Jurgo Preden

“WALL OF DRONES” It’s a well-known fact that the Baltic states are on the frontlines of potential conflict and our nation has prioritized its collaboration with these important allies. I was impressed with the Baltic region’s commitment to #cybersecurity workforce development and their investments in their small but highly educated young students. I marveled at the education system that requires students to learn multiple languages. In the cybersecurity collaboration experience I had with high school and university students from the Baltic states, I was reminded that language skills are another important factor in cybersecurity. I worked with a military cyber team recently. As I was helping them craft a cyber exercise, one of the officers related how they had encountered some cyber language challenges on a mission. Those of us in the commercial world pivot to why not have a language app in their kit or use Google Translate. The contracts that are used to supply these kits did not have language support in the requirements. I now include a few foreign language-specific cyber challenges in the military cyber exercises I get asked to help with. I include foreign language cyber challenges with the high school, military academies, colleges, and universities. #Cyber

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⚠️ Breaking news out of Finland/Poland! 🇫🇮🇵🇱 Endeavor entrepreneur Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE, announced a US$65M extension. 🚀 Founded in 2014 ICEYE uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites to deliver real-time, high-resolution, and on-demand images of Earth. 🛰️ The funding round extension (which is a mix of debt and equity instruments) included participation from Solidium Oy (managed by Finnish sovereign wealth fund), BlackRock, Seraphim Space, Plio Ltd and Christo Georgiev. 🤯 Huge congrats to the ICEYE team and to Endeavor Poland!! 👏 Below a picture from a few weeks ago at NYSE with Pieter de Villiers, Ayman Essawy and Rafal Modrzewski.

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Latvia Accelerates Combat Drone Support for Ukraine with New 1,000-Unit Initiative Latvia's defense industry is ramping up its drone support for Ukraine, with Defense Minister Andris Spruds announcing on December 28, 2024, that over 1,000 combat drones are being prepared for immediate transfer to Kyiv. This latest commitment is part of a broader international drone coalition that has secured 1.8 billion euros in funding through the end of 2024, reports the The Defense Post. The initiative includes a $20.59 million allocation specifically for drone procurement in 2025, operating within a growing UK-Latvia led coalition that now encompasses Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, and Denmark. The expanding coalition reportedly reflects the increasing strategic importance of unmanned aerial systems in modern military operations. Latvia's drone support for Ukraine has shown consistent growth throughout 2024, with several major deliveries already completed. In August, the country transferred 500 drones to Ukraine, followed by a larger batch of 1,400 units prepared in late August. These deliveries form part of Latvia's earlier commitment to provide over 2,500 military drones, announced in June 2024. The program is backed by Latvia's robust 2025 defense budget of $2 billion (1.5 billion euros), which dedicates 0.25 percent of GDP specifically to Ukrainian military assistance. Latvia's total defense investment will reach 3.45 percent of GDP, significantly exceeding NATO's requirements and demonstrating the Baltic nation's commitment to regional security. Recent events have highlighted the urgency of enhanced aerial defense capabilities in the Baltic region. In September 2024, Latvia confirmed a Russian Shahed drone crash on its territory, an incident that intensified concerns about aerial security along NATO's eastern borders. This event has likely accelerated Latvia's drone technology initiatives and strengthened its resolve to support Ukraine's air defense modernization. The latest drone commitment aligns with Ukraine's ambitious domestic production goals, which aim to manufacture at least 1 million drones within 2024. Latvia's support complements these efforts, providing immediate capabilities while Ukraine scales its domestic drone industry. Industry analysts note that Latvia's drone initiative represents a significant shift in how smaller NATO members can contribute to regional defense capabilities. The successful implementation of the UK-Latvia coalition model, now expanded to include multiple European partners, could serve as a template for future defense industrial cooperation. While specific technical details about the various drone types remain classified for security reasons, the initiative encompasses platforms for multiple military applications, indicating a sophisticated approach to meeting Ukraine's diverse operational requirements. The rapid scaling of Latvia's drone support program also demonstrates the...

