Intelligence Brief on Drones in Ukraine

Video Description

Go to my sponsor https://aura.com/ryan to get a 14-day free trial and see if any of your data has been exposed. Got to https://ryanmcbeth.substack.com/ for the power point slides. In this lecture, Ryan McBeth—retired anti-tank infantryman, open-source intelligence analyst, and YouTube creator—breaks down how drone warfare in Ukraine has evolved from hobbyist quadcopters to a cutting-edge battlefield of innovation, autonomy, and electronic warfare. Recorded live on May 1, 2025, this presentation explores: How FPV drones became Ukraine’s most feared weapons The rise of bombers like the Backfire K1 and interceptors like the Fowler Russia’s growing reliance on jamming and Ukraine’s countermeasures, including fiber-optic guidance and code-rotating transmitters DIY drone factories, battlefield feedback loops, and rapid innovation cycles Counter-drone tech: from shotguns and lasers to acoustic detection grids Ryan also discusses the future of drone warfare, the challenge of defending against cheap, attritable systems, and what this means for global security—and the next war. For uncensored video, check out my substack at: https://ryanmcbeth.substack.com Like my shirts? Get your own at: https://www.bunkerbranding.com/pages/ryan-mcbeth Want a personalized greeting: https://www.cameo.com/ryanmcbeth Watch all of my long form videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt670_P7pOGmLWZG78JlM-rG2ZrpPziOy Twitter: @ryanmcbeth Instagram: @therealryanmcbeth BlueSky @ryanmcbeth Reddit: /r/ryanmcbeth Join the conversation: https://discord.gg/pKuGDHZHrz Want to send me something? Ryan McBeth Productions LLC 8705 Colesville Rd. Suite 249 Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA