Czech army eyes Ukrainian Shark drone for advanced warfare
The Ukrainian Shark drone has caught the attention of the Czech army. This is yet another example in recent weeks of allied countries supporting Kyiv with various military equipment wanting to draw on Ukrainian experiences and technologies related to unmanned aerial vehicles. Ukraine is currently a leader in the production of such equipment, a status already recognised by, among others, the USA and South Korea.
Shark is a Ukrainian reconnaissance drone successfully used on the front lines. Photos from field tests of this UAV were published on the Czech army's official Facebook profile. These tests were conducted under conditions intended to reflect modern warfare realities.
The Czech army showed interest in the Ukrainian drone
The test scenarios aimed to simulate contemporary wartime conditions, including situations where opponents disrupt navigation and communication signals. Ukrainian experiences in this area are invaluable. The conflict with Russia is often termed a "drone war," and the Ukrainian army employs various UAVs developed by local companies.
In February, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha revealed that by 2025, more than 4 million drones of various types are expected to be produced in Ukraine, positioning the country as a global leader in drone production. Although most will be small FPV (first-person view) constructions, there will also be no shortage of long-range combat drones and designs for conducting aerial reconnaissance.
Interest in Ukrainian technology
Countries like South Korea and the United States have previously shown interest in the Ukrainian army's experiences. "The Wall Street Journal" even reported that the Department of Defense has awarded initial contracts to American-Ukrainian partnerships responsible for developing drones that could soon bolster the U.S. military.
According to Ukrainian media, the latest version of the Shark drone allows for observation, identification, and recognition of objects from a great distance and significant altitude. The newest Shark is also expected to have a flight range of up to about 420 kilometres and an extended flight time of up to 7 hours. This drone is launched into the air from a catapult.
The Czech Republic is among the countries keen to use Ukrainian experiences and the drones developed there. Prague is an ally of Kyiv, regularly supplying it with weapons (including T-72M1 tanks) and undertaking international initiatives to strengthen the army fighting Russia. Thanks to one such initiative, substantial amounts of artillery shells of calibres 155 mm and 122 mm are reaching the front.
