ey support murde of hundreds and thousands of people by the Regime in Teheran.


They preach about human rights and international law - but that does not apply in the case of the Ayatollah Regime.


They support bribery and corrution involving Iran in keeping US Politicians like dam Schiff happy, The corrupt liar are promotibng the War in Uraine ebcaus h e takes kickbacks from th e corrupt Ukraine Govnment. Obama, Biden and the Autopen Regime are bwein g bribes by Irean,


The support the murder efforts of USA politicians promoted nad hlped by the Ayatollah Regime.


There answer is nothing must be done to ensure Iran can go on with the slaaughter of epopl world wide through Civil Wars funded and organized by Iran.


Really amazing BS.

BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
09 Mar 2026, 09:29
#27
09 Mar 2026, 09:29#27

b

BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
09 Mar 2026, 09:32
#28
09 Mar 2026, 09:32#28

zxcvb

BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
09 Mar 2026, 09:46
#29
09 Mar 2026, 09:46#29

nm,

sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,261 posts
20 Mar 2026, 04:05
#30
20 Mar 2026, 04:05#30

Ukraine have become the masters of Drone Warfare.

The Russian government official for defence said that no place in Russia is safe from Ukrainian drones.

The volume of attacks just keeps increasing, and the drones keep getting smarter.


Meanwhile Iran are destroying the energy fields at will in the Middle East. America are sitting safe behind a big ocean, where as the Arab countries are getting hit by cheap drones.




sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,261 posts
20 Mar 2026, 22:04
#31
20 Mar 2026, 22:04#31

Saw this on social media:


Ukrainians who went to the Middle East to teach how to shoot down "shaheds", were horrified by the way the US military does it - The Times - They launch up to 8 Patriot missiles at a single target - Sometimes they even use an SM-6 missile ($6 M) to shoot down 1 drone -


Radars often operate without proper camouflage, essentially "shining" like beacons. In Ukraine, however, radars are constantly moved and hidden. As an example, they cite a case where just three cheap drones destroyed an early detection radar AN/FPS-132 worth about $1 billion and another air defense radar (~$300 million), which had long been stationary and easily tracked by satellites. But it’s not all bad news for the US military. Pete Hegseth appears to be able to bench press 315 lbs.



BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
21 Mar 2026, 02:48
#32
21 Mar 2026, 02:48#32



J

DE
DennyCaptain12,893 posts
21 Mar 2026, 03:15
#33
21 Mar 2026, 03:15#33

Trump as I've said is caught in a quagmire.....he had no plan to start off with other than to bomb Iran to dust.

His daily windbagging of having won the war is just that....that the war was going to last 4 weeks is further ignorance of what was involved.....'.we're going to bomb the crap out of Iran'

Sadly, America is now stuck in that mess. His earlier boast about killing the mullahs has only riled up the Iranian Revolutionary Guard even more. This war is just beginning, and he can’t withdraw without first toppling the IRG and Mullahs and replacing them with moderate leaders. Sadly, that doesn’t seem likely. His plan was never truly about freeing the people from a harsh regime, nor was there any real intent to secure the Strait of Hormuz.


Now he could step back for the sake of the world’s economy, declare mission accomplished, and then come back two years later to face an even bigger monster.



— END OF THREAD —

More from Mikes Gripes

More news