A Homemade Shahed-like Drone Takes Flight in the War Against Russia

A Homemade Shahed-like Drone

The Azov Brigade unveils a new, domestically produced drone, the UAS SETH, resembling the Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russia. This easy-to-operate drone is already striking Russian targets on the front lines.

Ukraine prioritizes drones as a crucial tool in the war, aiming to reduce casualties and save lives. The country plans to invest heavily in drone technology, allocating over $2.6 billion for roughly 4.5 million first-person-view drones this year. Ukrainian manufacturers are actively developing new drone models, software, and technologies to counter Russian electronic warfare tactics. Additionally, they are focusing on autonomous capabilities to enhance target identification and accuracy.

The new Ukrainian drone shares a resemblance with the Shahed series, originally developed by Iran and employed by Russia as a lethal strike option. Russia also produces its own version of these drones. These one-way attack drones, technically loitering munitions, are powered by gas engines and feature a pusher propeller. The Ukrainian drone appears similar to the Shahed-136, a delta-wing drone used by Russia to attack Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

While details about the Ukrainian drone remain limited, reports suggest it might have an electric engine and require a catapult launcher. Its design indicates a potential payload capacity of 6-11 pounds over a range of 30 miles. Additionally, it might be resistant to certain types of electronic warfare.

The Shahed drones used by Russia have a much longer range, making them less suitable for tactical applications. However, Ukraine has demonstrated success in shooting down these drones with inexpensive, mobile air-defense solutions like truck-mounted guns. Newer variations like the Shahed-238 pose new challenges due to their increased speed and altitude.

The Azov Brigade claims that the new Ukrainian drone is automated, suggesting it can loiter overhead and engage targets with the support of an automated targeting system. Interestingly, a similar-looking drone was showcased during a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German leadership in Kyiv last December.

Drones have played a significant role in the Ukraine war, prompting the development of countermeasures to neutralize them. Most UAVs rely on radio frequencies for communication, making them vulnerable to jamming by electronic warfare capabilities. Both sides have been working on solutions to overcome signal jamming, including exploring drones that don't rely on radio frequencies, such as fiber-optic ones.

The emergence of AI-powered drones represents a potentially game-changing development in this rapidly evolving technological landscape. The constant evolution of counter-drone systems necessitates continuous adaptation and innovation by Ukrainian drone operators.