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🆕 Premiere of the Mobile Satellite ISR Reconnaissance Platform at the MSPO ❕ 👉 The result of the collaboration established a year ago during the International Defence Industry Exhibition between the Polish Armaments Group #PGZ, ICEYE, and Military Communication Works No. 1 was showcased at this year's MSPO in Kielce. The Mobile Satellite ISR Reconnaissance Platform is one of the most advanced solutions in the world, enabling armed forces to make quick decisions based on real-time satellite data. 👉Military Communication Works No. 1 S.A. (WZŁ-1 S.A.), ICEYE Poland, the local branch of the global leader in Earth observation through radar satellites, and the Polish Armaments Group S.A. (PGZ S.A.) have jointly demonstrated the Mobile Satellite ISR Reconnaissance Platform (MPRS ISR), adapted to work with satellites equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical sensors. 👉The solution integrates communication and data transmission systems, user security, power supply, and a specially designed antenna system, ensuring fast data transmission and direct distribution to the appropriate recipients at any command level. All components are integrated into a specially equipped container, which will be transported on a Jelcz chassis. #DefenceIndustry #DefenceTechnology #Army #PGZ #MSPO #TargiKielce

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NATO is missing the lessons of the Ukrainian defense industry. It is not just about Ukraine's leading position in drones that puts NATO to shame on cost and functionality. It is the PROCESS that Ukraine's defense industry employs to innovate that is its competitive advantage. Ukraine beats the US/NATO on innovation, on cost and on capacity. This is just one of the reasons that NATO cannot afford to lose Ukraine to Russian aggression. #Ukraine Oleksandr (Sasha) Kravchenko Angela Sax Alexander McWhorter Andy Hunder Olena Malynska Judith Baker Robert McConnell John Moran Tetyana Prokopchuk Steven Moore Roman Sheremeta Marianna Kozintseva Marijn Markus Dan Rice 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 Nicolai Kiskalt Yurii Shafarenko Oleksandr Zavalov Vira Savchenko Bohdan Тyrus, PhD Andrea Januta Siobhán O'Grady Ukraine.ua Vlad Skots Mick Safron Roman Rodriguez Ellen Yount #slavaunkraini #defensetech Veronika Melkozerova NSIN - National Security Innovation Network National Security Council, The White House  Admiral James Stavridis General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) RAND Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Atlantic Council Matt Abrams Hudson Institute The Brookings Institution Harvard's Belfer Center The Fletcher School at Tufts University https://lnkd.in/gfhpS__n

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I talked with Sergey Kuprienko, CEO and co-founder of Swarmer, about drone warfare in the Russo-Ukrainian War. We discussed the parallels between drones in Ukraine & the advance in aviation during World War I, the history of drone warfare in the conflict, Russia’s electronic countermeasures, the niche Swarmer occupies, autonomy for coordinated robots, pilots vs operators, swarm vs swarm warfare, AI vs human decision-making, greener warfare, distribution of ability among drone pilots, current production rates, the kill ratio, Russia’s brute-force industrial capacity, the mix of symbolic AI vs machine learning, working with D3 Capital, collective intelligence, computing hardware, the Russian use of smoke as a countermeasure, cybersecurity, extra-military applications, and much more.

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According to Ukraine, the following were launched at Ukraine during 2024: 10,713 Geran-2 drones (+ approximately 500 other UAVs not included in the report) (Average: 30.64 per day) 846 Kh-101 cruise missiles (Average: 2.31 per day or 21.69 per strike) 656 S-300/400 ballistic missiles (Average: 1.79 per day) 624 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles (Average: 1.70 per day) 545 Kh-59/69 cruise missiles (Average: 1.49 per day) 177 Kalibr cruise missiles (Average: 0.48 per day) 74 Kh-22/33 cruise missiles (Average: 0.20 per day) 72 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles (Average: 0.20 per day) 62 Iskander-K cruise missiles (Average: 0.17 per day) 6 hypersonic Zircon missiles (Average: 0.02 per day) 1 RS-26 medium-range ballistic missile (Average: 0.003 per day) Additionally, Tu-95MS aircraft conducted 39 combat missions, while Tu-160 aircraft flew on combat missions 2 times. (On average: 1 strike every 9.38 days) This does not account for the hundreds of thousands of smaller OWA drones. What does this mean for Europe and the rest of the world? How many countries are even capable of confronting a mere fraction of these threats?

