Ukraine has demonstrated a remarkable success with long-range drones, like the Liutyi UAV, in striking targets deep within russian territory. Yet, questions often arise about Ukraine’s own version of the Shahed-136 drone. Recently, during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to Kyiv, new Ukrainian drone made headlines after being featured in official photographs. Its appearance immediately drew comparisons to the Shahed-136 drone, though a closer look reveals a different story.

Ukrainian drone, while sharing similar aerodynamic flying-wing design with vertical stabilizers at the wingtips, is not a direct counterpart to the Shahed-136 UAV. Its smaller dimensions, approximately 1.5 meters in both wingspan and length, stand in stark contrast to the Shahed UAV’s 3.75-meter length and 2.5-meter wingspan. Equipped with an electric motor, Ukrainian drone has significantly less range than the Shahed drone’s internal combustion engine-powered capabilities.
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Instead of focusing on long-range missions, new UAV is tailored for tactical operations, likely designed as a loitering munition for striking enemy assets in the near rear. Features such as antennas and a nose cone cavity, potentially housing a camera, suggest it operates within a 50-100 km range. Its probable targets include armored vehicles and artillery, marking its role in frontline support rather than deep-strike missions.

The Presidential Office revealed that these UAVs are domestically produced in collaboration with German firms. Interestingly, the Shahed-136 drone has historical links to German technology: its design is indirectly influenced by Israeli Harpy drone, which was based on German DAR (Die Drohne Antiradar) platform developed by Dornier.
Additionally, Ukraine showcased a cutting-edge UAV featuring German automatic target guidance system enhanced by artificial intelligence. Speculation points to Helsing, German company that recently announced its HX-2 mini-Taurus drone for Ukraine. This innovation reflects the growing synergy between Ukraine and Germany in advancing modern UAV technology.
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