International

Ukraine’s long-range drones using Western tech to hit Russia

Published

2 years ago

August 29, 2024

Ukraine’s long-range drones using Western tech to hit Russia

Western technology and finance are helping Ukraine carry out hundreds of long-range strikes inside Russia.

That is despite Nato allies still refusing to give Ukraine permission to use Western-supplied munitions to do so – mostly because of fears of escalation.

Ukraine has been stepping up its long-range strikes inside Russia over the past few months, launching scores of drones simultaneously at strategic targets several times a week.

The targets include air force bases, oil and ammunition depots and command centres.

Ukrainian firms are now producing hundreds of armed one-way attack drones a month, at a fraction of the cost it takes to produce a similar drone in the West.

One company told the BBC it was already creating a disproportionate impact on Russia’s war economy at a relatively small expense.

The BBC has been briefed by a number of those involved in these missions. They include one of Ukraine’s largest one-way attack drone manufacturers, as well as a big data company which has helped develop software for Ukraine to carry out these strikes.

Francisco Serra-Martins says the strategy is already creating huge dilemmas for Moscow. He believes that with extra investment, it will turn the tide of the war in Ukraine’s favour.

Eighteen months ago, the company he co-founded, Terminal Autonomy, didn’t even exist. It is now producing more than a hundred AQ400 Scythe long-range drones a month, with a range of 750km (465 miles). The company also makes hundreds of shorter range AQ100 Bayonet drones a month, which can fly a few hundred kilometres.

The drones are made of wood and are being assembled in former furniture factories in Ukraine.

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Mr Serra-Martins, a former Australian Army Royal Engineer, set up the company with his Ukrainian co-founder, backed by US finance. It is one of at least three companies now producing drones in Ukraine at scale.

The AQ 400 Scythe drone is made of wood and has a range of 750km

He describes his drones as “basically flying furniture – we assemble it like Ikea”.

It takes about an hour to build the fuselage and half that time to put the brains inside it – the electronics, motor and explosives.

The company’s Bayonet drone costs a few thousand dollars. In contrast, a Russian air defence missile used to shoot it down can cost more than $1m.

It is not only cheap drones making the difference.

Palantir, a large US data analysis company, was one of the first Western tech companies to aid Ukraine’s war effort. It started by providing software to improve the speed and accuracy of its artillery strikes. Now it has given Ukraine new tools to plan its long-range drone strikes.

British engineers from Palantir, working with Ukrainian counterparts, have designed a programme to generate and map the best ways to reach a target. Palantir makes clear it is not involved in the missions, but has helped train more than 1,000 Ukrainians how to use its software.

The BBC has been shown how it works in principle. Using streams of data, it can map Russia’s air defences, radar and electronic jammers. The end product looks similar to a topographical chart.

The tighter the contours, the heavier the air defences. The locations have already been identified by Ukraine using commercial satellite imagery and signals intelligence.

Louis Mosley of Palantir says the programme is helping Ukraine to skirt around Russia’s electronic warfare and air defence systems to reach their target.

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“Understanding and visualising what that looks like across the entire battle space is really critical to optimising these missions,” he says.

The execution of the long-range drone strikes is being co-ordinated by Ukraine’s intelligence agencies, who work in secrecy. But the BBC has been told by other sources about some of the detail.

Scores of drones can be fired for any one mission – as many as 60 at one target.

The attacks are mostly carried out at night. Most will be shot down. As few as 10% may reach the target. Some drones are even shot down along the way by friendly fire – Ukraine’s own air defences.

Ukraine has had to work out ways to counter Russian electronic jamming. Terminal Autonomy’s Scythe drone uses visual positioning – navigating its course and examining the terrain by Artificial Intelligence. There is no pilot involved.

Palantir software will have already mapped the best routes. Mr Serra-Martins says flying a lot of drones is key to overwhelming and exhausting Russia’s air defences. So too is making the drones cheaper than the missiles trying to shoot them down, or the targets they are trying to hit.

Prof Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute says Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks are creating dilemmas for Moscow. Although Russia has a lot of air defences, it still cannot protect everything.

Prof Bronk says Ukraine’s long-range strikes are showing ordinary Russians that “the state can’t defend them fully and that Russia is vulnerable”.

Ukrainian drones have been spotted more than 1,000km (620 miles) inside Russia. They have been shot down over Moscow.

But the focus has been on military sites. The map below highlights just a handful of the dozen targets hit over the past few months. They include five Russian airbases.

