The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine has published details on the new UAV currently used by Russia for reconnaissance and as a false target to detect Ukrainian air defense positions. According to some reports, it can also carry a warhead weighing up to 15 kg.
This aircraft features a delta-wing fuselage similar to the Shahed-136 but is significantly smaller. The Directorate asserts that all components are of Chinese origin.
"Almost half of them, including the flight controller, autopilot, navigation modules, antennas, airspeed sensor, and Pitot tube, come from a Chinese company, CUAV Technology, which specializes in research, development, and manufacturing of UAV system modules and applications," the message states.
The Directorate reminded that in October 2022, CUAV announced restrictions on supplying its products to Ukraine and Russia to prevent their use for military purposes. However, they noted that in 2023, Russia presented a vertical take-off UAV purportedly of its own design, which turned out to be a product from CUAV Technology available on Aliexpress.
"In addition to CUAV products, this UAV uses an engine and ignition module from DLE, KST servos, an FPV camera from Foxeer Technology, Mayatech RFD900X data transmission module, ReadyToSky video transmitter, Hobbywing Technology power regulator, and HRB Power battery," the Directorate added.
They noted that the UAV is also equipped with a Chinese copy of the Australian RFD900x data transmission module from RFDesign. Like the original, the Chinese version is designed for long-range data transmission (up to 40 km in line of sight, depending on the antenna).
The Directorate explained that this device allows organizing a data transmission channel from the drone to its ground station or between UAVs, thus enhancing reconnaissance capabilities.
The Directorate reminded that DLE engines have been previously used in Russian UAVs like "Gerbera" and "Parodya," and KST servos have been utilized in UAVs such as Shahed-136 and V2U.
Recently, the head of the GUR, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that North Korea is currently supplying up to 40% of munitions to Russia for the war in Ukraine, as the partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow deepens.
