Ukraine's new 'Sting' drone designed to hunt Shaheds, Telegraph reports

Ukraine is developing a new drone that can track and intercept Shahed-type attack drones, the Telegraph reported on Oct. 20.

Russia has launched thousands of Iranian-designed Shahed drones against Ukraine since the fall of 2022.

Kyiv's new weapon, named "Sting," is a first-person-view (FPV) drone that can chase and neutralize Shahed drones in lieu of conventional air defense systems, the Telegraph reported.

According to the drone's developers, the Wild Hornets group, "Sting" will be able to fly at altitudes approaching 10,000 feet, with a speed of over 100 miles per hour. The weapon will be operated from the ground using VR goggles.

It is the first drone specifically developed to target Russia's arsenal of Shaheds.

"Its average cost is dozens of times lower than that of the Shahed drone," a Wild Hornet source told the Telegraph regarding the Sting drone.

The lower production costs may allow Ukraine to conserve its air defense munitions over the coming months, as Russia intensifies aerial attacks targeting Ukrainian cities and the nation's energy grid.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 20 that Russia has launched a total of 6,230 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine since the beginning of the year.

Throughout Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine and Russia have heavily invested in drone technology, revolutionizing modern warfare. Multiple videos have shown how Ukrainian FPV drones hit Russian reconnaissance drones and other costly equipment on the battlefield.

Ukraine in September established the Unmanned Systems Forces, a separate branch of Ukraine's Armed Forces dedicated to drone warfare. Kyiv said it aims to produce 1 million drones this year, in addition to the thousands pledged by foreign partners.

Russian drone attacks against Ukraine reach record levels but experts warn of worse to come

For the first time since the full-scale invasion, Russia launched drone attacks on cities and towns across Ukraine on a daily basis for an entire month. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, 1,339 Shahed-type kamikaze drones targeted the country in September, 1,107 of which were shot down, with some

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Source link

Related posts:

Russian drone strikes surge, passing air defenses even into downtown Kyiv Ukraine develops Sting interceptor drone to combat Russian-Iranian Shahed threat 'We are exhausted' — how Ukrainians cope with nightly Russian drone attacks Yes, Ukraine can win the war – ex-minister decodes victory plan Ukraine war latest: US announces new aid package; Ukrainian drones target oil depot in Russia's Stavropol Krai Trump's peace plan may include deploying European troops to buffer zone in Ukraine, Telegraph reports Ukraine war latest: Russia hits residential area in Odesa, kills 10, injures 55 Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drone strikes oil depot in Russia; Ukrainian volunteers in Poland sign contracts with Armed Forces