New Shahed Mod Shows Russia Trying to Outsmart Ukraine’s Drone Killers

Ukrainian forces have identified new modifications on recently downed Shahed drones, including rear-facing cameras mounted on both the upper and lower parts of the airframe, as well as additional antennas positioned along the tail section.

According to the Ukrainian military communications analyst behind the Telegram channel Pro Zvyazok by Serhiy Flesh, these components indicate that Russia is testing updated surveillance and data-link configurations on its one-way attack UAVs.

The analyst noted that the newly observed antennas suggest the integration of different radio modems designed to transmit video in real time. The added cameras appear to provide a view of the space behind the drone, potentially allowing operators to capture footage of Ukrainian interceptors during approach.

According to the same Telegram channel, the configuration could be used to map Ukrainian interception routes or study how Ukrainian FPV drones close distance before striking. Such footage would give Russian operators additional telemetry—speed, distance, and angle of attack—to analyze Ukrainian tactics.

Images shared online show that these rear-view cameras now appear more frequently across recovered Shahed airframes. The analyst highlighted that Russia may also be experimenting with evasive maneuvers, using camera feeds to identify the moment an interceptor enters the drone’s trajectory.

These adjustments indicate that Russia is adapting its systems in response to Ukraine’s growing success in neutralizing Shahed drones before they reach their intended targets. Ukrainian FPV interceptors have increasingly destroyed these UAVs mid-air over recent months, pushing Russian operators to seek ways to reduce losses.

Earlier, Ukrainian forces recorded the first confirmed shootdown of Russia’s new Zala KUB 10E strike drone on the Pokrovsk axis, according to the Sternenko Community, which released footage of the intercept. Defense Blog noted that the drone only recently entered Russian service and reflects Moscow’s push to field next-generation attack UAVs.

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