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Meet Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, the civilian radio expert shaping Ukraine's drone defenses. 🇺🇦💻📡 While many fear the frontlines, Flash regularly ventures there to study Russian drone signals and develop countermeasures. With his array of antennas and spectrum analyzers mounted on a souped-up VW van, this former telecom engineer has become an invaluable asset to Ukrainian forces. From detecting radio frequencies to building affordable anti-drone tools, Flash's expertise bridges the military's knowledge gap. His Telegram channels, with over 127,000 followers, share intel on the latest threats like hibernating drones. Meanwhile, his encrypted Signal group guides nearly 2,000 signalmen, helping Ukraine stay ahead in the technological arms race. Despite clashes with skeptical officials, soldiers revere Flash as a "ray of sun" safeguarding their lives. As drone warfare intensifies globally, his bold creativity and frontline insights could shape battlefield tactics for years to come. A true civilian hero forging Ukraine's defense from the ground up. #UkraineWar #TechForGood #ModernWarfare

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The 5G-ROUTES project successfully trialed a multi-hop 5G solution near Turku, Finland, extending 5G coverage up to 10 kilometers offshore. The setup utilizes public 5G NSA networks for coastal connectivity, private 5G SA networks for vessel-based communication, and satellite connections as a backup for high availability. The system was tested on two vessels, with one vessel closer to the coast acting as a hub, providing connectivity to the second vessel located further offshore. This configuration enabled continuous data transfer and reliable internet access for various applications, including real-time video transmission between vessels. #Webbing #connectivity #innovation #5G #networks https://lnkd.in/dc8Q7YhW

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Denmark Pledges $142M to Boost Ukraine's Drone and Missile Production Denmark has announced a substantial $142 million (€130 million) investment to strengthen Ukraine's domestic defense industry, with a specific focus on enhancing the country's drone and missile manufacturing capabilities. The announcement came during Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's visit to Ukraine, where she met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Investment Details and Strategic Partnership The financial package represents Denmark's commitment to bolstering Ukraine's indigenous defense production. The funding will specifically support the development of long-range drones, missile systems, and artillery, including the "Bohdana" howitzer. During the meeting, Prime Minister Frederiksen expressed confidence in Ukraine's defense industry, stating, "We have already seen what your defense industry is capable of. We understand that these investments have a real impact on the battlefield." Broader Support Framework This latest contribution builds upon Denmark's already extensive support for Ukraine. The Nordic nation has previously delivered more than 20 defense assistance packages and helped create a special model for defense industry development. This framework is designed to coordinate international investment in Ukrainian weapons production, strengthening the country's military industrial capabilities. European Integration Focus The high-level talks also addressed Ukraine's path to European integration, with Denmark poised to assume the EU Presidency in the second half of 2025. President Zelenskyy emphasized the urgency of Euro-Atlantic integration, stating, "Our Ukrainian policy is to integrate into Europe as quickly as possible." The timing of Denmark's presidency could prove crucial for Ukraine's European aspirations. DroneXL's Take This significant investment in Ukraine's drone manufacturing capabilities reflects the growing importance of unmanned aerial systems in modern warfare. The focus on long-range drones particularly highlights the strategic value of BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations in military applications. This development also demonstrates how drone technology continues to evolve and adapt to meet critical defense needs, potentially influencing future civilian applications as well. What are your thoughts on Denmark's investment in Ukraine's drone production capabilities? Share your perspective in the comments below. by Haye Kesteloo #BVLOS #Denmark #Drone Technology #Europe #Ukraine #drone #drones #uas #uav

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Today, December 20, 2024, at the Polish Ministry of National Defence headquarters, a contract was signed between the State Treasury – Armament Agency and Creotech Instruments S.A. for the delivery of a Satellite Earth Observation System under the MIKROGLOB program. The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Deputy Minister Cezary Tomczyk. -> The contract aims to enhance the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces in acquiring reconnaissance data using satellite-based optoelectronic Earth observation systems. -> The total value of the contract is approximately PLN 550 million gross (125 mln EUR). The satellites are scheduled for launch and are expected to achieve a low sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) by 2027. -> Under the terms of the contract, the Polish Armed Forces will acquire four microsatellites based on the HyperSat platform developed by the company. These satellites will be equipped with optical instruments enabling the acquisition and transmission of Earth imaging data to the ground segment in wavelengths corresponding to near-infrared and visible light bands. Congrats Creotech team!

