Interesting piece. Thanks Noah. The thing that is crazymaking for me is that, from an outsider's perspective, it is as if nobody has heard of fiber-optics.
The focus on non-kinetic, soft-kill EW-based CUAS is lagging behind the reality that fiber-optics negates effectively all of that technology. The grey zones in Ukraine are crisscrossed by countless strands of fiber-optic cables from one-way attack drones and even small platforms can now travel dozens of kilometres on wire guidance. That doesn't even address the huge mothership drones that roam dozens of kilometres on wire guidance, then dispense multiple fibre-optic FPV drones to reach even further.
Now, for high endurance reconnaissance platforms and long-range one-way attack drones, radio- and satellite-based communication remains dominant and non-kinetic soft-kill EW CUAS can still be effective. But it just feels like nearly all our eggs are in the EW basket, and that isn't going to work out well if things were to heat up.
For those with more insight into the Canadian CUAS programs than a layman like myself, can you offer some reassurance that kinetic CUAS systems are part of the plan?
Just watched a clip on Leonidas system offered my Epirus in the US to defeat swarms & other type of dribe formations and the demonstration appeared pretty neat.
My concern, as you’ve pointed out, is the vulnerability of our infrastructure. IMO, neither Russia nor its allies, would attack the U.S. directly. Indirectly, yes, through a proxy war with Canada. They could attack our infrastructure, in the same way that Russia attacks Ukraine and Iran counter attacks the U.S. Attacks on Canada could destroy or disrupt all those things that the U.S. “doesn’t need”, like hydro, oil, critical minerals. IOW, attack Canada, but not the U.S., while China et al could be making moves elsewhere. Meanwhile, as per Ukraine, we’d be left in the cold. While short range drones may have less effectiveness, at this time, certainly cruise missiles and IRBMs are of immediate concern. Has any one discussed the effect of warships or submarines entering Hudson Bay? Unthinkable, right? How’d we defend that today? Tomorrow?
Interesting piece. Thanks Noah. The thing that is crazymaking for me is that, from an outsider's perspective, it is as if nobody has heard of fiber-optics.
The focus on non-kinetic, soft-kill EW-based CUAS is lagging behind the reality that fiber-optics negates effectively all of that technology. The grey zones in Ukraine are crisscrossed by countless strands of fiber-optic cables from one-way attack drones and even small platforms can now travel dozens of kilometres on wire guidance. That doesn't even address the huge mothership drones that roam dozens of kilometres on wire guidance, then dispense multiple fibre-optic FPV drones to reach even further.
Now, for high endurance reconnaissance platforms and long-range one-way attack drones, radio- and satellite-based communication remains dominant and non-kinetic soft-kill EW CUAS can still be effective. But it just feels like nearly all our eggs are in the EW basket, and that isn't going to work out well if things were to heat up.
For those with more insight into the Canadian CUAS programs than a layman like myself, can you offer some reassurance that kinetic CUAS systems are part of the plan?
It's good that you got this off your chest. If it helps, I'm there with you screaming into the void....
Just watched a clip on Leonidas system offered my Epirus in the US to defeat swarms & other type of dribe formations and the demonstration appeared pretty neat.
My concern, as you’ve pointed out, is the vulnerability of our infrastructure. IMO, neither Russia nor its allies, would attack the U.S. directly. Indirectly, yes, through a proxy war with Canada. They could attack our infrastructure, in the same way that Russia attacks Ukraine and Iran counter attacks the U.S. Attacks on Canada could destroy or disrupt all those things that the U.S. “doesn’t need”, like hydro, oil, critical minerals. IOW, attack Canada, but not the U.S., while China et al could be making moves elsewhere. Meanwhile, as per Ukraine, we’d be left in the cold. While short range drones may have less effectiveness, at this time, certainly cruise missiles and IRBMs are of immediate concern. Has any one discussed the effect of warships or submarines entering Hudson Bay? Unthinkable, right? How’d we defend that today? Tomorrow?
What shift has to happen convince CAF of the need to field/deploy/train personnel on CUAS systems systematically/broadly?