The Ukrainian army attacked the Russian army for the first time on 24 August with a new weapon, the Palianytsia drone missile. [Palianytsia is a traditional Ukrainian bun; this word is difficult for Russians to pronounce correctly, so it is used as a shibboleth – ed.]
  • Aurenkin@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    28·
    20 days ago

    I’m probably just slow but I hadn’t thought about this before. I wonder if Ukraine could actually become an exporter of weapons in the future given current investment in local industry out of necessity, battle testing and rapid innovation.

    • Redredme@lemmy.worldEnglish
      161·
      20 days ago

      Ukraine had lots of military industry after the fall of the Soviet union. From ships to missiles to helicopters to big ass planes.

      It’s just that they pissed most of it away.

    • Vanon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      19 days ago

      Their drones are definitely attracting attention for their innovations and effectiveness. So many different weapons manufacturers are participating in the war. I hope Ukraine can take advantage and create their own industry, born of their reputation of defense.

    • RubberElectrons@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      19 days ago

      I think their nickname used to be “the fist of the USSR”, because that’s where most of their military-industrial complex was actually located.

    • Plopp@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      20 days ago

      They sure could. But I think they still have a pretty big corruption problem that they would have to deal with first to be able to properly seize that opportunity. But I hope I’m wrong.

      • trolololol@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        19 days ago

        You can be corrupt and still have thriving industry and even innovate.

        Corruption is a scale, so it’s fair to say all countries are corrupt. The main impact is on people without a direct line with politicians, which means CEOs get to benefit the most - after politicians of course.

    • AbsentBird@lemm.eeEnglish
      2·
      19 days ago

      Guided missiles are usually guided by laser or gps, this missile sounds like it’s more of a fly by wire remote control situation, like a fpv drone.

      • peopleproblems@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        19 days ago

        Dang yo, flying a drone at 90mph is wicked hard, flying a missile the same way at mach speeds is insane.

        So basically, instead of the programming to direct the missile to the programmed target (gps location, laser, intertidal, ballistic, whatever) the operator has direct input to the missile. Meaning they could fire it, have it fly around a mountain and hit the enemy position from behind

        • trolololol@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          19 days ago

          Most fancy missiles do that already. You could teach it the map of the area and tell it to follow a river bed for such and such time then head to target, for example.