In a letter to Senator Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota, the head of a network of Native radio and television stations said a deal to ostensibly protect tribal stations was unworkable.
In a letter to Senator Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota, the head of a network of Native radio and television stations said a deal to ostensibly protect tribal stations was unworkable.
Senator Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota, at center, had signaled his support for President Trump’s request to rescind money from public broadcasting was in doubt, only to reverse his position on Tuesday, sparking criticism from Native Public Media.
Ukraine is now using German-supplied Oerlikon Skynex short-range air defense (SHORAD) system against Russia’s Shahed drones, deploying the advanced cannon system to defend critical infrastructure from Russia’s escalating drone attacks. Ukraine’s Air Force released footage showing the system intercepting Russian drones with short, deadly bursts.
The confirmed deployment of Rheinmetall’s Skynex against Russia’s Shahed drones comes amid a surge in daily drone assaults. Russia is now launching hundr
Ukraine is now using German-supplied Oerlikon Skynex short-range air defense (SHORAD) system against Russia’s Shahed drones, deploying the advanced cannon system to defend critical infrastructure from Russia’s escalating drone attacks. Ukraine’s Air Force released footage showing the system intercepting Russian drones with short, deadly bursts.
The confirmed deployment of Rheinmetall’s Skynex against Russia’s Shahed drones comes amid a surge in daily drone assaults. Russia is now launching hundreds of UAVs almost every day to strike civilian targets and infrastructure across Ukraine. With Ukraine’s air defenses stretched thin, the country is turning to every available tool to counter the growing threat.
Ukrainian Air Force confirms Skynex performance in drone interceptions
The Ukrainian Air Force showed Rheinmetall’s Skynex air defense system is in action, sharing a video of the system engaging Russian one-way attack drones.
“The Rheinmetall Skynex air defense gun system, now in service with the Ukrainian Air Force, is delivering flawless results in destroying enemy strike UAVs,” according to the Air Force.
The Air Force added:
“We’ll keep the time and location classified, but as you can see in the footage, the effective performance of the 35-mm automated air defense gun is clearly inspiring our defenders of the sky!”
In the shared video, Ukrainian forces used Skynex specifically to intercept Russian Shahed drones. The video shows short bursts from 35-mm cannons downing each incoming UAV with precision, Militarnyi noted.
How German-supplied Skynex works against Shaheds
The footage shows the use of advanced hit efficiency and destruction (AHEAD) type 35-mm airburst round ammunition. These rounds are triggered in-flight after leaving the barrel, detonating near the drone and creating a cloud of preformed fragments. This burst effect is designed to maximize kill probability against fast-moving, low-flying UAVs.
Militarnyi notes that each Shahed drone shown in the video was destroyed with a single short burst.
The Skynex uses the Oerlikon Mk3 35-mm cannon with an effective range of 4,000 meters and a rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute. Each cannon is equipped with its own radar and electro-optical system, enabling precise targeting even against small drones.
Skynex protects strategic targets, not front lines
The cannon systems are not self-propelled, which limits their role to static object defense. As Militarnyi explains,
“Since the gun mounts are not self-propelled, their main task is site-based air defense: protecting airfields, critical infrastructure, and so on.”
Each Skynex battery includes four 35-mm cannons, a control post, and a radar station responsible for target detection and gun direction. The system is fully automated and capable of autonomous operation once targets are confirmed.
Ukraine received the first two Skynex systems in early 2024.
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Ukraine is now fielding anti-drone bullets for NATO rifles, offering front-line troops a rapid-response tool against Russia’s increasing use of small UAVs, such as FPV and munition-dropping drones.
Drone warfare has pushed both Russia and Ukraine to abandon armored formations in favor of dispersed troops, who are now vulnerable to drones themselves. To counter this, Ukraine is introducing rifle-fired anti-drone rounds, arriving as Moscow ramps up its summer offensive, Forbes notes.
Ukraine intro
Ukraine is now fielding anti-drone bullets for NATO rifles, offering front-line troops a rapid-response tool against Russia’s increasing use of small UAVs, such as FPV and munition-dropping drones.
Drone warfare has pushed both Russia and Ukraine to abandon armored formations in favor of dispersed troops, who are now vulnerable to drones themselves. To counter this, Ukraine is introducing rifle-fired anti-drone rounds, arriving as Moscow ramps up its summer offensive, Forbes notes.
Ukraine introduces new bullets to fight drones with existing rifles
Brave1, Ukraine’s government-backed defense innovation grant program, published a video on 30 June showing the bullets at live-fire tests.
According to Forbes, the new rounds, fired from standard 5.56 mm NATO rifles such as the M4 and CZ Bren, fragment midair after discharge, scattering into five high-speed pellets. This shotgun-like spread enables troops to hit small drones at distances of up to 50-60 meters.
Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military outlet, reported that the bullets are already in limited operational use.
“Horoshok (an informal name for the new bullet meaning ‘pea’, – Ed.) is now in production and has been officially codified by the Ministry of Defense. With any luck, it will soon be standard issue for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, available alongside conventional ammunition,” Militarnyi wrote last week.
The Defense Ministry has approved the design, and Brave1’s post suggests that large-scale production may follow.
“The manufacturer has already codified this development (i.e., it has been codified by the Defense Ministry, – Ed.). Our shared goal is for every infantryman to have a magazine of these rounds and be able to load them into their rifle in the event of an aerial threat,” Brave1 reported.
When a drone is detected, the soldier can swap magazines without switching weapons, saving critical seconds and avoiding the burden of carrying a separate anti-drone system, Forbes notes.
A kinetic solution to counter evolving drone threats
Ukrainian electronic warfare and air-defense systems remain active but cannot fully cover the extended front. Russia is also using UAVs designed to evade Ukrainian jamming capabilities, including short-lived but highly effective drones.
By using kinetic means instead of relying solely on jamming, these bullets may disrupt the ongoing arms race between drones and electronic warfare. Forbes highlights that Russian adaptations — like fiber-optic tethered drones immune to jamming — are pushing Ukraine to adopt direct-fire solutions.
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We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.
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