Tech

Cheap drones flip the economics of air defense

Ukraine’s drones revolutionise air defence, intercepting threats cheaply while altering warfare economics amid ongoing Russian assaults

Published

2 months ago

December 23, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Ukraine’s drones revolutionise air defence, intercepting threats cheaply while altering warfare economics amid ongoing Russian assaults

In Short:
– Ukraine increased drone production to 950 daily, intercepting 1,500 enemy drones recently during ongoing Russian attacks.
– New interceptors, costing $1,000-$5,000, highlight a shift in defence economics, with 68% success rates reported.

Ukraine has significantly increased production of low-cost interceptor drones, reaching almost 950 units daily. This surge comes as Russian attacks persist, targeting Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The drones, costing around $1,000 each, have successfully downed over 1,500 enemy drones recently, preserving more expensive missiles for higher threats.On December 21-22, Russian forces launched 86 attack drones, and Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 58 of them. This attack pattern has escalated throughout 2025, with Russia deploying about 5,500 Shahed-type drones monthly against Ukraine.

The interceptors evolved from prototypes to mass production within months in 2025, marking a significant shift in modern warfare. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry collaborates with over 10 manufacturers producing drones designed to counter Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles.

New Technology

The Sting, developed by the volunteer initiative Wild Hornets, illustrates this advancement. Resembling a flying thermos and built on a 17-inch frame, the quadcopter can reach speeds of 315 kilometers per hour and engage targets from 25 kilometers away. Operators control the drones using virtual reality goggles, impacting enemy aircraft mid-flight.

“Every destroyed target is something that did not hit our homes or power plants,” said a commander with the call sign Loi.

The financial aspects favour defenders, reversing traditional air defence economics. Ukrainian interceptors range from $1,000 to $5,000, while Russian Shahed drones cost around $35,000. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that the success rate for interceptor drones is currently 68 percent.

“Cheap interceptor drones have become critical, warranting their status as a cornerstone of modern counter-unmanned aerial systems,” stated defense analyst Federico Borsari. NATO has observed successful Sting demonstrations, while the European Union plans a “drone wall” along its eastern border, expected to be operational by late 2027.

Tech

OpenAI and Anthropic launch faster, smarter AI tools for enterprise coding

OpenAI and Anthropic launch advanced coding models, revolutionizing enterprise software development and intensifying the AI tooling competition.

Published

3 days ago

February 6, 2026

Harvey Vargas

OpenAI and Anthropic launch advanced coding models, revolutionising enterprise software development and intensifying the AI tooling competition.

OpenAI and Anthropic have unveiled powerful new AI coding models aimed at transforming enterprise software development. GPT-5.3 Codex operates 25% faster than its predecessor, tackling complex tasks and following real-time directions without losing context.

Claude Opus 4.6 introduces ‘agent teams’, allowing multiple AI agents to work on tasks simultaneously. The update also includes a one-million-token context window, enabling large volumes of text and code to be processed in a single prompt.

GitHub now supports multiple coding agents, letting developers compare AI approaches on the same problems. Both OpenAI and Anthropic are pushing for enterprise adoption, highlighting the potential for professional applications across industries.

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#AI #MachineLearning #TechNews #EnterpriseTech #OpenAI #Anthropic #SoftwareDevelopment #Coding

Tech

Nvidia and Amazon explore massive OpenAI funding round

Nvidia CEO downplays $100B OpenAI investment, as Amazon eyes $50B stake in AI startup

Published

1 week ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Nvidia CEO downplays $100B OpenAI investment, as Amazon eyes $50B stake in AI startup

In Short:
– OpenAI aims to raise up to $100 billion, with Amazon considering a $50 billion investment.
– Funding will support Project Stargate and address projected losses of $14 billion by 2026.

Nvidia’s CEO has confirmed the company will participate in a major funding round for OpenAI, though the previously mentioned $100 billion commitment is not final.

This investment comes as OpenAI seeks to raise up to $100 billion, potentially valuing the AI startup at around $830 billion. Amazon is also reportedly in discussions to contribute up to $50 billion.

The funding is intended to support OpenAI’s ambitious $500 billion Project Stargate, aimed at pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence.

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News

Big Tech earnings spark investor unease over AI spending

Investors monitor Big Tech’s AI investments, with Meta thriving while Microsoft and Tesla face uncertainty over growth and returns.

Published

1 week ago

January 30, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Investors monitor Big Tech’s AI investments, with Meta thriving while Microsoft and Tesla face uncertainty over growth and returns.

Investors are reacting sharply to Big Tech earnings this week, sending a clear signal that massive spending must translate into real growth. Markets are becoming less forgiving as companies pour billions into artificial intelligence, data centres and future tech while returns remain uncertain.

Meta has delivered a standout performance, posting a 24 percent jump in revenue for the December quarter, fuelled by AI-powered advertising. The company is doubling down on its strategy, with aggressive investment in AI and infrastructure expected to drive a further 33 percent growth this quarter.

Microsoft and Tesla tell a more cautious story. Microsoft reported only modest growth in its Azure cloud business, raising questions about its exposure to OpenAI, while Tesla plans to double spending on AI and autonomous driving. Analysts warn of a widening gap between bold AI ambitions and what investors expect in returns.

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