Prof Justin Bronk says targeting Russian airbases has so far been the only effective way Ukraine has to respond to Russia’s glide bombs.

It has forced Russia to move aircraft to bases further away and reduce the frequency of their attacks. Satellite imagery shows how Ukrainian drones have successfully damaged hangars at its Marynovka airbase.

Ukraine clearly believes it could do even more with the help of Western-made long-range weapons. But so far, allies have rejected Kyiv’s pleas.

There is still a lingering fear, especially in Washington and Berlin, that it could drag the West further into the conflict. But that hasn’t stopped Western companies and finance from helping Ukraine.

Ukraine is still largely having to rely on its home-grown efforts, convinced that bringing the war to Russia is a key to winning this war.

Francisco Serra-Martins also believes Western manufacturers are still “woefully unprepared” to fight high-intensity warfare – producing far fewer long-range weapons at a much higher cost. He says what Ukraine really needs now “is a lot of good enough systems”.

The BBC has talked to one Ukrainian company which is already developing a new cruise missile, at least 10 times cheaper than a British-made Storm Shadow missile.

Despite the West’s misgivings, Ukraine is planning to step up its attacks on Russia. Mr Serra-Martins says: “What you’re seeing now is like nothing compared to what you’ll see by the end of the year.”

Ukraine’s long-range drones using Western tech to hit Russia

BBC

International

Qatar Petitions UN Over Iranian Missile Strikes on Maritime Assets

Published

3 minutes ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Qatar Petitions UN Over Iranian Missile Strikes on Maritime Assets

The government of Qatar has formally appealed to Antonio Guterres, strongly condemning what it described as Iranian drone and cruise missile attacks on its territory and maritime infrastructure, calling them clear violations of international law and national sovereignty.

In a detailed communication to the United Nations, Qatari authorities outlined a series of incidents that occurred between March 28 and April 1, 2026, describing them as “unlawful acts” that pose a serious threat to regional stability and global energy security. The letter is part of a broader diplomatic push, with Qatar submitting multiple complaints to the UN and Security Council in recent weeks over what it calls sustained aggression by Iran.

The most recent and severe incident took place on April 1, when three cruise missiles were launched from Iranian territory toward Qatari waters. According to officials, Qatari air defense systems intercepted two of the missiles, while a third struck the Aqua 1 fuel oil tanker operating within Qatar’s territorial waters. The vessel is leased to state-owned QatarEnergy.

QatarEnergy confirmed that all 21 crew members aboard the tanker were safely evacuated. Authorities reported no casualties and no environmental damage, but warned that the attack underscores growing risks to maritime safety and critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf.

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Qatar invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter, affirming its right to self-defense, and indicated that a full assessment of damages and losses is ongoing. The government also called for urgent international intervention, accountability, and enhanced protection of vital shipping lanes and offshore facilities.

Officials stressed that repeated attacks on commercial vessels and energy assets threaten not only Qatar but also the broader global economy, given the Gulf’s strategic role in oil and gas exports. The incidents have intensified concerns among Gulf states about the vulnerability of energy infrastructure, commercial shipping routes, and key maritime corridors.

The latest escalation comes amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, with fears growing that continued hostilities could spiral into a wider conflict. Maritime security bodies, including the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, have continued to monitor the situation closely and warn of increased risks in the Gulf.

Despite the attacks, QatarEnergy stated that operations at affected facilities remain fully operational, signaling resilience in the country’s energy sector. However, analysts warn that sustained threats could disrupt supply chains and shake investor confidence if the situation deteriorates further.

Qatar has repeatedly emphasized that such actions are inconsistent with principles of good neighborliness and international norms, urging the global community to act decisively to prevent further escalation.

As of now, there has been no official response from Iran regarding the latest accusations.

Qatar Petitions UN Over Iranian Missile Strikes on Maritime Assets

International

Macron Hits Back at Trump, Says Marriage Jibe “Not Worth a Response”

Published

13 minutes ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron

Macron Hits Back at Trump, Says Marriage Jibe “Not Worth a Response”

French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed mocking remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about his marriage, saying the comments “do not merit a response” and are “neither elegant nor up to standard.” The diplomatic spat comes at a sensitive time, as global attention remains fixed on the escalating crisis in the Middle East and growing divisions within NATO.

Speaking during an official visit to Seoul, Macron—accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron—refused to engage in a war of words with Trump, stressing that global leaders must focus on urgent priorities rather than personal insults. “So I am not going to respond to them — they do not merit a response,” he said, while emphasizing the need for calm diplomacy, peace efforts, and de-escalation in the Middle East. He warned against excessive rhetoric, adding: “There is too much talk, and it’s all over the place… We all need stability, calm, a return to peace — this isn’t a show.”

