Ukraine Unpacks ‘Russian’ AI Drone: Foreign Tech, Chinese Parts

The Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) has published a detailed technical breakdown of the new Russian V2U strike drone, which is now actively used in the Sumy sector of the front line.

According to a report shared on Telegram, the key feature of the V2U is its ability to autonomously select targets using artificial intelligence (AI).

Ukrainian intelligence says the drone’s computing system is powered by a Chinese-made Leetop A203 minicomputer, which includes an advanced NVIDIA Jetson Orin module responsible for image processing and target acquisition.

Despite Russia’s claims of domestic production, HUR reports that most of the drone’s components are of foreign origin. The V2U carries only a single GPS module, likely a response to the effectiveness of Ukraine’s electronic warfare systems, which send spoofing GPS signals to a system’s receiver.

This suggests the drone may rely on “computer vision” – comparing live camera images to pre-loaded terrain maps, also known as “forced correlation” – for navigation.

Intelligence also confirmed the drone can be controlled in first-person view (FPV) via LTE communication. A Microdrive Tandem-4GS-OEM-11 modem was discovered inside the drone, working with a SIM card from a Ukrainian mobile operator. Although the drone features Russian labeling, much of its hardware is Chinese-made.

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The drone’s critical components include a Japanese Sony sensor, an electromagnetic relay from Ireland’s TE Connectivity, Chinese-made motors and servos, as well as Chinese-manufactured SSDs and rangefinders.

HUR identified four companies involved in supplying parts and assembling the drones – two based in Russia and two in China.

As previously reported by Kyiv Post, Russia has been gradually upgrading its Shahed-136 drones, including the addition of 4G modems and video cameras.

However, recent claims that the Kremlin is now using AI and Telegram bots to control the drones mid-flight have been widely dismissed by Ukrainian analysts and specialists.

The British outlet The Economist recently cited unnamed Ukrainian research sources, suggesting that newer Shahed variants may no longer rely on GPS and could instead use AI guidance via Ukraine’s mobile networks.

A report even claimed a Russian engineer had left a note inside a downed Shahed drone, allegedly warning that Telegram was being used to control the drone and stream live video back to Russian operators.

However, the Ukrainian defense outlet Defense Express called the AI claims highly unlikely, arguing that the combination of AI, 4G modems, Telegram, and video streaming into a single, operational system does not align with the current capabilities of Shahed drones.

The outlet reported that while Russia has introduced 4G connectivity and video cameras in Shaheds since late 2023, these upgrades do not equate to AI-controlled drones.

According to Defense Express sources, there is no evidence that any version of the Shahed-136 currently operates with AI guidance.

Ukrainian military communications and electronic warfare specialist Serhii Beskrestnov, known by the call sign “Flash,” also rejected the AI rumors. He confirmed that Shaheds still rely on satellite navigation and remain vulnerable to Ukrainian electronic warfare.

Beskrestnov said some drones are equipped with trackers that transmit flight data – such as location, altitude, and velocity – via Telegram bots using SIM cards from various countries, including Ukraine and Russia. However, he emphasized that these trackers do not enable remote control of the drones in real time.

Ukrainian electronic warfare units have long been aware of these SIM-based trackers and work to prevent Shahed drones from utilizing Ukrainian mobile networks for this purpose.