There was a video about a month or two ago of another drone CAS mission in trench warfare in Bakmut. It was like super close air support, attacking maybe 25yd ahead of the attacking forces raiding a trench. 

This sort of 'micro air support' is quite the development. 

More 'Ukraine Effect' defense spending:

https://soldiersystems.net/2023/01/06/rheinmetall-wins-triple-digit-million-euro-contract-for-explosives-factory-in-varpalota-hungary/

Rheinmetall has done a bunch of expansion this year it seems.

From the "This will always be science fiction" files!

Farmplinker said:

From the "This will always be science fiction" files!

During the last Eurosatory, I was chatting with a powder manufacturer when a guy from an ammo company interrupted us, asking if he could buy 1500 metric tons of propellant for 2022 and 2500 tons for 2023. The answer from the powder manufacturer was "I could find 50 tons for you this year, and maybe 150 tons next year".

That sounds depressingly accurate. It's amazing how much the combination of maximum economic efficiency and Covid has messed up production of important items.

Many of us here recall the term "Peace Dividend" from the dissolution of the Soviet Union.  The remaining weapons stocks were so large that the issue of "what happens when they run out" fell into the "not my problem" category.

https://archive.fo/vyLmM

Interesting article. Trying to get an effective HEAT warhead that weighs 1lb.

Inside, it also links to a new development - Russia producing a factory made micro munition for drones, designed to be dropped by the Orlan 10:

https://cat-uxo.com/explosive-hazards/aircraft-bombs/ofsp-aircraft-bomblet

40mm with purpose made gravity impact fuse

To my knowledge this is the first factory made UAV micro munition.

gatnerd said:

Interesting article. Trying to get an effective HEAT warhead that weighs 1lb.

Droping rifle grenades (or shooting them vertically) is probably too easy...

Perhaps this is the war to revive a market for rifle grenades?