New Russian Drone: Components and Origins
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine published information on the components of a new drone currently used by Russia for reconnaissance and identifying Ukrainian positions. According to some reports, it can carry a warhead weighing up to 15 kg, as stated in the agency's announcement.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, the drone has a delta-wing fuselage similar to the Shahed-136, but is considerably smaller. The agency claims that most of its components are of Chinese origin.
"Nearly half of them, including the flight controller, navigation modules, antennas, airspeed sensor, and pitot tube, come from a Chinese company, CUAV Technology, which specializes in the development and production of drone systems and applications," the announcement said.
The agency reminded that in October 2022, the company announced restrictions on supplying its products to Ukraine and Russia to prevent their military use. However, it noted that in 2023, Russia showcased a vertically launched drone, allegedly of its own design, which turned out to be a product from CUAV Technology available on Aliexpress.
"Besides CUAV's products, this drone uses an engine and ignition module from DLE, servos from KST, an FPV camera from Foxeer Technology, a data transmission module Mayatech RFD900X, a video transmitter from ReadyToSky, a power regulator from Hobbywing Technology, and a battery from HRB Power," the Main Intelligence Directorate added.
It was noted that the drone is also equipped with a Chinese copy of the Australian RFD900x data transmission module from RFDesign, designed for long-range data transmission (up to 40 km in line of sight, depending on the antenna).
The agency explained that this device allows organizing a data transmission channel from the drone to its ground station or from drone to drone, thus expanding reconnaissance capabilities.
The Main Intelligence Directorate reminded that DLE engines were previously used by Russia in drones like "Gerbera" and "Parody", while KST servos were used in Shahed-136 and V2U drones, as well as in universal planning modules and aerial bombs.
Recently, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that North Korea is currently supplying up to 40% of Russia's ammunition for the war in Ukraine, as the partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow deepens.
