In October 2024, russia deployed over 2,000 unmanned aerial vehicles against Ukraine, with roughly half of these being decoys or fake targets aimed at overwhelming Ukrainian air defenses. Among these is the Parodiia drone, a decoy UAV widely used in russian attacks.
On November 10, 2024, two Parodiia drones crashed in Moldova, raising questions about the design and purpose of these imitation drones. Unlike other russian UAVs, these drones carry no warheads. They are smaller and cheaper than models like the Shahed-136/Geran-2 but feature a Luneberg lens to mimic the radar signature of heavier attack drones, diverting air defense systems away from actual threats.
Read more: Drones Discovered in Moldova Following russian Strike on Ukraine
Interestingly, an analysis of the Parodiia drone reveals that russia has struggled to manufacture even this basic, largely plywood UAV on its own. The flight controller module in these drones relies heavily on imported electronics, with components sourced from companies across China, the U.S., Switzerland, and Taiwan. Suppliers include companies like Ebyte, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, and SONiX Technology.
Read more: Ukrainians Introduce FPV Drone With a Grenade Launcher: How to Use, Aim, and What It's Good For
