-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine has introduced the “Sting,” a new first-person view (FPV) drone designed to intercept Russia’s Iranian-made Shahed-136 attack drones, according to a report by The Telegraph.
The Sting, developed by the Wild Hornets group, represents a shift in air defense strategy, utilizing a low-cost, agile solution to counter the growing threat from these loitering munitions.
The Sting can reach speeds of over 160 km/h (100 mph) and operate at altitudes up to 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), making it well-suited for tracking and intercepting Shahed-136 drones, which have been deployed in large numbers against Ukrainian cities. The drone is operated from the ground via VR goggles, allowing the pilot to have a clear view of its path. Future enhancements include an artificial intelligence (AI) targeting system that will enable more precise tracking of enemy drones.
The design of the Sting follows a classic quadcopter model, with a camera and warhead mounted on a central dome. It offers a significantly more affordable alternative to traditional air defense systems, with a unit cost reportedly dozens of times lower than that of the Shahed-136.
Ukraine has faced increasing pressure on its air defense systems, with Russia producing more than 6,000 Shahed-style drones annually from its plant in Yelabuga, Tatarstan. The volume of attacks, often between 30 and 80 drones per day, has strained Ukraine’s stockpile of expensive Western surface-to-air missiles.
The introduction of the Sting is expected to alleviate some of this pressure by providing a cost-effective method to intercept Shahed drones, conserving high-value air defense missiles for other threats.
Earlier this year, Ukraine launched the world’s first military branch dedicated to drone warfare, with a focus on scaling domestic production. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine aims to build 1.5 million drones this year, with plans to increase production to four million annually.
