Analysis of the wreckage of downed Shahed drones reveals that russia is increasingly introducing new technical solutions into its long-range strike systems. Ukrainian specialists have confirmed that the enemy is now equipping the Geran-2 (Shahed-136) drones with mesh modems and forward-facing cameras on a systematic basis.
Initially, mesh-networking equipment was identified on lightweight Gerbera drones, built with foam components. But starting in July, the same technology began appearing on the Shahed UAVs, as reported by Serhii Flash. By August, such finds became more frequent, and by early September it was clear this was no longer an experiment, russia had shifted to serial integration of these devices on its strike UAVs.
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Defense Express has learned from its own sources that recently downed Shahed carried a complete set of this new equipment. The drone was fitted with the same mesh modem as the Gerbera unit, Chinese Mesh Network XK-F358 unit from Xingkai Tech, sometimes marked as HX-50 in a more industrial variant. This modem enables the creation of a dynamic mesh network, where each node acts as a relay, extending communications and resilience.
Alongside the modem, specialists discovered a course camera mounted rigidly in the drone's nose, offering only a forward view. The device is not high-grade military equipment but resembles simple security surveillance cameras. Still, it provides sufficient visual capability for flight monitoring and potentially for last-minute target correction.
The appearance of these systems highlights a new tactical direction in russia's use of long-range drones. Mesh networks allow operators to maintain connectivity and control over extended distances, while cameras could give basic situational awareness, particularly during terminal guidance or when GPS interference complicates navigation.
A central question, however, remains unanswered: how exactly is the enemy transmitting this data? Analysts have long considered this issue, especially after the Gerbera drones with similar setups were shot down over Kyiv in July. One possibility is that russia relies on pre-positioned ground-based relay stations, potentially installed through its agent network.
Another theoretical option is an airborne mesh chain of drones, where each UAV relays the signal to the next, extending the control range. While this is technically possible, specialists note it would be a highly complex operation, demanding precise coordination and large drone numbers.
Regardless of the method, the confirmed presence of mesh modems and cameras on the Shahed drones signals a deliberate russian effort to adapt its drone warfare, blending cheap, mass-produced weapons with incremental technological upgrades to challenge Ukraine's air defense and electronic warfare systems.
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