Ukraine's new sting drone set to outpace Russian shahed attacks
Despite the ongoing war, Ukrainians are continually developing weapons to defend against Russian attacks effectively. One of the latest innovations is the Sting drone, which, according to The Telegraph, is expected to be a more affordable alternative to anti-aircraft missiles, allowing for the elimination of Iranian-made Shahed drones.
9:54 AM EDT, October 21, 2024
Sting is an unmanned aerial vehicle specifically designed to counter the Iranian-made Shahed drones, which are used by Russians in Ukraine. These drones pose a significant threat to both the Ukrainian military and civilians, as they are employed for mass attacks on various targets, including residential buildings and critical infrastructure.
Ukrainians are developing a new weapon
According to reports from the British newspaper's service, the Ukrainian group Wild Hornets is working on the Sting drone. This quadcopter drone will operate like typical FPV (First Person View) drones and equipped with a warhead and camera. It is expected to move at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour and fly at a maximum altitude of about 10,000 feet.
The Military Service notes that the drone will be controlled from the ground using VR goggles, allowing the operator to see exactly where it is flying. Additionally, the system will feature a target-tracking system based on artificial intelligence, enhancing the detection of enemy objects. According to a representative of Wild Hornets, as quoted by the Military Service, "its average cost is dozens of times lower than that of the Shahed drone." Using this unmanned vehicle will conserve valuable anti-aircraft missiles.
Shahed drones in Ukraine
Shahed drones pose a significant challenge for Ukrainian air defense. They can be launched in large numbers to create "swarms" that effectively overwhelm defense systems. These drones are relatively cheap and easy to produce, allowing Russia to use them extensively as loitering munitions. Additionally, Russia has upgraded these drones, improving their speed and altitude, which makes them more difficult to neutralize. The Shaheds are also used strategically to force Ukraine to react, engaging its resources in less advantageous areas.
Russians mainly use two models of Shahed drones: the Shahed-136 and Shahed-131. The Shahed-136 is an unmanned aerial vehicle built in a delta configuration. It is 11 feet long and has a wingspan of 8 feet. This drone weighs about 440 pounds, with the warhead weighing between 66 and 110 pounds. It can reach speeds of up to 115 miles per hour and has a range of about 620 miles, though some sources suggest the range could be as much as 1,550 miles.
The Shahed-136 is classified as a loitering munition capable of forming swarms. Thanks to a special mobile launcher, five drones can be transported and launched simultaneously, making these attacks more coordinated and harder to repel. The Shahed-131 is a smaller model that is harder to detect due to its size. It can carry warheads weighing between 22 and 33 pounds and range about 560 miles.
