By Philip Butterworth-Hayes
The next generation of drone warfare looks likely to have started in Ukraine with the emergence on the battlefield of Russian Shahed-236 drones equipped with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities which effectively allows them to operate and identify targets with minimal external communications.
Ukrainian defence sources say the new Shahed variant shot down relatively intact includes a range of navigation and targeting systems which allows the drone to operate autonomously.
“The new upgrade features an improved navigation system and a thermal targeting module with artificial intelligence, allowing it to strike targets at night or in poor visibility,” according to analysis from Oboronka, a defence industry project by Mezha Media within the Ukrainska Pravda new agency. “This model is equipped with several notable features, as eRadar and war_home Telegram channels report. Chief among them is a Tallysman satellite navigation system with a four-component CRPA antenna that enhances the drone’s resistance to jamming. It also includes a thermal camera paired with an integrated NVIDIA Jetson mini-computer, enabling the drone to autonomously identify targets using AI. This reduces the drone’s reliance on GPS and allows it to strike heat-emitting targets (such as vehicle engines, generators, people, or energy facilities) accurately in challenging conditions. The drone’s engine and warhead remain similar to those of earlier models.”
The report continues:
“Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military news outlet, reports that the drone’s description and serial number MS001 match the specifications of the Shahed-236 model, which had previously been demonstrated to a Russian delegation in Iran. During its testing phase, this drone type struck its target with an accuracy of 3-5 metres, being able to select numerous options in real time. The strike system consists of the drone itself, a control station and a signal relay unit, enabling operations at a range of up to 220 km. The outlet states that each Shahed-236 costs Russia USD900,000.”
For more information
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/06/25/7518634/
(Image: T.ME/ERADARRUA)
