Ukraine Codifies “Steppe Wind” Strike Drone With 90+ km Range and Optical Guidance

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has codified the domestically developed Steppe Wind strike unmanned aerial system, clearing the way for its procurement and delivery to units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

The medium-range drone was developed by Ukrainian company Unwave in cooperation with Sky Composite Engineering, according to information the company provided to Militarnyi on September 11.

The system is designed to strike stationary targets, armored vehicles, and personnel. Its official codification allows the Ukrainian state to procure the drones and supply them to Defense Forces units.

The Steppe Wind has a tactical operating radius of up to 70 kilometers, while its maximum route length exceeds 90 kilometers. The drone can remain airborne for up to 65 minutes.

The UAV can carry a payload of up to 5 kilograms and is equipped with an optical terminal guidance system designed to improve targeting during the final stage of flight.

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Defense Tech

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The drone is launched from a dedicated platform without the use of a catapult and can be deployed within 20 minutes. The system supports automatic, semi-automatic, and manual control modes.

The Steppe Wind is among several Ukrainian strike drone systems currently advancing toward wider battlefield deployment. Ukrainian defense manufacturer GrimTech is also completing development of the Grim LA-80, a fixed-wing strike UAV capable of carrying payloads of up to 5 kilograms and operating at ranges of up to 80 kilometers.

A company representative presented details of the Grim LA-80 at the MSPO 2026 defense exhibition in Poland. While the system shares structural similarities with Russia’s Molniya-type drones, its developers are focusing on combining extended range and payload capacity with relatively low production costs.

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