Russia just changed the playbook. Their new Shahed tactic isn’t subtle; it’s brutal. Instead of skimming tree tops, these drones are now flying at over 8,000 feet and diving straight onto their targets like budget Stukas. That means Ukraine’s pickup-mounted M2 Brownings, the same guns that held the line early in the war, have become little more than noisemakers.In this video, I break down:• Why Russia’s new high-speed dive-bomb Shaheds are outmaneuvering mobile heavy machine guns• The physics and logistics nightmare of trying to engage a 180+ mph drone at 8,000 feet with a 50 cal• Why shoulder-fired missiles, MANPADS like the Stinger and Igla, are the best pound-for-pound countermeasure• How Ukraine used thousands of these early in the war to devastate Russia’s helicopter fleet• And why it’s time for NATO and Western stockpiles to stop sitting on the shelves and get back into the hands of the people who know how to use themThis isn’t about boutique air defense systems. It’s about practical tools that work, mobility, autonomy, and proportional lethality. A Stinger missile costs $70K. A Shahed costs $25K. That’s a good trade. Especially when the alternative is spraying 200 rounds of 50 cal BMG and hoping for a miracle.I also break down the drone’s new tactics, vertical dive profiles, high-altitude approach, decoy swarms, and why that actually makes them perfect targets for heat-seeking MANPADS. The engine exhaust is a glowing bullseye, and Ukrainian troops know how to hit it.🔥 We’re at a point in this war where mobility beats complexity. A soldier, a shoulder-fired missile, and a clean line of sight; that’s the hit chain. Let’s get back to what works.Hit that subscribe button for weekly breakdowns of military innovation, battlefield doctrine, and hard truths from someone who’s worn the uniform and still tracks this war like it matters, because it does.