Ukrainian forces are working on a new drone system called Sting, designed to counter Iranian-made Shahed drones that Russia has been using in its war against Ukraine.
These Shahed drones, which have caused significant damage to both military and civilian targets, are often deployed in mass attacks, hitting residential buildings and critical infrastructure, according to WP.
New Anti-Drone Weapon
The development of Sting is being led by the Ukrainian group Wild Hornets, according to The Telegraph. Sting will be a quadcopter-style drone, equipped with a warhead and camera, and will function similarly to typical FPV (First Person View) drones.
It is expected to reach speeds of over 160 km/h and fly at altitudes up to 3 km.
According to Militarny, the drone will be controlled using VR goggles, allowing operators to see exactly where the drone is heading. Additionally, it will feature AI-based target detection to improve its efficiency in identifying and intercepting enemy drones.
Wild Hornets representatives noted that the cost of the Sting drone is ten times lower than that of the Shahed, making it a cost-effective solution for intercepting enemy drones and saving valuable anti-aircraft missiles.
The Shahed Drone Challenge
Shahed drones, used heavily by Russia, present a serious challenge to Ukraine’s air defenses. Capable of being launched in large numbers, these drones can overwhelm defense systems, creating "swarms" that are difficult to counter.
Shahed drones are relatively inexpensive and easy to produce, allowing Russia to use them in large quantities as loitering munitions. Russia has also upgraded these drones to increase their speed and altitude, making them even harder to neutralize.
Russia uses two main types of Shahed drones: the larger Shahed-136, with a range of up to 1,000 km, and the smaller, harder-to-detect Shahed-131, which has a range of around 900 km.
The Sting drone aims to address this growing threat by offering a more affordable and efficient countermeasure for Ukrainian forces.
