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PaperclipPerfector  1d ago (text post)   133 thread views

Transnational Thursday for February 26, 2026

Transnational Thursday is a thread for people to discuss international news, foreign policy or international relations history. Feel free as well to drop in with coverage of countries you’re interested in, talk about ongoing dynamics like the wars in Israel or Ukraine, or even just whatever you’re reading.

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Seems the US has lost a MQ-4C Triton drone near Iran. The Triton isn't a normal surveillance drone, it's a gigantic long range spy drone, $150 million each.

Apparently they made a drone that large and didn't give it any electronic warfare capability whatsoever, it's baffling. The U-2 flew higher, faster and was better protected.

I can't understand the mindset of making such a large drone, in such small numbers and not giving it any defences. S-300s were around in the 1980s, it's not like 'just fly moderately high' is a sufficient defence.

I'm assuming this type was meant to be operated in the airspace of enemies without efficient anti-aircraft defenses.

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