New Russian drone packed with Chinese tech, Ukraine's intel says
Illustrative photo: Ukraine disclosed technical details about Russia's new drone (Getty Images)
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine disclosed details about the technical components and characteristics of a new drone Russia uses to detect Ukrainian air defense positions and overload them.
According to some data, it can also carry a warhead weighing up to 15 kg. The device has a delta-wing fuselage similar to the Shahed-136, but much smaller. All components and units on the UAV are of Chinese origin.
Chinese components in drones
"Almost half of them: a flight controller with an autopilot, navigation modules and antennas, an airspeed sensor and a Pitot tube - from one Chinese company CUAV Technology," the DIU added.
In October 2022, the company announced restrictions on the supply of its products to Ukraine and Russia to prevent their use for military purposes. However, in 2023, Russia presented a vertical takeoff drone, allegedly of its own design, which turned out to be a CUAV Technology product.
In addition to CUAV products, such drones use a DLE engine and electronic ignition module, KST servos, a Razer FPV camera manufactured by Foxeer Technology, a Mayatech RFD900X data transmission module, a ReadyToSky video transmitter, a Hobbywing Technology power regulator, and an HRB Power battery.
This device allows for organizing a data transmission channel from the drone to its ground station or from UAV to UAV, expanding the reconnaissance capabilities.
Drone engine from Gerbera
DLE engines have been previously used in Gerbera and Parodiya UAVs, KST servos in Shahed-136 and V2U UAVs, universal planning and correction modules, and aerial bombs.
The drone is also equipped with a Chinese copy of the Australian RFD900x data transmission module by RFDesign. Like the original model, the Chinese product is designed to transmit data over long distances (up to 40 km in line of sight, depending on the antenna).
Analysis of Russian equipment
DIU analysts are studying in detail the design of the new Russian weapons. Experts have recently disclosed the technical characteristics of the S8000 Banderol cruise missile, which can be used from Mi-28N attack helicopters.
Also, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has released the technical unpacking of the new Russian V2U attack drone, which is actively used in the Sumy sector. The drone's feature is its autonomous target selection using artificial intelligence.