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War tactics often include delay, distraction, deterrence, decoys, and depletion. War stops when a party either loses the will to fight or the ability to fight. By depleting expensive air defense assets using inexpensive decoys, it effectively removes the ability to fight. The cost and time to replace the assets is real and finite, in effect removing Ukraine *ability* to fight. The *will* of the west is put to the test by the economic cost of emplacing air defense assets. Countering drone threats with a cost parity counter drone capability is an imperative for winning not only the war with Ukraine, and the proxy wars with Iran via the terrorist groups they sponsor, but wars into the future that will surely employ similar tactics and technologies.

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A take on the Ukrainian thoughts about future combat technologies. Main translated points: "There is a current trend to improve the effectiveness of FPV drones by increasing their flight range and weight of the transported munition. But this automatically leads to an increase in the drone size and its visibility, which makes it more vulnerable to CUAS. However, these are the conditions of positional battles, dictated by current tactics. But the strategic drone development will most likely follow the opposite path, which sci-fi writers predicted long ago - through maximum miniaturization. That is, the combat drone will shrink to the size of a bee to deliver a small dose of poison to paralyze enemy fighters, or a large dose to kill. A whole swarm of these cyber bees will be delivered to enemy positions by an artillery shell or a rocket. Such bees will hide and not move to save energy, and when they will detect a target, they will attack. This swarm will be controlled by artificial intelligence, which will be in contact with a human operator. Electronic warfare against such a swarm is unlikely to be effective, because the drones will be autonomous. Therefore, electronic warfare will require such electromagnetic field powers that it can be harmful to the people who need to be protected. The only reliable protection against these microdrones will be either fully sealed bunkers and combat vehicles, or combat suits with an exoskeleton similar to space ones (and the price of a tank). That is, there will no longer be any infantry in its current understanding in future wars. And in general, how many warriors will (Russia) be able to mobilize, even among prisoners, if everyone knows that they will be guaranteed to die in a war? At that point, the biggest military secret will be the AI ​​algorithms that control this swarm of murderous drones. And such algorithms can no longer be obtained by smuggling tech to bypass sanctions, like microchips now; each country will have to develop them on its own. We know how we (in Ukraine) deal with developing drone tactics, as well as how we track enemy developments. Is anyone (in Ukraine) already working on the strategic future impact of these drones? This work is already underway in China and the US, and we have to keep up - it's better to be first than to catch up." This is a subjective opinion, as swarm development was on most militaries' radar for a while - the actual development of and fielding a workings swarm is a difficult technological endeavor. But Ukrainian drone R&D is now one of the best in the world, and its likely that a breakthrough UAV solution - including a working swarm - will emerge from the Ukrainian drone factories and assembly efforts. https://lnkd.in/ektU9kJt

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Ukrainians continue to improve the capabilities of their drones. Last week, a UAV covered a distance of more than 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) to a Russian target, setting a new range record for kamikaze drones. This is a huge upgrade from the latest drone attacks that took place 1,300 km from Ukrainian territory. According to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the drone attacked the Voronezh-M long-range target detection radar station in the city of Orsk, in the Orenburg region of Russia. This is the largest radar in Russia, which can detect targets at a range of 6,000 km (3,700 miles). The Voronezh-M radar detects inbound space and atmospheric strategic weapons systems, particularly intercontinental ballistic and cruise missiles. Even though it is located far from the Ukrainian border, this radar covers the whole of Ukraine and helps the enemy to track rocket launches within its range. Russian propaganda has already complained about Ukrainian drones attacking a similar radar complex in the Krasnodar region. Moreover, Russian media has confirmed Ukrainian attempts to attack Putin’s residence in Gelendzhik, Krasnodar Region, with long-range drones. If we cannot overpower the enemy with soldiers and shells, we should attack with long-range drones that will be able to reach targets in every region of Russia.   #UAV #UkrainianDrones #DroneAttacks #longRangeDrones

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Putin Phase 2: The New Russian Bases being built for post-Ukraine use are near other countries. What must be done and why is below. The When is Now.

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