Ukraine is developing a drone capable of intercepting Iranian kamikaze drones that Russia launches to attack Ukrainian cities. Sources from The Telegraph report that this new weapon will be used to chase down and intercept Shahed-136 drones and is intended to replace conventional air defense systems.
It will be an FPV drone called Sting, and its developers, the Wild Hornets group, claim the device will be able to fly at speeds exceeding 160 km/h and at altitudes of around 10,000 feet.
Sting will feature a classic quadcopter design with a large dome protruding from the center, housing the warhead and camera. It will be controlled from the ground using virtual reality goggles, allowing the operator to see the drone’s location. Additionally, the drone will be equipped with an AI-powered targeting system, enabling the pilot to lock onto enemy targets.
Drones like these are increasingly being used to intercept Russian reconnaissance UAVs that gather intelligence for the enemy’s artillery and missile units. There are already many videos online showing drones hitting Russian UAVs such as Orlans or ZALAs. However, Sting will be the first UAV specifically developed to target Iranian Shahed drones.
Drone attacks happen daily, with Russia launching between 30 to 80 Shahed UAVs toward Ukrainian cities each day. This places a significant strain on Ukraine’s air defense units, which unfortunately do not have an unlimited supply of missiles. It has been noted that the average cost of the Sting drone is dozens of times lower than that of the Shahed drone. This technology is likely to help conserve air defense missile reserves, which can then be used more effectively elsewhere.
Earlier this year, Ukraine established the Drone Forces, the world’s first military unit dedicated to conducting combat operations using unmanned aerial vehicles. Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans to produce up to 1.5 million drones this year, with the goal of expanding production to 4 million annually in the future.
Western partners are providing funding for the procurement and production of drones, but the Wild Hornets group says they still need more resources to manufacture enough drones to combat the Shaheds. Ukrainian blogger and volunteer Ihor Lachenkov stated that the Sting drones represent a new era in the development of air defense worldwide.
“To support the capabilities of Ukrainian manufacturers, we aim to involve as many people as possible in fundraising,” he said in a comment to the publication. “Currently, Russia is expanding its capabilities with the help of allied states, including Iran and North Korea. We must resist—there is no other choice. That’s why it’s crucial to support Ukrainian funds involved in developing FPV drones through donations.”
Source: telegraph
