Ukraine's new drone offers promise against Russian Shaheds
The Ukrainian defence industry has introduced a new type of drone designed to intercept Russian "Shaheds." The presentation took place during Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever's visit to Kyiv. The drone, which has already destroyed over 20 "Shaheds," can also target smaller objectives like reconnaissance drones, reports the Ukrainian service Militarny.
Ukrainian specialists are working intensively to create cost-effective and efficient drones that replace expensive anti-aircraft missiles. The new technologies aim to effectively combat low-flying and small targets, which is crucial in the current conflict. One of the recent results of their work is a drone capable of countering "Shaheds," which present a significant challenge to Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukraine has a way to counter "Shaheds"
According to the service, the new drone can reach up to 200 km/h and fly at altitudes up to 4,800 metres. Although detailed technical data has not been disclosed, the creators emphasise its effectiveness as the most efficient tool for intercepting "Shaheds" in the arsenal of the Ukrainian defence forces. The President of Ukraine published a recording of this unmanned aerial vehicle on social media. It can be seen below:
During the Belgian delegation's visit, cooperation in defence production was also discussed. Militarny reminds us that in November 2024, a memorandum was signed with Thales Belgium for the joint manufacture of 70-mm rockets. The Belgian company will assist Ukraine in producing FZ275 LGR rockets, which are equipped with homing warheads. It is also worth mentioning that Belgium is one of the countries that transferred F-16 fighters to Ukraine.
Shahed drones in Ukraine
The Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 unmanned aerial vehicles are some of Russia's most-used offensive drones. Although they formally originate from Iran, they have long been a significant element of Russian air attacks, mainly against critical infrastructure and civilian targets. Their presence in the skies over Ukraine is a challenge for air defence and evidence of increasing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
The Shahed-136 is the larger and more destructive variant of the two. This drone is about 3.5 metres long, has a wingspan of 2.5 metres, and weighs around 200 kilograms. It is powered by a piston engine, structurally reminiscent of old aircraft engines, allowing it to reach a range of up to 2,500 kilometres. This makes it relatively cheap and a problematic tool to detect, especially during mass attacks.
The Shahed-136 carries a warhead weighing approximately 30-50 kilograms to destroy small infrastructure objects like transformers, warehouses, or relay stations. In practice, it is used as a loitering munition – once launched, it doesn't return, and its purpose is a kamikaze strike on a designated point.
The Shahed-131 is a smaller and slightly lighter variant. It is about 2.6 metres long, with a takeoff weight not exceeding 135 kilograms, and a wingspan of just over 2 metres. It also has a shorter range – estimated at 900 to 1,000 kilometres – and a lighter warhead, weighing about 10-15 kilograms. Despite this, it still poses a real threat, particularly as a tool to confuse air defences or attack point targets.
