Drone Dominance: Inside Ukraine and Russia’s Tech Arms Race - Sam Bendett | Part II
Part II: Attritable Warfare, UGVs, and the Future of CombatIn Part II, Sam Bendett returns to break down the real-time innovation shaping Russia and Ukraine's unmanned arsenals.We examine the shift to fiber optic-controlled drones, the rising role of attritable assets, and how military bureaucracies are struggling to keep up with front-line innovation. Sam explains how Ukraine’s “Brave One” platform is setting a new standard for rapid drone deployment and feedback integration.He also highlights the strategic shift toward unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), the use of drones in combined-arms operations, and the challenges Western defense tech faces in high-EW environments.This episode paints a vivid picture of the next phase in warfare—where adaptability and scale matter more than sophistication.Timestamps:0:00 – Why Ukraine’s drone acquisition cycle is so fast1:42 – Russia’s ad hoc production networks3:34 – Russian adaptability and the “frozen middle”5:53 – Ukraine’s Brave One platform and digital coordination8:04 – Parallels with WWII and lessons in attrition11:45 – EW and GPS spoofing: the invisible battle15:13 – Balancing cost vs effectiveness in drone design17:32 – Rise of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs)20:07 – Ukraine’s fully unmanned assault tests21:13 – Where to follow Sam Bendett#DroneWarsPodcast #SamBendett #DroneWarfare #UkraineWar #RussianMilitary #OpenSourceIntel #UnmannedSystems #FiberOpticDrones #ElectronicWarfare #UGVs #DroneTechnology #MilitaryInnovation #ISR #AttritableDronesAbout Drone Wars Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.
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Drone Dominance: Inside Ukraine and Russia’s Tech Arms Race - Sam Bendett | Part I
Part I: OSINT, Telegram Warfare & Tactical InnovationIn Part I of our conversation with Sam Bendett, we dive deep into how the war in Ukraine is being shaped not only on the battlefield—but online.Sam, a leading expert in open-source intelligence and Russian military adaptation, breaks down how Telegram and other platforms have become real-time war theaters. He explains how grassroots innovation from soldiers, startups, and volunteers is overtaking traditional top-down military systems.We explore how the fusion of commercial drone tech and DIY ingenuity is rapidly evolving combat strategy, and how China has become the silent enabler of both sides’ drone fleets.If you want to understand the open-source dynamics behind the world’s most tech-driven war, this episode is your entry point.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro & Who is Sam Bendett?2:15 – Sam’s background in Russian military tech and open-source intelligence5:13 – The role of Telegram in modern warfare7:37 – How quickly the battlefield evolves10:20 – China's silent role in drone supply chains13:38 – Integration of commercial tech into military strategy17:49 – The legacy of quadcopters in artillery19:09 – Long-term outlook: Is this the new norm?#DroneWarsPodcast #SamBendett #DroneWarfare #UkraineWar #RussianMilitary #OpenSourceIntel #UnmannedSystems #FiberOpticDrones #ElectronicWarfare #UGVs #DroneTechnology #MilitaryInnovation #ISR #AttritableDrones #WarfareInnovationAbout Drone Wars Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.
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What It Takes to Build a War-Ready Drone - Florian Seibel | Part II
Autonomous Frontlines and the Rise of Stark: Florian Seibel on the Future of Drone WarfareFlorian Seibel returns for part two of our Drone Wars conversation to unpack the deeper implications of autonomy in warfare and the launch of his new company, Stark. He discusses why gamified training, fast software cycles, and modular drone design are critical to staying ahead. Dan and Florian also explore ESG constraints in Europe, the ethics of AI on the battlefield, and how Western nations can compete with China’s rapidly evolving drone programs. A brutally honest look at what it takes to innovate when the stakes are highest.Timestamps:1:53 – The Importance of Training and Software in Drone Operations3:47 – The Vision for Stark and the Challenges of Dual-Use Companies7:55 – Changes in European Discussions on Drones and Loitering Munitions10:13 – The Role of Autonomous Systems in Future Conflicts13:10 – The Impact of Ukraine's Independence on Drone Technology15:36 – The Balance Between Price and Performance in Drone Systems17:44 – Advice for DOD and Military Officials on Autonomous Systems Procurement19:26 – The Challenges of Getting on the Blue UAS List20:41 – Connecting with Florian Seibel and Quantum Systems🎙️ Guest: Florian Seibel, CEO of Quantum Systems (https://www.linkedin.com/in/florian-seibel-8a78b99b/)🎙️ Host: Dan Magy, CEO of Firestorm#DroneWarfare #AutonomousSystems #LoiteringMunition #StarkDrones #MilitaryAI #DefenseTech #FPV #QuantumSystemsAbout Drone Wars Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.
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What It Takes to Build a War-Ready Drone - Florian Seibel | Part I
From Startup to Battlefield: Florian Seibel on Building Drones That Actually Work in WarIn this episode of Drone Wars, Dan Magy sits down with Florian Seibel, CEO and co-founder of Quantum Systems, to talk about what it takes to build drone systems that actually survive in combat. Florian shares the journey from struggling startup to a critical player in Ukraine’s defense, the lessons learned from early failures in hostile EW environments, and how Quantum built an agile, software-driven drone architecture that adapts to real-world needs. From dual-use challenges in Europe to defense procurement gaps in the West, this conversation dives deep into the hard realities of modern drone warfare.Timestamps:0:00 – Florian Seibel's Background and Quantum Systems3:02 – Building a Defense Company in Europe5:03 – Quantum Systems' Commitment to Ukraine10:51 – Operational Challenges in Ukraine14:47 – Lessons Learned and Future Preparedness17:11 – Industrial Base and Software-Defined Defense19:03 – Challenges with Certification and Regulation🎙️ Guest: Florian Seibel, CEO of Quantum Systems (https://www.linkedin.com/in/florian-seibel-8a78b99b/)🎙️ Host: Dan Magy, CEO of Firestorm#DroneWars #QuantumSystems #Ukraine #MilitaryTech #LoiteringMunition #DefenseInnovationAbout Drone Wars Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.
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Defense at the Edge of Innovation | Part II
In the second half of their conversation, Dan Magy and Eric DeMarco look ahead. As CEO of Kratos Defense, Eric reflects on how preparation and urgency are now colliding—and the future is no longer theoretical.They dig into drone swarms, hypersonics, and the role of AI in modern conflict, along with the ethical dilemmas those technologies bring. Eric speaks not only as a builder of systems, but as someone who’s learned the value of patience in a world racing to innovate. This episode asks what it really means to stay ready when the stakes keep rising.Timestamps:0:00 — Kratos Defense and Fiber Optic Drones3:29 — Challenges of Distance and Unmanned Systems5:44 — Autonomy and Policy Considerations8:18 — Autonomy Companies and Market Dynamics14:32 — Entrepreneurial Advice and Kratos' Future#DroneWarsPodcast #KratosDefense #EricDeMarco #MilitaryInnovation #FutureOfWarfare #Hypersonics #DefenseTechnology #AIinWarfare #DroneSwarm #AutonomousSystems #NationalSecurityAbout Drone Wars Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.
Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.
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