The Peter Zeihan Podcast Series Ukraine's New Drone Killer: The Octopus || Peter Zeihan
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Nov 25, 2025 The podcast dives into a revolutionary development in drone warfare with Ukraine's new Octopus drone. It discusses the various threats posed by Russian aerial units and how Ukraine is adapting with innovative technology. The conversation focuses on the tactical advantages of the Octopus as it targets swarms of cheap Shahed drones. Peter also highlights the technical requirements for these autonomous systems and how mass production could reshape the battlefield dynamics. Exciting possibilities await as the effectiveness of the Octopus will soon be tested.
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Octopus Drone Could Change Drone Warfare
- Ukraine developed the Octopus: a small drone designed specifically to hunt incoming attack drones.
- If effective and mass-produced, it could reshape defensive doctrine against cheap swarm attacks.
Three Distinct Russian Air Threats
- Russian air threats split into missiles, glide bombs, and cheap Shahed drones with distinct defenses.
- Shaheds are the hardest to stop because they're numerous and cheap relative to missile interceptors.
Shaheds Are Cheap But Devastatingly Scalable
- Shahed loitering/strike drones are low-cost, often GPS-programmed to specific coordinates, making many strikes deliberate.
- Their low price and growing production mean defenders may soon face thousands per assault.