Drone warfare in Ukraine: STING interceptors, EW, and drone components
Four key stories: November 29 - December 12, 2025
We can only estimate how many lives are saved every time a Russian Shahed is intercepted. In this edition, I focus on some of the most effective ways to counter Shaheds: interceptor drones, as well as electronic warfare, which is not a panacea and must be used together with other air-defence measures. Ukrainians have already learned how to down jet-powered Shaheds, and the best technologies — including autonomous solutions — are now being used to strengthen the tools that protect Ukrainian communities.
Chinese Mavic drones also save lives. In honor of the recent Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, I am launching my third fundraising campaign for a Mavic reconnaissance drone for the military unit of my university friend Vasyl. Previously, with the support of my subscribers and friends, we raised funds for two Mavics (first and second). These drones save lives on the battlefield, and I intend to do everything possible to protect my friend and his brothers and sisters in arms. Link to donate: PayPal.
In this digest:
STING Interceptor Shots Down Jet-Powered Shahed;
We Expect More from Electronic Warfare Than It Can Actually Deliver;
Components of Freedom: How Ukraine Localizes Drone Component Production
Russia Tests SIM Cards for Drones in Kazakhstan and Türkiye: Molfar Intelligence Institute
and additional developments in drone warfare in Ukraine and Russia.
Thank you for reading and supporting my work!
STING Interceptor Shots Down Jet-Powered Shahed
On November 30, for the first time, a jet-powered Geran (Russian analogue of Shahed) was shot down by a Ukrainian interceptor drone STING developed by Wild Hornets, equipped with an Odd Systems Kurbas-640a camera.
The STING can be deployed in 15 minutes, takes off without a catapult from any flat surface, and instantly pursues its target. If the Shahed is already destroyed by another drone, STING returns to base. Its effective range reaches 25 kilometers. It can reach speeds of up to 315 km/h.
According to the manufacturer, assembling a single STING interceptor drone takes only two minutes.
The drone is operated by a pilot using VR goggles, and its cost (around $2,500) is significantly lower than that of surface-to-air missiles, making it a cost-effective weapon against Shaheds.
Engineers note that the drone is compatible with any FPV station, and operators can learn to fly it in just three days. Thousands of these drones are now produced every month and are helping to destroy enemy UAVs.
The Wild Hornets posted that STING drones have prevented 1,520 potential civilian casualties since May 2025. They have downed over 1,500 targets, including 16.9% of all Shahed-type drones downed Nov 5-20 by Ukraine.
These drones were developed in collaboration with the Ukrainian companies Odd Systems and The Fourth Law, both founded by Yaroslav Azhnyuk. The Fourth Law is developing software and autonomous targeting modules, while Odd Systems manufactures the Kurbas series of UAV cameras. Together, they aim to build an intelligent system that can recognize targets and guide an interceptor drone more accurately than a human operator, who may make mistakes or lack the experience to destroy a target on the first attempt.
Currently, Wild Hornet’s anti-Shahed drones are equipped with a custom-modified Kurbas-640 camera from Odd Systems, engineered specifically for interception missions. In a statement to Ukraine’s Arms Monitor, the company explained that this system enables pilots to identify targets much earlier and to operate effectively even under challenging conditions, including high humidity and rain.
The team of The Fourth Law shared that it is developing an autonomous targeting and terminal-guidance module designed to counter Shahed-type loitering munitions. Autonomous detection and tracking are already performing well in tests, and the guidance element is now moving toward evaluation in operational conditions, with a clear pathway to large-scale deployment.
“The technology can significantly increase the effectiveness of interceptor drones. It extends the distance at which a target can be identified and maintained in track, and it calculates the optimal interception trajectory while continuously adapting to course changes. In practice, this delivers a much higher probability of a successful intercept and far more efficient use of each platform,” the company added.
During the Brave1 Components exhibition, The Fourth Law told Militarnyi that its new TFL Anti-Shahed module automatically guides interceptor drones toward Shahed-type targets. The module is installed between the thermal imaging camera (typically the Kurbas-640a) and the flight controller or video transmitter. Once a target is detected, the system highlights it with a green outline and maintains stable tracking, running in parallel without interfering with the drone’s flight. The pilot still independently selects the interception approach.
In February 2025, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) warned that Russia was setting up production of its own version of the jet-powered Shahed-238 — the “Geran-3”, equipped with a compact Tolou-10/13 turbofan engine (the same type used in the Shahed-238).
According to intelligence, this should give the drone a flight speed of 550–600 km/h and a range of 2,500 km.
It is known that the Shahed-238, on which the Geran-3 is based, has a length of 3.5 meters, a wingspan of 3 meters, and a height of 0.5 meters. Its maximum takeoff weight reaches 370 kg (some documents list 250 kg). The warhead weighs 50 kg.
It was believed that such characteristics would make the Geran-3 / Shahed-238 practically unreachable both for mobile fire groups equipped with small arms and cannons, and for electric-powered interceptor drones.
The actual cruising speed of the Geran-3, as recorded by Ukrainian forces, is approximately 300–350 km/h. The drones reach their maximum speed only on the final stretch of the route or on segments where Russian intelligence has identified Ukrainian air-defense positions. This makes these drones fully reachable for Ukrainian interceptor drones.
Read my earlier report on STING drones here: STING Interceptor Drone by Wild Hornets: When Civil Society Powers Defence
Check the list of my previous posts on Air Defence and Counter-UAS.
We Expect More from Electronic Warfare Than It Can Actually Deliver
On the frontline, EW systems are considered the most effective means of countering drones. According to Ukrainian experts, 70–80% of UAVs are currently radio-controlled and susceptible to electronic-warfare interference. However, sometimes the expectations placed on them exceed what they can actually deliver.