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What are ‘kamikaze’ drones?

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Kamikaze drones have showered down on Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv

‘Kamikaze’ drones were launched by Russian forces into Kyiv, killing at least four people and injuring many more.

The drones have destroyed civilian areas, far from the front lines of the war because of their ability to hover and attack unnoticed.

The ‘kamikaze’ drones appear to be Iranian-made and are believed to include an Iranian-supplied weapon called the Shahed-136.

There are calls for urgent sanctions against Iran, however, Iran denies involvement.

What are ‘kamikaze’ drones?

Kamikaze drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are designed to crash into a target, causing damage or destruction.

Kamikaze drones have been used in military conflicts in recent years, and have become an increasingly popular weapon due to their low cost and ability to cause significant damage.

Credit: Bloomberg

Kamikaze drones offer a number of advantages over traditional weapons systems.

They are relatively cheap and easy to produce, and can cause significant damage to targets. Kamikaze drones are also difficult to intercept, making them a difficult target for enemy defences.

Kamikaze drones are typically outfitted with explosives, and are often remote-controlled by operators who guide them towards their targets.

An engine of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), what Ukrainian authorities consider to be an Iranian made suicide drone Shahed-136, are seen found after Russian strike on fuel storage facilities, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine October 6, 2022. REUTERS/Vitalii Hnidyi

While kamikaze drones can be used for a variety of purposes, they are most commonly used as a form of air-to-ground attack.

The drones are often described as a “loitering munition” because they hover in a designated area until a target is identified. The drones are small in size, disposable and are not easily detected in the air defence zone.

They also travel long-distances, making them hard to trace back to a source. Unlike traditional war drones, ‘kamikaze’s’ do not return to an operator, they’re purely designed to explode and detonate.

https://twitter.com/EmineDzheppar/status/1581928914871779333?s=20&t=xrfHa2WzWZ2BoCeBKZ4T7Q

Iran’s linked to kamikaze drones

The ‘kamikaze’ drones used in the recent attacks on Kyiv appear to be Iranian-made and are believed to include an Iranian-supplied weapon called the Shahed-136.

The Shahed component of the drones means they’re capable of carrying a large amount of weight, approximately 50kg, which is a lot more than traditional war drones.

The Ukrainian military and U.S. intelligence community insists Russia is using drones made by Iran.

Kamikaze drone

Earlier in the year, U.S. officials claimed Russia had purchased drones and was equipping its forces on how to operate them. Ukraine President claimed Russia bought over 2000 of the Iranian-made weapons.

There are calls for urgent sanctions against Iran, however, Iran denies any involvement.

“Iran has repeatedly declared that it is not a party in the war between Russia and Ukraine and has not sent any weapons to either side.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Spokesman Nasser Kanaani

However, Ukraine consistently claims it has recently shot down the drones in its country. They claim Russia has renamed the Shaheds to “Geran.”

Previously used in conflict

Kamikaze drones have been used in a number of military conflicts in recent years.

Kamikaze drones have been used extensively in the Syrian civil war, where they have been employed by both government forces and rebel groups.

They were first used in Syria, and have since been employed in the Israel-Gaza conflict, the war in Yemen, and other conflicts.

Kamikaze drones have also been used by terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State (IS) group, to carry out attacks.

“What you’re seeing here is a collectivisation of the bully club, or the autocrat club. Xi Jinping & Vladimir Putin… Iran is part of this club.

misha zelinsky, war correspondent

More air defence systems

Ukraine also uses kamikaze drones. They use ‘RAM II,’ developed through crowd funding in Ukraine. While the U.S. has been supplying numerous forms of aerial defence to the war-torn nation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pleading for more.

Ukrainian officials are pleading with their Western allies to supply further air defence systems to help destroy the drones before they make contact.

The recent kamikaze attacks have intensified the need for further support in the air to detect and shoot down the drones.

The systems required to defend against kamikaze drones are more complex in comparison to traditional drones and missile.

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Trump orders Pentagon to resume nuclear testing immediately

Trump orders Pentagon to resume nuclear testing, raising concerns over arms race and global safety

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Trump orders Pentagon to resume nuclear testing, raising concerns over arms race and global safety

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In Short:
– Trump ordered the Pentagon to resume nuclear testing, risking global tensions and retaliation from other nations.
– Proliferation concerns are rising as nuclear states modernise arsenals and the New START Treaty nears expiration.
US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing immediately, aiming to align with testing programs from other countries according to the conversation.Resuming explosive nuclear tests would likely trigger retaliatory responses from nuclear-armed nations like Russia and China, worsening the arms race and increasing global risks.

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The potential for worldwide radioactive fallout remains high, even for underground tests. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, signed by 187 states, prohibits such testing, yet the US remains a signatory without ratification, bound not to violate the treaty’s intent.

Nuclear weapon testing, once crucial for understanding weapon effects and military planning, has diminished. Since World War II, nuclear tests have largely focused on developing new designs. Significant environmental and health concerns led to a moratorium on atmospheric testing in the early 1960s and the Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963.

Many countries, including the US, stopped explosive testing in the 1990s. Technological advancements allowed nations to develop nuclear weapons without the need for actual explosions.

Proliferation Risks

Nuclear proliferation continues, with all nine nuclear-armed states investing heavily in modernising their arsenals. This raises concerns about lowered thresholds for using such weapons.

Recent conflicts involving nuclear threats have escalated, and the number of nuclear weapons operationally available has begun to rise again. Russia has tested advanced nuclear weapons, while China is rapidly expanding its military capabilities.

The New START Treaty, which confines the nuclear capabilities of the US and Russia, is set to expire soon, with no successor treaty negotiations underway.

The Doomsday Clock has moved closer to midnight this year, highlighting the heightened dangers facing the world today.

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US–China trade talks are a handshake, not a deal

Trump and Xi unofficially extend tariff truce, with US concessions and Chinese commitments on soybeans, fentanyl, and rare earths.

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Trump and Xi unofficially extend tariff truce, with US concessions and Chinese commitments on soybeans, fentanyl, and rare earths.


Presidents Trump and Xi extend their tariff truce in an informal meeting, with US cuts and Chinese promises on soybeans, fentanyl, and rare earths.

Steve Gopalan from SkandaFX cautions this is unofficial and deeper issues between the two super powers remain.

#USChina #TradeTruce #Tariffs #GlobalMarkets #Soybeans #RareEarths #UnofficialDeal #TickerNews


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Markets cautious as rate cut hopes fade

Central banks ease rate cut hopes amid inflation and wobbling tech stocks; markets adjust to Fed’s new stance.

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Central banks ease rate cut hopes amid inflation and wobbling tech stocks; markets adjust to Fed’s new stance.


Central banks pull back on rate cut expectations as tech stocks wobble and inflation pressures persist. Markets adjust cautiously to the Fed’s new tone.

#Markets #Fed #InterestRates #Inflation #TechStocks #CapitalMarkets #TickerNews #Economy #FinancialUpdate


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