The controversy began after Trump mocked Macron and his wife during a private engagement, as he criticized NATO allies for not supporting U.S.-aligned military actions tied to Iran. According to reports, Trump imitated Macron with a French accent, claimed Brigitte Macron “treats him extremely badly,” and suggested Macron was still “recovering from the right to the jaw.” The remark referenced a 2025 viral video incident, which Macron previously dismissed as disinformation, insisting it was harmless joking. Trump also renewed criticism of NATO, describing the alliance as a “paper tiger” and questioning its reliability in future global conflicts.

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The exchange highlights widening cracks between the United States and European allies over strategy in the Middle East. Macron has consistently advocated for ceasefire negotiations, diplomatic engagement, and de-escalation of US-Israeli strikes on Iran, while Washington has pushed for stronger military backing from allies, increasing pressure within NATO. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio further stirred debate by stating that the United States may “reexamine” its relationship with NATO after the Iran conflict.

Trump’s comments have drawn sharp criticism across France’s political spectrum. Yael Braun-Pivet described the remarks as inappropriate amid global instability, saying: “We are discussing the future of the world… and we have a president who is mocking others.” Opposition figure Manuel Bompard also defended Macron despite political differences, calling the comments “absolutely unacceptable.” The backlash underscores growing concern about diplomatic conduct at a time when international cooperation is critical.

While Macron publicly dismissed Trump’s personal jabs, his broader message reflects mounting frustration with Washington’s tone and policy direction. The dispute underscores rising US-Europe tensions, increasing uncertainty over NATO unity, and diverging approaches to the Iran conflict. As the geopolitical landscape grows more fragile, Macron’s warning remains clear: global leadership requires seriousness—not spectacle.

Macron Hits Back at Trump, Says Marriage Jibe “Not Worth a Response”

International

Iran Fires Missiles at Israel After Trump Threatens Weeks of ‘Extremely Hard’ Strikes

Published

6 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Mockups of domestically-made Iranian missiles are displayed at an exhibition outside the Defence Museum in Tehran on March 31, 2026. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

Iran Fires Missiles at Israel After Trump Threatens Weeks of ‘Extremely Hard’ Strikes

Israel came under missile fire from Iran on Thursday following a stern warning from US President Donald Trump, who said Washington could bomb Iran into the “Stone Ages” with heavy strikes over the next two to three weeks.

Speaking from the White House, Trump sought to reassure Americans that the military campaign launched on February 28, 2026, was nearing completion. He said, “Thanks to the progress we’ve made, we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly.” He added that, over the coming weeks, U.S. forces would target key Iranian sites, including electric generating plants and critical infrastructure, unless Tehran agreed to his conditions.

Trump also indicated that negotiations might be possible with Iran’s new leadership, describing them as “less radical and much more reasonable” than their predecessor. Despite this, Iran rejected U.S. ceasefire overtures, calling the demands “maximalist and irrational,” with foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirming that no direct talks were taking place.

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Following Trump’s address, the Israeli military reported four missile barrages within six hours, with air raid sirens sounding across northern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Haifa. Israeli defenses actively intercepted incoming missiles, while the Revolutionary Guards confirmed targeting an oil tanker in the Gulf, allegedly Israeli-owned, which sustained damage but caused no casualties.

The escalation also involved Iran-backed groups in the region. Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into northern Israel, while Israel struck back in Lebanon, killing several militants, including a top commander. Authorities say over 1,300 people have died in Lebanon since the war between Israel and Iran-backed forces erupted on March 2, 2026.

Meanwhile, energy markets reacted sharply, with Brent crude rising more than 4% to over $105 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate reaching around $103 per barrel, due to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil normally passes. Britain hosted a virtual meeting of 35 countries to explore reopening the strait, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasizing freedom of navigation.

In Tehran, Iranians expressed defiance amid the funeral of a Revolutionary Guards naval commander killed in Israeli strikes. Pro-government citizens vowed continued resistance. “This war has lasted a month. However long it takes, we will continue,” said Moussa Nowruzi, a 57-year-old pensioner.

Trump reassured regional allies — including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain — that the U.S. would protect them from Iranian retaliatory fire. The conflict remains highly volatile, with analysts warning that further missile exchanges and regional flare-ups are likely if diplomatic solutions are not achieved soon.