The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that the Russian army has begun using a new type of drone with an LTE communication system and the ability to be remotely controlled against Ukraine. It has already been identified among those shot down over Ukrainian territory.
According to the GUR, the drone can perform several functions at once: be a reconnaissance drone, a strike vehicle, or act as a false target to overload Ukrainian air defenses.
The modification of the device is equipped with a camera and two LTE modems. They allow you to transmit video in real time via mobile base stations and receive commands from the operator to change course. In the strike version, the drone works on the FPV principle - the operator can direct it directly to the target.
Structurally, the new UAV has a delta-wing fuselage similar to the Shahed-131, but it is slightly smaller. Navigation is carried out using a jamming-resistant satellite positioning system with four antennas and Chinese Allystar modules.
Almost half of the components are of Chinese origin. Among them: communication modules, a minicomputer, a power regulator and a quartz oscillator. The DLE engine is installed in the nose of the fuselage, which makes the drone look like an Italmas loitering munition from the Russian Zala group.
As early as August 18, Ukrainian experts reported new finds among the downed Shahed. According to military radio technology expert Sergey "Flash" Beskrestnov, some drones had video cameras installed, which were previously not on the strike versions.
"It's too early to say for what purpose the Russians are installing cameras on the Shaheds. But it's obvious that they are trying to get video during the flight up to the moment of impact," he noted.
